Ralph Sauti

About the Lawyer

Ralph Sauti is the Managing Counsel at Sauti & Company Law Consultants, a firm he founded in 2015. With more than thirteen years of experience at the bar, Ralph is a seasoned expert in Commercial and Corporate Law. His career has been marked by a unique blend of academic insight from his teaching role at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and practical experience as a private practice legal practitioner.

He leads Sauti & Company, a legal firm specifically oriented towards offering comprehensive legal solutions within the realms of commercial and corporate law. The firm was established with a commitment to delivering legal services characterized by equity and integrity, fostering strong client satisfaction. Additionally, his firm is recognized as the only Malawian law firm that is a member of the global Primerus network, which is an alliance of over 150 law firms across more than 40 countries dedicated to high-quality legal services.

Experience

Ralph Sauti has over thirteen years of legal experience, including working at several law firms specializing in commercial law before founding his own practice. Early in his career, he worked for a firm focused on commercial law, which inspired him to pursue an advanced degree in commercial law for greater professional growth. After completing his LL.M., he joined Ralph & Arnold Associates before establishing Sauti & Company in 2015.

His practical experience spans transactional, advisory, and litigation work for both individual and corporate clients locally and internationally. He has represented clients in courts across Malawi as well as in various arbitral forums, reflecting his strong track record in civil and commercial law matters. As the head of Sauti & Company, he supervises a team advising in diverse areas of law related to commercial practice, including mergers and acquisitions, insolvency, and commercial contract drafting and vetting.

Specialty

Ralph Sauti’s core specialty lies in Commercial and Corporate Law. His expertise includes transactional work, legal advisory, and litigation services tailored to commercial clients. He has a notable involvement in Malawi’s emerging role as a seat of arbitration and regularly engages in commercial arbitration matters. His legal practice encompasses areas such as mergers and acquisitions, insolvency, and contract law, where he has achieved significant successes and helped shape Malawi’s commercial legal landscape.

Education

Ralph holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Mzuzu University (2005), an LLB (Hons) from the University of Malawi (2010), and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Commercial Law from the University of Malawi (2016). His academic background underpins his practical expertise and informs his role as both a legal practitioner and educator in the field of commercial law.

• Firm Recognition: Sauti & Company, founded by Ralph Sauti Jr. in 2015, is recognized as the fastest-growing law firm in Malawi and is the sole Malawian member of Primerus, a global network of over 150 boutique law firms in more than 40 countries, highlighting its commitment to excellence and international standards 14.

• Leadership Role: Ralph Sauti is the Managing Counsel and founder of Sauti & Company Law Consultants, leading a team of lawyers specializing in commercial and corporate law, and supervising practice areas including Administrative Law, Employment Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, and more 2.

• Major Case Successes: Ralph Sauti has achieved significant victories in landmark labor law cases in Malawi, shaping the country’s labor law landscape through his litigation expertise 2.

• Contributions to Legal Education and Training: Beyond practice, Ralph Sauti has contributed academically as a lecturer at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, blending theoretical and practical legal knowledge 2.

• Firm Growth and Values: Under Ralph Sauti’s leadership, the firm has grown to a team of nine lawyers with expanding institutional and corporate clients, built on five core values emphasizing character, capacity, competence, teamwork, and efficiency 3.