Attorneys

Isabella Angihinka J. Tjatjara

Founding Director

B. JURIS, LLB (UNAM)

Intellectual Property & Competition Law Certificate ( University of Stellenbosch ,SA, 2023)

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Isabella Jihure Tjatjara, is the Founder and Director of Isabella Tjatjara & Associates INC. She holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) from the University of Namibia. In addition, she holds a certificate in Intellectual Property and Competition Law from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Isabella currently serves as the Deputy Chairperson on the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC). She is a member of the Disciplinary Committee for Namibia Football Association (NFA). She previously worked as a Magistrate at the Office of the Judiciary for 7 years. She has served on several boards: Transportation Commission of Namibia, as well as the Kavango East Communal Land Board. In her spare time Isabella enjoys reading and blogging and is a fitness enthusiast.

CAREER OBJECTIVES

My immediate objective includes developing skills on management level as well to broaden my experience in the social justice arena. My goal is to play a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of Namibians. To use my professional experience to break barriers in Namibia that were not common to previously disadvantaged Namibians. To inspire and transfer skills to young people as a Legal Practitioner.

CAREER HISTORY

JUNE 2022- PRESENT

ISABELLA TJATJARA & ASSOCIATES INC LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (TSUMEB)

As a Founding Director of the law firm- I am in charge of the overall operations and management of the law firm. We offer a wide spectrum of legal services: Administration of Deceased Estates, Business Registration (Start – Ups), Company Law and Contract Law, Civil Litigation and Criminal Litigation, Competition Law, (Mergers & Acquisitions), Debt Recovery, Family Law (Estate Planning, Ante-nuptial Contracts, Divorces, Wills), Intellectual Property Law (Patents and Trademarks), Labour Law, Trusts and General Legal Advice.

FEB 2020 - MAY 2022

SARIEL INVESTMENT CC t/a ANGIH’S ESTATE LAW CONSULTANCY

Estate & Trust Practitioner

As an Estate and Trust Practitioner registered with the Master of the High Court of Namibia, I deal with planning of estates, the administration of deceased estates. I draft and register trusts for individuals and businesses alike.
I am responsible for community outreach specifically teaching on estate law and practice.
In general, oversee all business procedures and the day-to-day activities also responsible for keeping the business operations under control including the execution of both long- and short-term goals of the business.

2019 - January 2020

OFFICE OF THE JUDICIARY: ONDANGWA MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Principal Magistrate

Presiding over criminal, civil and family law cases
Taking decisive actions on various legal matters and assessing contentious and uncontroversial issues.
As the Head of office, I am responsible for the overall running of the office including but not limited to supervision of junior staff.

Principal Magistrate Court: Ondangwa Mag Court September 2019-January 2020

July 2015 - August 2019

TSUMEB MAGISTRATE COURT

Senior Magistrate

April 2013 - June 2015

EEHNANA MAGISTRATE COURT

Magistrate

2012-2013

LION LEGAL CONSULTANCY CC RUNDU

Legal Consultant

I was responsible for:

Looking after the legal requirements of business entities and assist them reach certain legal goals that they have envisioned for themselves.
Working in a variety of arrangements ranging from identifying, solving and preventing legal issues
Providing proactive legal assistance and advice on various legal issues like commercial contracts as well the administration of estate planning and succession.

2012-2013

MOON VISION IT RESEARCH CC, WINDHOEK

Legal Secretary

This corporation specialized in IT research and the development of software, web-based applications and IT related products.

Reporting to the Managing Director, I was responsible for:

The timely advice on all matters of legal service including, contract, commercial, governance and regulation.
Creatively endorsing the development of latest business including analysis, creation, reasoning, and evaluation, within legally satisfactory parameters
Assisting the business in compliance with all various legal requirements
Advising on minimal liability and legal exposure for the business
Ensuring that the legal documents and other contractual documents are effectively drafted, reviewed, interpreted, and vetted.
Taking decisive actions on various legal matters and assessing contentious and uncontroversial issues
Advising and ensuring the business in compliance with the necessities of legislation involving data protection
Supervising, researching and analysing implication of case law, legislation, and regulatory matters that affect the company and reporting them back to Managing Director

2008-2009

KWALA & COMPANY INCORPORATED, WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA

Candidate Legal Practitioner

This company is a full-service law firm specializing in litigation, criminal, estate, Family law, commercial, debt recoveries and labour law and procedures of Namibian Laws. I was responsible for assisting the Director in all areas.

2007

HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

Namibian Representative

HRDI is a regional human rights organization that works on increasing access to justice for ordinary people, and poor and vulnerable groups such as PLWH. This is done through partnerships with university based law clinics and human rights organizations in Southern and Eastern Africa, and the Great Lakes Region. I was responsible for:

Representing Namibia on matters discussed during training;
Participating in all activities organized by the organization including but not limited to visiting & assisting PLWH;
Educating others on Namibian legislations and laws relating to Human Rights in general and HIV;
Researching, planning and strategizing on the implementation plan for Namibia;

Nov 2005

NAMIBIA AIRPORTS COMPANY (PTY) LTD, WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA

Temporary Legal Advisor

NAC provides airport infrastructure and amenities, and facilitates airport services for domestic and international airlines and passengers. I was in the Business Development, Marketing & Corporate Communication Department

Serving in the capacity of legal advisor in the areas of lease and concession agreements preparation as well as vetting of the departmental policies.

COMMISSIONS AND BOARD MEMBERSHIP

Namibian Competition Commission: Deputy Chairperson , 2023

Appeals Tribunal Member: 2022 – to date

Appointed pursuant to section 39 of the Communal Land Reform Act 5 of 2002 as a member of the Appeal Tribunal.

Arbitrator / Conciliator: 2021 – to date

Appointed in terms of the Labour Act 11 of 2007, as amended:

As a Conciliator, in terms of section 82(1) or (2) of the Act: upon referral of disputes by the Labour Commissioner to attempt to resolve the dispute through conciliation.
As an Arbitrator, in terms of Section 85(4) of the Act: upon referral of disputes by the Labour Commissioner to attempt to resolve the dispute through arbitration.

Kavango East Communal Land Board: Member, 2021 – to date

Regulated in terms of Communal Land Reform Act 5 of 2002

the functions of a board are:

to exercise control over the allocation and the cancellation of customary land rights by Chiefs or Traditional Authorities under this Act
to consider and decide on applications for a right of leasehold under this Act
to establish and maintain a register and a system of registration for recording the allocation, transfer and cancellation of customary land rights and rights of leasehold under this Act
to advise the Minister, either of its own motion or at the request of the Minister, in connection with the making of regulations or any other matter pertaining to the objectives of this Act; and
to perform such other functions as are assigned to a board by this Act

Namibian Competition Commission: Board Member, 2019 – 2023

In addition to any other functions conferred on the Commission, it has the following powers and functions:

to disseminate information to persons engaged in trade or commerce and the public with respect to the provisions of this Act and the functions of the Commission;
to liaise and exchange information, knowledge and expertise with authorities of other countries entrusted with functions similar to those of the Commission;
to carry out research into matters referred to the Commission by the Minister;
to advise the Minister on matters referred to the Commission by the Minister;
to implement measures to increase market transparency;
to be responsible for investigating contraventions of this Act by undertakings and for controlling mergers between undertakings;
either on its own initiative, or at the request of the Minister, to consult with the Minister on any matter which is of great economic or public interest;
to advise the Minister, and any other Minister responsible for a relevant industry, in relation to international agreements concerning competition matters governed by this Act.

Transportation Commission of Namibia: 2009 – 2013

Functions of Commission:

To inquire into and advise the Minister on matters relating to transportation in Namibia
To make recommendations to the Minister regarding the application of this Act, amendments thereto and the making of regulations
To advise the Minister, on his or her request, on the exercise or performance of any power, duty or function conferred or imposed on the Minister by or under this Act
To exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be provided for in this Act or any other law.

NSFD (NFA): Disciplinary Committee, 2009 & 2010

Functions of Committee:

I was appointed as the Deputy Chairperson on both occasions to assist in the disciplinary matters that occurred across the members of the NFA

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EXPERIENCE

Conducting full fair and impartial hearings
The ability to maintain clear and accurate court records and registers.
Possessing strong decision-making skills in both management and legal matters

KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

The ability to communicate legal issues to junior staff and public members.
Mature with sound temperament.
Socially interactive and international exposure in a multicultural environment
Proven ability to solve problems in a methodical and practical way.
Ability to communicate persuasively and clearly, both orally and in writing.
Self-motivated and a proven ability to work well as part of a team.
Highly skilled and negotiating and debating.
Working Knowledge of MS-Word, MS-Excel.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

2005-2007

University of Namibia BACHELOR OF LAWS (LLB)

2002-2004

University of Namibia BACCALAUREUS JURIS(BJURIS)

1997-2001

Elcin Nkurenkuru HS HIGSCE/IGSCE

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Basic Forensic Firearm/Tool mark/ Ballistics Certificate 2014
Basic Fingerprints and the Law Certificate 2014
Basic Forensic Questioned Documents Certificate 2014
Human Rights Development Initiative Certificate 2007