Major Selasie Atuwo (Rtd)
Major Selasie Atuwo (Rtd)
Summary Experience
Selasie leads a team of diligent, innovative and solution-driven lawyers who have, over the years, demonstrated both knowledge in the law and client-centredness in their practice. He has over 26 years’ experience of leadership and advising local and international public and private officials and clients across a broad range of disciplines. His expertise spans across Legal Practice, Risk Management, Investigations, Regulatory Compliance, Quality Assurance and Civil/Commercial Mediation.
Apart from general practice areas such as Corporate Law, Commercial Law and Transactions, Selasie has represented and advised a broad range of clients on complex legal, policy and regulatory aspects of Privacy & Data Protection, Intellectual Property, Cyberspace, Telecommunications, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Cryptoassets, Blockchain, FINTECH, Defence and Security.
Examples include:
- Advised Vodacom (South Africa) on the Regulatory Framework of the Telecommunications Industry in Ghana.
- Advised ICT Legal (an Italian Law Firm) on the Data Protection and Privacy Laws of Ghana.
- Quality Assurance Consultant for Tony Blair’s DigSmart Programme in Ghana.
- Acted as Co-counsel for the Ministry of Finance on the successful 2021 USD 3 billion Government of Ghana (GOG) Sovereign Bond.
- Acted as Co-counsel for the Ministry of Finance on the successful 2020 USD 3 billion Government of Ghana (GOG) Sovereign Bond.
Before turning to full-time legal practice, Selasie served as a professional military officer in the Ghana Army. As a Jumpmaster/Parachute Jumping Instructor and Second-in-Command of the elite Airborne Force, he was instrumental in the planning and execution of Special Forces Airborne Operations and Training. He was also an Instructor and Course Commander at the Ghana Military Academy where he trained and mentored Officer Cadets. In recognition of his professionalism and commitment to duty, Selasie was awarded the Long Service and Efficiency Medal by the Ghana Armed Forces in 2016.
While in military service, Selasie had the opportunity to serve in several roles on United Nations missions across Africa and the Middle East, including DR Congo, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia. In 2014, he was appointed as the Chief of Technical Investigations at the Headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) where he investigated breaches along the Blue Line and advised UNIFIL HQ on Israel and Lebanon’s compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
As part of his lecturing credentials, Selasie taught at the Law Faculties of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Mountcrest University College and KAAF College.
He is a Barrister of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn (England and Wales) and a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Selasie holds four Master of Laws (LLM) degrees in Information Technology Law, International Commercial Law, Business and Taxation Law and Advanced Legal Practice from the University of Ghana, University of Dundee, Université de Cergy-Pontoise and University of the West of England, respectively. He earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB, Hons) degree from the University of London, a Post-graduate Diploma in Bar Professional Studies from Bristol Law School and certificates of qualification in Patents and Software Licensing from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Others are post-graduate certificates in International Human Rights Law from the International Bar Association/Florida State University and International Law of Cyber Operations from the University of Reading.
Selasie is an accredited Civil/Commercial Mediator. During his service in the military, he earned a Diploma in Military Science and other military/defence qualifications from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College and other military institutions in Canada and China.
Selasie is a member of the following associations:
- Ghana Bar Association
- The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
- American Bar Association
- International Bar Association
- International Association of Privacy Professionals
- ADR Group, Bristol
- American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS)