Career Biography

Juliano G. Kanyongolo is a Malawian corporate lawyer and governance professional with over 15 years of experience advising boards of directors, financial institutions and multinational businesses on legal, regulatory and strategic matters. He has built a reputation as a trusted General Counsel whose legal advice is grounded in commercial pragmatism, sound governance and an in-depth understanding of the financial services sector.  

Juliano serves as Group Head of Legal and Company Secretary for FDH Financial Holdings Limited, one of Malawi’s leading diversified financial services groups. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading the Group Legal function and providing company secretarial services to the holding company and its subsidiaries, including FDH Bank Plc, First Discount House Limited, FDH Money Bureau Limited and FDH Properties Limited. As principal legal advisor to the Board and executive management, he plays a central role in corporate governance, regulatory engagement, strategic transactions, litigation oversight, and compliance. 

Juliano has advised on some of the Group’s most significant strategic initiatives. He provided legal leadership on the acquisition of a controlling interest in a commercial bank in Mozambique and a Bureau de Change in Zambia, overseeing complex cross-border legal due diligence, transaction processes, regulatory approvals and post-acquisition governance arrangements. He also advised on capital markets transactions, including public offerings and securities regulation, and supported the Group’s expansion and transformation initiatives across multiple jurisdictions. 

Juliano has expertise in banking and finance law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, capital markets, commercial contracting, and company secretarial practice. He has successfully negotiated high-value financing arrangements, drafted corporate transaction documentation, and advised on regulatory compliance under financial services, securities and other corporate legislation. His ability to combine technical legal expertise with commercial insight has enabled boards and executive teams to make informed strategic decisions while maintaining the highest standards of governance and regulatory compliance. 

Juliano is equally committed to the advancement of legal scholarship and professional development. He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial Law, awarded by the University of Malawi with distinction in 2023, and has lectured postgraduate courses in Banking Law and Regulation and Comparative Business Financing Law. He has also taught undergraduate courses in Contract Law, Drafting and Conveyancing, Law of Property and Public International Law. His work and research reflect a continuing interest in corporate governance, banking regulation, transfer pricing, cross-border finance and the evolving role of the General Counsel as a strategic business partner. 

Drawing on his extensive experience, Juliano recently founded Deo Favente Lawyers, a corporate and commercial law firm in Blantyre, Malawi, dedicated to delivering commercially focused legal services that support sustainable business growth and institutional resilience.