Ludo Tema is the group legal counsel for Debswana Diamond Company, a mining company and the world’s leading producer of diamonds by value. During her seven years at the Debswana business she has been responsible for setting up the legal function and its policies as well as managing the legal risk of the business and all its relevant projects.

Wearing multiple hats, Tema also advises on compliance and legislative issues affecting the mining industry in Botswana. As part of the senior leadership team, she is in charge of reviewing business operations and strategy across the company, assisting in advising on mining operations and diamond extraction. Prior to this role, Tema served as legal counsel and company secretary at Barclays for seven years, responsible for the management of legal risk in the business, including managing litigation, intellectual property, law firm panel, contractual documentation, and advising senior management of the bank. In this capacity she was also responsible for administration of board activities and advising board members on specific issues.

She also had a spell at Armstrong Solicitors assisting with the corporate commercial legal practice, working in the commercial department, servicing corporate customers. As well as usual legal roles she was also involved in listing, corporate actions, advising on laws and regulations related to industry, mining and commerce, an experience which has widened her areas of expertise considerably. She also concurrently led as head of conveyancing and property department responsible for advising on lending, commercial and residential projects, registration of transfers and mortgages, notarial practice and advising on banking and security issues.