Chisomo Nyemba Governor
Country Representative, Malawi
Country Representative of African Women Lawyers Association, Malawi
Biography
Chisomo has a wealth of experience spanning legal practice and corporate leadership and is a passionate advocate for the rights of women and children. Chisomo believes in using her expertise to make multifaceted contributions in advancing economic growth and driving impactful change in society.
Chisomo is President of the Women Lawyers Association, an organization which champions the rights of women and girls. She has led various impactful projects, including a country-wide project on the elimination of child marriages in rural areas which was recognized worldwide including in a documentary by BBC Worldwide News and Glamour Magazine. Through the project, Women Lawyers Association has reached over 2000 women and girls in remote areas and the plan is to reach many more as the project is ongoing. She also pioneered a structured mentorship program for junior women lawyers covering various subjects including courageous leadership, the art of communication, negotiation, public service and running for office, and ethics and values in decision-making.
Chisomo started her career in private practice and quickly rose to the position of Principal Associate at a law firm which was established in 1978 and was a leading law firm in Malawi at the time, Savjani and Co.
She advised and represented clients in various matters, including high-value, cross-border, novel and complex disputes. She then co-founded a law firm, DNC Chambers, and served as its Managing Partner. The firm was recognized as the Best Dispute Resolution Firm in its second year and is one of the fastest growing law firms serving local and international clients. Chisomo is also an executive leader serving as General Counsel for TNM Plc, Malawi’s premier mobile telecommunications company. She heads the Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Division and serves as Secretary to the Board. She also provides comprehensive legal support to various departments, including Information Systems, Commercial and Human Resources.
Chisomo serves as a non-executive Director of National Roads Authority and Justice Advocacy Africa which offers trial advocacy trainings to lawyers in Africa. She has organised and offered trainings for lawyers in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda and Botswana, on a pro bono basis as she believes that effective legal representation is crucial for access to justice.