About us: The ALN Academy stands as a beacon of transformative influence, transcending traditional boundaries to emerge as a thought leader and catalyst for positive change. Rooted in our commitment to advancing the rule of law, governance, and sustainable development, we go beyond conventional educational paradigms, actively shaping the narrative through innovative legal training initiatives across Africa.
About Us
The ALN Academy is the training arm of ALN, an integrated alliance of the preeminent full-service corporate law firms in 14 African countries.
As pioneers of progress, we embrace a holistic approach to education that not only imparts essential skills to legal practitioners and law students but also champions the cause of African governments seeking to navigate the complex landscape of governance. At the heart of our mission is a dedication to fostering meaningful conversations that transcend borders and bridge diverse perspectives.
We proudly align ourselves with like-minded NGOs, government organisations, and businesses, forming dynamic partnerships that serve as crucibles for impactful dialogues. Together, we strive to inspire individuals and organizations, instilling a deep-seated desire to contribute meaningfully to the betterment of our world.
Our Vision
The ALN Academy’s vision is to become one of the leading institutes providing continuous legal education in Africa and a top think tank on the continent’s rule of law and governance. The ALN Academy is influential in enhancing the rule of law in Africa and helping to underpin good governance across African countries.
Board Members
Prof. Luis Franceschi
Prof. Luis Franceschi
Prof. Luis G. Franceschi, LLB, LL.M, LL.D, serves as the Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth, overseeing a wide range of critical areas including governance, rule of law, human rights, and countering extremism across 56 member countries. He leads the coordination of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and plays a pivotal role in organizing and negotiating during these gatherings.
Previously, he was the founding Dean of Strathmore Law School and is renowned for his expertise in judicial transformation, constitutional law, and legal education innovation. Prof. Franceschi is a recipient of prestigious awards, including the Legal Excellence CB Madan Award and the Utumishi Bora National Award. He has provided legal counsel to various national and international entities, including the United Nations and the World Bank, and has contributed significantly to international environmental initiatives. Beyond his professional pursuits, Prof. Franceschi enjoys cycling, running, and mountain climbing, having scaled multiple peaks including Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
Angeline Welsh
Angeline Welsh
Angeline Welsh is a seasoned commercial litigator specializing in international arbitration. She possesses extensive advocacy experience before notable courts like the English Commercial Court, Court of Appeal, and has appeared before tribunals for commercial and investment treaty cases.
Additionally, Angeline has handled diverse cases involving public law, constitutional law, and human rights issues. Prior to her call to the Bar in 2015, she served as Counsel and Solicitor Advocate at a major international law firm, litigating various commercial disputes spanning energy, telecoms, finance, construction, manufacturing, and shipping sectors across different courts and arbitral tribunals worldwide.
Notably, she’s recognized as a Global Leader for Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal and has been lauded for her exceptional judgment, leadership qualities, and fearlessness in tackling complex legal challenges, earning her the distinction of being a ‘Star at the Bar’ by Legal Week.
Edward Kwakwa
Edward Kwakwa
Edward Kwakwa oversees the Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector at the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The Sector covers issues relating to traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and genetic resources; leads efforts to collaborate with other UN agencies and international organizations on cross-cutting global issues such as climate change, food security, and global health; strengthens and expands partnerships with stakeholders, including those from the international, business, and civil society sectors; and reaches out to new stakeholders such as youth.
Karim Anjarwalla
Karim Anjarwalla
Karim Anjarwalla, a Senior Partner at ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna, leads the foremost corporate law firm in Kenya and East Africa. Renowned for his expertise in corporate M&A, he advises clients locally and across Africa on mergers, acquisitions, private equity, and capital markets transactions. Karim is instrumental in major regional deals, including advising Equity Group Holdings in acquisitions across five African countries and facilitating Garda World’s acquisition of KK Security in eight African nations.
He has also handled significant bank consolidation transactions in Kenya and assisted the National Government of Kenya in sovereign bond issues. Under his guidance, ALN Kenya established ALN, a network of top corporate law firms spanning 14 African jurisdictions and the UAE. Karim’s leadership has earned numerous accolades, including Partner of the Year at the Africa Legal Awards 2022 and recognition as a leading legal figure by Chambers Global, IFLR1000, and Legal 500. ALN Kenya has clinched the African Law Firm of the Year Award five times under his stewardship since 2013.
Aisha Abdallah
Aisha Abdallah
Aisha, a Partner at ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna, leads the Dispute Resolution department in Nairobi. Dual qualified in Kenya and England, she excels in high-value cross-border disputes. A recognized authority in international arbitration, Aisha heads the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s governing council and contributes extensively to key publications. Her expertise extends to combating economic crime, notably drafting legislation for Somaliland and leading anti-corruption initiatives in Kenya.
Committed to legal education, she serves on various boards, directs a legal training charity, and advocates for pro bono work. A trailblazer in her field, Aisha is celebrated for her achievements globally and is a distinguished member of exclusive legal associations, marking her as a leading figure in litigation counsel. Recognized by Chambers Global and Legal 500, she’s the first female and second African admitted to the International Association for Defence Counsel, reflecting her exceptional contributions to the legal profession.
Assad Abdullatif
Assad Abdullatif
Assad Abdullatiff is one of the Founders and the Managing Director of Axis Fiduciary, a leading Mauritius-based independent trust company providing a full spectrum of fiduciary and corporate services to an international client base. Assad holds an LLB (Hons) and an LLM in Business Law and is admitted to the Bar of Mauritius. He specialises in corporate law and secretaryship, trusts and estates, tax, and international tax planning.
Assad has several years of experience in the financial services sector in Mauritius, and before joining Axis was an Assistant Director at the Board of Investment of Mauritius, where he was the Head of the Financial Services Cluster and responsible for the promotion of Mauritius as an International Financial Centre. Assad has been a speaker at various international conferences on the topic of the development of Mauritius as a world-class financial centre. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a member of STEP Council and a former Chairman of STEP Mauritius.
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Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow: ALN Academy Intership Program
Our internship Program offers an opportunity for the youth to gain expertise from the guidance experts at our organization.