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ABOUT ME

Hi, I'm Joy...

WHERE I COME FROM

Joy grew up in Uganda. The Oldest of four and the 3rd overall of 10 children, she was born in Kamonkoli village, Budaka district and her tribe, the Bagwere, consists of only 4% of the Ugandan population. She spent her childhood between her parents’ home, at grandma’s, and boarding school. Her passion for the legal profession was inspired, at the age of 8 by a high court judge. She was lucky enough to realize her dream.

A THRIVING CAREER

Joy is an avid Lawyer, Licensed Dispute Resolution Specialist, experienced Mediator, trained Conflict Consultant, Certified Arbitrator, and humanitarian. She is a member of mediate.com, Uganda Law Society and East African Law society.

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Driven by her passion and thoughts for success, Joy has worked across different sectors both nationally and internationally. She has special interest in alternative dispute resolution, mediation & arbitration, and it is this passion that led her to pursue her masters in the same from the Pepperdine University school of law & the Stratus Institute for Dispute resolution, Malibu, California where she is prestigiously known as the first Ugandan to ever enroll. She makes a strong case for arbitration with the view that; “the modern lawyer must be open to resolving more legal issues out of court, other than stacking the courts with unnecessary and endless legal battles”

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Joy is also a Director Sky Design limited and legal advisor at Greenfield Limited here in Kampala. Internationally she has worked with MC Sqrd Solutions LLC, Los Angeles, CA as Business Consultant and Advisor. She also practiced with Kampala Associated Advocates as legal assistant and briefly worked with Tango Consult Limited in Kampala as Research Executive officer and as a legal intern with the Parliament of Uganda.

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Her passion and expertise in the field of Mediation & Arbitration, has led her to being one of the top bloggers in the same field. She had an indisputable training and grounding from her alma mater, Pepperdine University School of Law’s Straus institute for dispute resolution—Malibu, California where she was prestigiously known as the first Ugandan Lawyer to ever enroll there.

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In addition to her present involvements, she is a founder, outgoing President and current director of Bagwere Batakangana, a company in Uganda whose core value is to empower the community to engage in self-sustaining projects that enhance both community and individual development.

EXPERIENCE

2020 - TO DATE

Senior Legal Associate

MUSANGALA ADVOCATES & SOLOCITORS

  • Represent clients through litigation;

  • Corporate advisory on all legal related matters;

  • Pioneering and building the alternative dispute resolution department;

  • Researcher, writer, and consultant on Negotiation, arbitration & mediation.

2018 - 2019

Business Consultant and Document Reviewer

MC SQRD SOLUTIONS LLC, LOS ANGELES

  • Focused on human resource strategy and implementation plan specifically on recruitment and retention of clients’ employees;

  • Excelled at reviewing resumes to assure that they met the position specifications;

  • Assisted clients with research, organizational skills, relationship management, and marketing, related to workforce development;

  • Searched, screened, interviewed and reference checked;

  • Presented at board retreats and meetings;

  • Worked directly with Hiring Managers to ensure a complete understanding of position requirements and that workforce-planning objectives are adhered to throughout the selection process and events logistics;

  • Provided detail and clarity on hiring specifications and competencies, documenting principle requirements to ensure accuracy and effective detail in job descriptions;

  • Developed networking events and referral base in partnership with organizations, groups, and schools to build community awareness and provide employment information;

  • Organized, facilitated, and conducted new hire orientations, and posted check ins;

  • Facilitated a key strategy focused on site-based hiring event throughout LA County;

  • Assisted with all aspects of the hiring process and events logistics.

2017 - 2018

Student Affairs Intern

INTERCULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICE PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, MALIBU, CA

  • Supervised student interns, oversaw and advised on their work product;

  • Managed research and department assessment projects;

  • Provided administrative support to the office;

  • Welcomed new students and responded to all related queries both physically and on phone;

  • Organized, attended, and supervised events;

  • Coordinated, organized and provided insight to programs, events, and services that promote diversity, equity, and the inclusion of all students;

  • Coordinated and presided at monthly meetings of student leaders;

  • Organized, coordinated, and attended student trips and excursions;

  • I oversaw and organized daily operation of programs and activities sponsored by various component areas;

  • Communicated firm policies and positions on various issues to the respective recipients;

  • Ensured proper organization of student activities in accordance with the organization's policy

2017 - 2018

International Students Services

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, MALIBU, CA

  • Welcomed new students and responded to all related queries both physically and on phone;

  • Fielded students' initial immigration-related inquiries and provide appropriate information and referrals;

  • Reviewed students' Optional Practical Training applications (Form I-765);

  • Confirmed students' enrollment information

2016 - 2017

Research & Teaching Assistant

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION & PSYCHOLOGY, MALIBU, CA

  • For International Network for STEM Media-Making and Student-Led Participatory Teaching, September 2016 - December 2017

  • Researched, collected and analyzed data regarding United States and international education to further examine and report on programs for high school science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning designs;

  • Supervised and graded student exams

2013 - TO DATE

Director and Legal Advisor

GREENFIELD LTD AND SKY DESIGN LTD, KAMPALA, UGANDA

  • Oversee implementation of policy and procedure;

  • Provide legal advice, research and drafting services on issues of contract and employment law;

  • Represent the company at shareholder and contractual meetings;

  • Supervise employees on company policies and procedures

2016

Research Executive Officer

TANGO CONSULT LIMITED, KAMPALA, UGANDA

  • Oversaw implementation of research projects;

  • Drafted legal and non-legal opinions on issues of contract law, election polling, and census research;

  • Did desktop research on various legal and non-legal issues, drafted, reviewed, analyzed, edited, and negotiated contracts, non-disclosure agreements, and other related documents;

  • Managed financial and human resource resources for company

2014 - 2015

Legal Assistant

KAMPALA ASSOCIATED ADVOCATES, KAMPALA, UGANDA

  • Represented the firm as Corporate Advisor and participated in debt collection on behalf of its clients' banks;

  • Corporate Law Desktop research, registered business entities & NGOs with the Uganda Registration of Services Bureau (URSB), drafted memorandums and articles of associations for registration of Limited Liability Companies, performed duties of a company secretary like drafting board and shareholder resolutions and minutes and filing corporate documents with URSB, drafted share purchase agreements, conducted legal research, formulated and drafted legal opinions for corporate firms;

  • Corporate Advisory: Counseled clients on asset and share purchase transactions; counselled companies on regularization and compliance with Ugandan laws;

  • Business Development: conducted counsel consultations and seminars with corporate clients on behalf of the firm;

  • Litigation: Participated in litigation and trial preparation, counselled clients on settlement of civil disputes, drafted court documents and settlement agreements, filed court applications or motions in courts of law;

  • Alternative dispute Resolution: Participated pre-trial mediations, negotiations, and arbitration on employment and other related disputes;

  • Debt-collection: participated in debt collection on behalf of the firm's client banks

Experience

EDUCATION

2018

MASTER OF LAWS (LL.M): INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL LAW & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution - Malibu, California

  • Awarded CALI Awards for Highest Grade in U.S. Law and Negotiation Theory & Practice

2015

POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LEGAL PRACTICE

​Law Development Centre - Kampala, Uganda

2014

BACHELOR OF LAWS (LL. B)

Makerere University School of Law - Kampala, Uganda

  • GRC MUK Guild Council

  • Publicity Secretary MUK Fellowship

  • Chairperson Bugwere Students Union

  • Member MUK School of Law Christian Union

2018 & 2001

A & O'LEVEL CERTIFICATES: HIGH SCHOOL

Namirembe Hillside High School, Gayaza & Tororo Girls School, Tororo

  • Head-Girl - 2007/2008

  • Counselor Scripture Union

Education
Achievements

MORE ABOUT ME

PROFEESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Was the first Ugandan to be admitted to Pepperdine School of Law’s Straus institute for Dispute Resolution (Ranked #1 in the world);

  • First Ugandan & LLM student to do an externship with Sudreau Global Justice Program at the High Court of Uganda, (represented prisoners in entering plea-bargains, Summer 2017);

  • Invited as arbitration expert on NTV’s talk show “The Link;”

  • Delivered poster presentation on Arbitration & Mediation at International Centre for Mediation & Arbitration in Kampala at  International Centre for Arbitration an Mediation Kampala (ICAMEK) on November 28, 2019;

  • Writer on Mediation & Arbitration with The New Vision Newspaper;

  • Blogger at myworld.joyndegemo.com where I write on Dispute Resolution and lifestyle;

  • Worked under the supervision of justice Wangtusi in dispute resolution cases, carried out mediations, researched legal issues, drafted rulings, and attended court proceedings);

  • Clerked with the Parliament of Uganda, Summer 2012.

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AFFILIATIONS

  • Advocate, High Court Uganda

  • Member, Uganda Law Society

  • Member, East African Law Society

  • Member, Mediate.com

  • Volunteer, International Centre for Arbitration an Mediation Kampala (ICAMEK)

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CERTIFICATIONS

  • LexisNexis Professional Research Certified

  • Certificate, Research Like a Pro

  • Appellate Mediation Training

  • International Summit on Mixed Mode Dispute Resolution

INTERESTS

Public speaking and communications, socializing, traveling, research, international music and movies, community development and foreign aid-based efforts

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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Bagwere Batakangana Limited (Non-profit): Founder, Director and former President. Company’s core goal is to empower the community to engage in self-sustaining projects that enhance both community and individual development.

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SKILLS

  • Microsoft Office

  • Research

  • Draftsmanship

  • Litigation

  • Negotiation

  • Organizational Skills

  • Relationship Management

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LANGUAGES

  • English

  • Swahili

  • Luganda

  • Lugwere

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