Noemi Muya

Noémi Muya is a distinguished attorney, legal counsel, and the founder of For Women in Law (FWIL). Over the course of more than seven years, she has dedicated her career not only to professional excellence but also to advancing the visibility, growth, and empowerment of women in the legal profession.

As the founder of FWIL, she has built a transformative platform that provides mentorship, career guidance, and a thriving community for women at all stages of their legal journeys. Through her structured mentorship programmes, Noémi has guided and inspired more than 40 law students and young professionals, equipping them with the knowledge, networks, and confidence to excel in a demanding field.

Her Learning & Development initiatives — including workshops, guest lectures, and career-focused dialogues — have consistently amplified women’s voices, enhanced professional skills, and fostered a culture of collaboration and leadership. Beyond FWIL, her career as legal counsel leading cross-border transactions in industries such as energy, mining, and construction reflects her professional expertise and influence in shaping Africa’s legal and business landscape.

Noémi’s enduring contribution lies in her dual commitment: excelling in the highest levels of legal practice while creating pathways for the next generation of women lawyers. This award would honour her as a trailblazer whose vision, mentorship, and impact have left a lasting imprint on the profession and continue to shape its future.

Personal Achievements

• Recognized among the Top 30 Africas Leading Women (2025) by Cresta Africa, affirming her influence and leadership across the continent.

• Appointed as General Counsel for a global private equity firm with a strong focus on Africa, where she leads legal teams on complex, high-value projects in mining, renewable energy, construction, and other sectors. In this role, she has advised on multiple cross-border transactions with leading energy and infrastructure companies, delivering both strategic and financial impact.

For Women in Law (FWIL) Achievements

• Grew FWIL into a pioneering platform that advances mentorship, career development, and visibility for women in law.

• Launched and hosted the inaugural Legal Careers Workshop (2024), now an annual flagship event. The second edition will take place in October 2025, cementing FWIL’s role as a driver of professional growth and opportunity for women in law.

• Mentored more than 40 women in law — from students to young professionals — providing structured guidance, professional development, and access to networks that accelerate their career journeys.

• Secured partnerships and sponsorships with leading law firms, channeling resources to support mentees and FWIL’s mentorship programme, thereby strengthening the pipeline of future women leaders in the profession.

• Expanded FWIL’s legal services, onboarding more women clients to access contract review, advisory, and in-house legal support — empowering women entrepreneurs while enhancing the sustainability of a women-led initiative.

• Nominated for the Outstanding Collaboration Award at the African Legal Awards (2025), reflecting FWIL’s growing regional recognition and impact.

Impact
Together, these achievements illustrate Noémi Muya’s dual contribution: excelling at the highest levels of legal practice while creating enduring, inclusive pathways for women across Africa’s legal landscape. Her leadership, mentorship, and innovation embody a lifetime commitment to advancing the profession and uplifting the women within it.

What sets Noémi Muya apart is her ability to merge legal excellence with visionary leadership in advocacy, mentorship, and Learning & Development. While many legal professionals focus primarily on casework or transactions, Noémi has carved a distinctive path by combining her role as General Counsel — advising on high-value cross-border transactions in mining, renewable energy, and construction — with her deep commitment to building platforms that empower women in law.

Through For Women in Law (FWIL), she has created a pioneering model that not only mentors young women but also actively collaborates with law firms, corporates, and sponsors to sustain and expand mentorship initiatives. The integration of mentorship, professional development, and direct legal services for women entrepreneurs under a single umbrella is both innovative and impactful, ensuring that FWIL addresses systemic barriers while providing practical solutions.

Noémi’s differentiation also lies in her dual focus: on the one hand, she is leading strategic, cross-border legal work at the highest level in Africa’s key industries; on the other, she is shaping the future of the profession by championing inclusivity, visibility, and empowerment for women in law. This combination of global deal-making expertise and grassroots mentorship leadership makes her a truly unique and transformative figure in the legal sector.