Sullivan Isaac Kagundu
Senior Partner
Areas of Expertise
- International Arbitration
- Commercial Law
- Probate
- Insurance
- Anti-corruption compliance
- 09 Years of Experience
- +265 884 23 99 07
- sullivan@maalmw.com
Sullivan Kagundu is a co-founding partner at Maxson Arnold & Associates, where he also oversees operational functions. With over 9 years of post-qualification experience as a lawyer, Sullivan has built a reputation for delivering comprehensive and strategic legal advisory services. His strong focus, motivation, and results-oriented approach have driven his success in a competitive legal landscape. Known for his professionalism, integrity, and dedication, Sullivan is a self-starter committed to continuous learning and improvement. He is passionate about ensuring that clients receive exceptional legal services tailored to their unique needs, setting a high standard of excellence in all his endeavors.
Experience
Sullivan Kagundu brings a wealth of experience spanning several years in legal practice, particularly in civil litigation and transactional advisory services. Since joining Maxson Arnold & Associates in September 2019 as a co-founding partner, Sullivan has played a pivotal role in the firm’s operations. He provides expert legal and transactional advisory services to a diverse clientele, including corporate clients and NGOs, while also managing the firm’s finances and supervising staff. His responsibilities extend to legal drafting, covering a range of documents such as contracts, security instruments, conveyancing papers, and constitutions. In his capacity as the AML/CTF Compliance Officer, Sullivan ensures the firm adheres to regulatory standards.
Prior to this, Sullivan worked as a Legal Practitioner at Chibambo & Company from 2017 to 2019, where he honed his skills in civil litigation, transactional advisory, and legal drafting. His career began at M & M Global Consultants from 2016 to 2017, where he built a strong foundation in providing comprehensive legal services and drafting legal documents. Throughout his career, Sullivan has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to legal excellence, client satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
Certifications
Sullivan Kagundu has pursued extensive professional training and certifications to enhance his legal expertise, particularly in arbitration and dispute resolution. In May 2024, the High Court of Malawi certified him to practice as a Notary Public, further broadening his legal qualifications. He holds a Certificate in Applying Project Management Principles to Arbitration (2022) and an Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution (2022) from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. In 2023, he expanded his knowledge in international arbitration by completing certifications in International Commercial and Investment Arbitration through the Malawi Law Society and The Law and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Earlier in his career, he completed Trial Advocacy training with Justice Advocacy Africa and the Malawi Law Society in 2017. These certifications reflect his commitment to staying at the forefront of legal advancements and providing exceptional dispute-resolution services.
Board positions
Sullivan Kagundu has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and governance through his active participation in various boards and leadership roles. He currently serves as a Council Member at Mzuzu University and is a Board Member for several organizations, including Forgotten Voices, William Murray Secondary School, and the Africa Windmills Project, all since 2023. In addition, Sullivan has been a Board Member at Status Innovation Limited since 2016, where he has played an instrumental role in steering the company’s strategic direction. His dedication to youth empowerment is evident from his mentorship role with Youth to Youth Empowerment in Blantyre in 2017. Earlier in his career, he served as President of the Student Law Society at the University of Malawi from 2014 to 2015, showcasing his leadership abilities from a young age. Sullivan’s involvement in these diverse institutions underscores his passion for contributing to education, innovation, and social impact initiatives.
- 2023
- Master of Arts (Distinction)
- International Anti-Corruption Compliance and Collective Action | IACCA-Viena, Austria
Areas studied: Research and Writing in Anti-Corruption and Compliance, National and International Anti-corruption Legal Frameworks and Initiatives, Anti-Corruption Compliance, Internal Corporate Investigations, certification under ISO 37001 and 37301, Corporate liability, Monitoring and Evaluation of compliance systems, Developing codes of conduct, Conflict of Interest, Risk Management, Gifts hospitality and Donations, whistleblower protection, Corruption in Business and rationale for ABC compliance, AML/CFT.
Thesis Topic: Assessing the Functionality of Integrity Institutions in Combatting Corruption within the Judiciary in Malawi
- 2015
- Bachelors of Law Degree (Honors) |
- LL.B (Hons), University of Malawi.
Areas studied: Taxation, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Clinical Legal Education, Evidence, Legal Drafting, Financial Accounting, Law of Business Organizations, Commercial Law, Human Rights Law, Jurisprudence, Wills and Inheritance Law, Customary Law, Conflict of Laws (Private International Law), Law of Contract, Public International Law, Family Law, Law of Property, Law of Trust and Equitable Obligations, Introduction to Law, Constitutional and Administrative law, Criminal law, The law of Torts.
- Dissertation Topic: The Right of Access to Information Vis-aVis the Right to Privacy: A Critical Analysis of The Public Access Provision to Assets Declarations in Malawi.
2024
- Notary Public, High Court of Malawi.
- 2023
- The Law and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
- International Commercial and Investment Arbitration, Malawi Law Society.
- 2022
- Certificate in Applying Project Management Principles to Arbitration, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Certificate in Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
- 2017
- Trial Advocacy, Justice Advocacy Africa & Malawi Law Society.
Professional Memberships
- Malawi Law Society
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Student member of Chartered Governance
Institute.
Board Memberships
- 2023 to present
- Council Member | Mzuzu University.
- Board Member | Forgotten Voices.
- Board Member | William Murray Secondary School.
- Board Member | Africa Windmills Project.
- 2017 to present
- Board Member | Status Innovation Limited.
- Mentor, Youth to Youth Empowerment, Blantyre.
- 2014 to 2015
- President, Student Law Society | University of Malawi
Awards and Career Highlights
- 2021
- Awarded a full scholarship to study for a Master’s degree at the International Anti-Corruption Academy.
- 1st Chair in the Lockdown Case before the High Court of Malawi, successfully representing Applicants in a landmark constitutional challenge to Lockdown rules during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- 2018
- Completed the World Universities Comparative Law Project with Prof. Phillip R. Wood, CBE, QC (Hon), of Allen & Overy Global Law Firm.