our law firm
History And The Team
Our History
John Bryce, son of Bryce and Anne Hendrie was born on the 2nd of June 1872. He attended school at Ewart Institute in Newton Stewart, Dumfrieshire, Scotland. Beginning in 1888, John began his legal apprenticeship under a Mr. Kelly in Newton Stewart, and he would be so, engaged for the next five years.
After his apprenticeship, he joined Bannatyne, Kirkwood, France & Co. in Glasgow where he remained for seven years. Sometime in the early 1900s, John moved to Bulawayo and together with one E.G Russell, was by 1907, a partner in the firm Russell & Hendrie. Some years later, John would merge his practice with Wallace Stuttaford and the firm would be known as Bryce Hendrie and Stuttaford.
John Bryce died at his home in Bulawayo on the 25th of July 1946, at the age of 75. Apart from the practice of law, John was remembered for his involvement with the Bulawayo Club, Golf Society and the military.
John’s son, Francis (a.k.a. Frank) Bryce Hendrie, was born in Glasgow Scotland on the 23rd of December 1915 to John and his wife, Frances Maude Edington. Francis was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he read law. By 1940, Francis had been admitted to practice law as a legal practitioner, conveyancer and notary public in the then Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
Frank Bryce Hendrie
After being an articled clerk with another leading Bulawayo firm, Francis joined his father John in the firm Bryce Hendrie and Stuttaford in 1945.
Meanwhile, the Calderwood history of the firm is as follows:-
Brian Lawton Calderwood was born in 1906 to Wilfred Calderwood, who would later become the Auditor General of South Africa. He grew up in Pretoria, South Africa and in the early 1930s started a law firm in Bulawayo under his name.
After WWII, Brian was joined at the firm by his younger brother Alistair Lawton Calderwood, and the firm may have been known at this time as Calderwood & Calderwood.
On 1 May 1958, or sometime thereabout, Francis Bryce Hendrie merged his practice with Calderwood & Calderwood and the firm became known as Calderwood, Bryce Hendrie, Smith & Abercrombie. The other partners at the time were Graeme Hornby Smith and Ralph Abercrombie. (It is not clear when exactly Graeme and Ralph joined the firm, but records indicate that they were named partners as early as 1968.)
Records show that the firm has been housed at:
• Albany House, 9th Avenue/ Main Street (now J.M.N Nkomo Street), Bulawayo
• Barclays Bank Buildings, (now First Capital Buildings) 8th Avenue/ Main Street, Bulawayo
• CABS Building, Selborne Avenue (now L. Takawira Avenue)/Abercorn Street (now J. Moyo Street), Bulawayo, and
• Derry House, 6th Avenue/Fife Street, Bulawayo (present location)
It is thought that with time, the name was shortened to Calderwood, Bryce Hendrie & Partners after the realisation that the name would be quite a mouthful if all the partners were named.
Through its partners over the years, the firm has developed entrenched roots in the leadership of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo Golf Club, Bulawayo Country Club, Zimbabwe Academy of Music, and the arts field in Bulawayo.
The firm has groomed many a great legal mind in Zimbabwe and has served clients who comprise leading banks, mining, manufacturing and engineering companies, schools, and many prominent families.
The firm’s areas of practice today include Banking and Finance, Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Corporate Rescue, Liquidations and Restructuring, Bank Foreclosures, Corporate and Commercial, Debt Collection, Employment and Labour, Human Rights, Investment, Litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions, Mining, Real Estate, Conveyancing, Tax and Trusts and Estates.
Special thanks to: Roy Lander, Ian Hornby Smith, Andrew Calderwood and the Calderwood family, Alan Hendrie and the Bryce Hendrie family, and everyone who helped in the compilation of the history of the firm.
Our Partners
At Calderwood, Bryce Hendrie & Partners, our partners are the cornerstone of our firm. With decades of combined experience, they lead our team with unwavering commitment, deep legal knowledge, and a passion for justice. Each partner brings a unique set of skills and expertise, ensuring that we deliver the highest quality of legal services across various practice areas. Meet our distinguished partners.
Anthony Hugh Denbury
Senior Partner
As our Senior Partner, Tony brings over 40 years of practising experience to the firm. His areas of expertise are commercial and corporate law, drafting and reviewing complex commercial agreements, mining law, investment law including the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act and the indigenisation policy, conveyancing and notarial work, securitisation of debts, administration of estates and handling complex matrimonial matters.
ahdenbury@calderwoods.co.zw
Jonathan Joseph Moyo
Partner
Jonathan, a Partner at our firm, has more than 37 years of experience in the legal field. His practice areas include labour and employment law, commercial and corporate law, complex debt recoveries, drafting and reviewing complex commercial agreements and securitisation of debts, investment law, handling high net worth matrimonial matters and notarial work.
jjmoyo@calderwoods.co.zw
Ndabezinhle Mazibuko
Staffing Partner
Ndaba, our Staffing Partner, boasts over 29 years of experience. His wide-ranging areas of practice include drafting and reviewing commercial agreements, securitisation of debts and debt recovery, criminal law work, human rights, civil law litigation, bank foreclosures, complex debt recoveries, landlord and tenant law, family law, commercial disputes and administration of estates. He is a former Councillor with the Law Society of Zimbabwe.
nmazibuko@calderwoods.co.zw
Shepherd Chamunorwa
Partner
Shepherd graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in the year 2004 and immediately joined the Ministry of Justice as a prosecutor based at the Bulawayo Magistrates Court. He joined the firm in November 2005 and was admitted into Partnership on 1 July 2009. Shepherd handles most of the firm’s criminal law litigation, labour and employment law, securitisation of debts and debt collection, civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
schamunorwa@calderwoods.co.zw
Our Associates
Our associates are integral to our commitment to excellence. Young, dynamic, and highly skilled, our associates bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to complex legal challenges. They work closely with our partners, ensuring that every client receives personalized, effective representation. Get to know our dedicated associates:
Varaidzo Chagonda
Senior Associate
Varaidzo, an Associate at our firm, graduated from the University of South Africa and has been a registered Legal Practitioner since June 2018. Her areas of practice include but are not limited to criminal law litigation, labour and employment law, debt collection, civil litigation, and alternative dispute resolution.
vchagonda@calderwoods.co.zw
Gamelihle Ncube
Associate
Gama joined the firm as an intern in 2020 and graduated top of his class from Midlands State University in 2021. He was registered as a legal practitioner, conveyancer and notary public by the High Court of Zimbabwe in 2022 . His areas of practice include but are not limited to labour and employment law, civil law litigation, conveyancing, notarial work, landlord and tenant law, commercial agreements, debt collection, and alternative dispute resolution. Gama is also known for his strong research skills and preparation of legal opinions. He is currently serving as a committee member of the Bulawayo Legal Practitioners Association.
gncube@calderwoods.co.zw
Administration Staff
At Calderwood, our administration staff forms the backbone of our operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Their dedication and expertise support our legal team in delivering the highest standard of service to our clients.
Our administration staff's commitment and expertise are essential to our success, providing the foundation for our exceptional legal services.
Book Keepers
Our team of skilled accountants ensures that our financial operations are seamless and efficient. They manage our financial records, oversee billing, and handle client accounts with precision and integrity. Their expertise ensures that our firm's financial health is robust, allowing us to focus on providing top-tier legal services.
Secretaries
Our secretaries are the organizational wizards who keep our office running like a well-oiled machine. They manage schedules, coordinate meetings, and handle correspondence with professionalism and efficiency. Their support is crucial in maintaining the high level of client service that we are known for.
Clerks
Our clerks play a vital role in supporting our legal team with research, document preparation, and case management. Their attention to detail and strong organizational skills ensure that our attorneys have everything they need to effectively represent our clients.
Conveyancing Secretaries
Specializing in property transactions, our conveyancing secretaries handle the intricate details of real estate deals. From preparing legal documents to liaising with clients and other parties, their expertise ensures that property transactions proceed smoothly and efficiently.
Our Interns
At Calderwood, we have interns who bring a fresh perspectives and a strong work ethic. They gain hands-on experience in legal research, document drafting, and case management, significantly contributing to our firm's success. Our comprehensive internship program provides practical training and real-world experience, with experienced mentors offering support and feedback. Interns assist with research, client interactions, and administrative tasks, offering innovative ideas and essential support to our legal team. We nurture future legal professionals, with many former interns achieving great success. Their dedication and eagerness to learn are crucial to our firm’s success and commitment to outstanding legal services.