Speaker: The Practice of Pro Bono: A training series for lawyers in Africa

Shadiya Uzama is a Senior Legal Associate at TASLAF Advocates and the Head of the Legal & Regulatory Compliance department. She brings extensive experience advising corporate entities, NGOs, and social enterprises on a wide range of legal and commercial matters. Her practice is rooted at the intersection of law, innovation, and impact, and she is particularly passionate about supporting SMEs and social impact-driven ventures. As the Head of TASLAF’s Pro Bono Practice, Shadiya is a strong advocate for legal empowerment initiatives that support small, medium, and growing social enterprises (SGBs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and nonprofits that are often underserved yet vital contributors to local development. Shadiya has played a central role in institutionalizing a pro bono culture within the firm and building strategic partnerships to scale pro bono legal support. TASLAF has been a proud member of Trust Law by Thomson Reuters, the world’s largest pro bono legal network, for over 8 years, providing free legal services, research, and resources to civil society and social enterprises. The firm also collaborated with Sidley Austin for the Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program, contributing to efforts to support over 500 social enterprises globally. TASLAF is also a current member of PILnet’s Pro Bono Clearinghouse, expanding its reach to mission-aligned organizations across Africa and beyond. Through these platforms, Shadiya has facilitated capacity-building initiatives, legal trainings, and advisory support.