Our Team

Ernest Meliyo Ndakaru is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania whose practice is distinguished by a unique combination of legal expertise and extensive banking experience. With over fifteen years of professional experience spanning banking and finance, regulatory compliance, credit administration, collateral management, and legal practice, he advises financial institutions, corporations, and private clients on complex commercial and regulatory matters.

Before joining legal practice, Ernest held various positions at Stanbic Bank Tanzania Limited and Citibank Tanzania Limited, where he developed extensive expertise in banking operations, regulatory compliance, credit administration, operational risk, and collateral management. At Stanbic Bank, he specialized in the preparation, perfection, and registration of banking securities, including mortgages, debentures, guarantees, deeds of assignment, loan subordination agreements, and other security instruments. His experience working closely with regulators, government institutions, and external counsel gives him a practical understanding of the legal and commercial considerations that underpin banking and financial transactions.

Ernest’s practice focuses on banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, secured lending, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, real estate and property transactions, debt recovery, security perfection, and dispute resolution. He is recognised for delivering commercially pragmatic, solution-oriented advice that helps clients manage legal risk while achieving their business objectives.

He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law School of Tanzania, an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from the Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI), and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Tumaini University – Iringa University College. He has also undertaken professional development programmes in lending management, mortgage financing, credit risk mitigation, banking operations, and leadership.

Ernest combines sound legal judgment with practical commercial insight gained from an extensive career in the banking sector. His multidisciplinary experience enables him to provide strategic, business-oriented legal advice that is both technically robust and commercially practical. He is committed to delivering responsive, high-quality legal services while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity

• Associate, Lawfields Attorneys, July 2026.
• Collateral Officer, Stanbic Bank Tanzania Limited March 2015 – July 2023.
• Various Posts including Cash Management, Clearing, Customer Service and Compliance, Citibank Tanzania Limited March 2010 -March 2015.
• Customer Care Agent, DSTV Tanzania Limited December 2009 – March 2010
• Customer Care Officer, HiTS Tanzania Limited August 2008-December 2009.

• Advocate High Court of Tanzania, Since July 2026.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law School of Tanzania, April 2026.
• Master of Business Administration -Majoring Corporate Affairs – The Eastern and Southern African Management Institute – ESAMI 2015.
• LL.B. – Tumaini University, Iringa University College, October 2008.

• Tanganyika Law Society (TLS).
• East Africa Law Society (EALS).

Swahili and English