Experience

Rutendo Muchinguri is a corporate/commercial and franchise lawyer at Dipchand LLP, where she helps entrepreneurs and business owners bring their visions to life. Her practice spans private M&A transactions, franchise law, and general corporate advisory work, with a particular interest in how intellectual property—especially trademark law—intersects with franchise systems.

Called to the bar in both Canada and Zimbabwe, Rutendo brings a truly global perspective to her clients’ matters. She earned her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B., with Distinction) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law from the University of the Witwatersrand—one of Africa’s top universities. Her academic excellence was recognized through numerous awards, including the Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Prize for top first- and second-year student, multiple certificates of merit, Dean’s List honours, and a full postgraduate merit scholarship.

Prior to joining Dipchand, Rutendo practiced law in Zimbabwe as a Senior Associate at BeraMasamba and later worked as a law clerk and assistant at Toronto-based firms, gaining hands-on experience in corporate law and litigation before focusing her practice exclusively on transactional and franchise matters.

Rutendo is fluent in Shona and conversational in IsiZulu and Ndebele. Outside the office, she is an avid tennis player, passionate traveler, enthusiastic hiker, and skilled baker—known to perfect any recipe she puts her mind to.