Law Firms in Kenya
Lawyers in Kenya – A comprehensive guide of all lawyers and law firms in Kenya, their addresses (postal and physical), contacts and a link to the lawyer/law firm website.
That way, when you need legal advice and assistance, you’ll be working with someone whom you’re comfortable, and who understands the needs of your business.
Law Firms in Kenya – Roles | Functions
♦ The practice of law
♦ Business strategy
♦ Client acquisition
♦ Relationship Development
♦ Practice management
Law Firms in Kenya – Sources of law in Kenya
♦ The Constitution
♦ Statutes of General Application
♦ Legislation (Act of Parliament) (Statutes)
♦ Equity.
♦ Case law or (judge-made law)
♦ Delegated legislation.
♦ Africa Customary law.
♦ Common law.
Law Firms in Kenya – When will you need legal counsel?
♦ When you’re deciding whether to incorporate – and need to file the appropriate paperwork
♦ When you’re trying to write or decipher a complicated contract
♦ When you’re threatened with a lawsuit
♦ When you need help collecting a debt
♦ When you need information on regulations pertaining to your business, and assistance in how to comply with them
Law Firms in Kenya – Hire a lawyer who understands your business
♦ Make sure that your lawyer in Kenya (and any other professional advisor) understands the specific needs of your business.
♦ When interviewing to select a lawyer, ask whether he/she has previously worked with a company such as yours – you don’t want to have to pay for learning time.
♦ Has the firm worked with small businesses before? What kind? And if your industry has specialized regulatory or other legal requirements, you’ll want a lawyer who is familiar with them.
Law Firms in Kenya – Use referrals
♦ Referrals are the best way to find just about any service you might need, and finding a lawyer is no exception.
♦ Talk to other business owners, and to your banker, accountant, or other trusted advisor.
♦ You can also check with your local bar association, although not all of them verify an attorney’s specialty or experience.
♦ A bar association referral will, of course, guarantee that an attorney has passed the bar exam.
Law Firms in Kenya – Understand your charges before you get a bill
A lawyers’ fees will vary depending on the location of the practice, the experience of the attorney, the specialty, and whether you’re dealing with a large firm or a small legal office.
Be aware of how the attorney charges. When you call for assistance, are you being charged for the time on the phone? If so, how are these charges calculated? Are there different rates depending on who works on your account – a lawyer, a researcher, a paralegal?
Also, ask in advance whether there will be a charge for the initial consultation.
Law Firms in Kenya -Negotiate a billing method that suits your needs
Most business people pay lawyers when they need them – if a lawyer does two hours of work, you pay for that time. If you have an ongoing relationship with your lawyer, you will probably be billed once a month for services rendered.
Another option is to have a lawyer on retainer, but that is rare for small businesses. Retainer means that you pay a fee to a lawyer to be available to do an agreed-upon amount of duties for your company on an ongoing basis. If you head into heavy litigation or a special project, additional fees are negotiated. It is sometimes possible to obtain a prepaid legal plan where you get a variety of services for a flat annual fee.
There are a number of ways you can save money on your legal bills. Here are some suggestions: Be organized for all meetings with your lawyer because the clock is ticking. Make a non-legal phone calls yourself. Do basic research yourself. Prepare a contract and show it to your lawyer rather than asking him/her to prepare it.
Top Ten Law Firms in Kenya
1. Anjarwalla & Khanna
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Anjarwalla & Khanna (A&K) is a leading law firm in East Africa that has helped many businesses set up in Kenya. With a total of over 50 advocates and offices in Nairobi and Mombasa, the firm has a distinguished track record in many sectors. A&K’s partners are considered the best in several commercial sectors including Mergers & Acquisitions, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Energy and Natural Resources, Tax, Banking and Finance, Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Its clients include
♦ Banks
♦ Private equity funds
♦ Real estate developers
♦ Government and public organizations and many others both locally and internationally.
For more information visit: Anjarwalla & Khanna
2. Coulson Harney Advocates
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Coulson Harney is a Kenyan corporate and commercial law firm providing legal advice and transaction services to a wide range of international clients and local Kenyan clients. At Coulson Harney, the aim is to assist clients in achieving their objectives as smoothly and efficiently as possible whilst minimizing the legal and regulatory risks, both within Kenya and further afield around Africa.
The Firm is ranked in international legal directories such as Chambers & Partners (Tier 1 in 2013 & 2014), Legal 500 (Tier 1), and International Financial Law Review. Coulson Harney is the only law firm in Kenya with three lawyers in Band 1 of Chambers & Partners for Corporate Commercial. The firn has also earned several accolades such as:
♦ Gold Category
♦ World Trademark Review (2013 and 2014)
♦ Deal of the year 2012 (Africa Investor)
♦ Cross-Border Law Firm of the Year in Kenya (Global Law Experts 2012).
The firm areas of practice are:
♦ Corporate and Commercial
♦ Banking and Finance, Capital markets
♦ Energy and Resources
♦ Real Estate
♦ Intellectual property and dispute resolution.
For more information visit: Coulson Harney Advocates
3. Daly & Inamdar Advocates
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Daly & Inamdar Advocates (“D&I”) is the merged firms of Daly & Figgis, Advocates and Inamdar & Inamdar, two of the oldest legal firms in Kenya, Daly & Figgis established in 1899 and Inamdar & Inamdar established in 1926. D&I bring together the expertise of lawyers working in diverse areas of practice which are not only complementary but extend the areas of specialization offered by the firm.
Daly & Figgis was well known for its corporate commercial practice and Inamdar & Inamdar brings additional strength and experience to the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice and increased capacity and support to the property practice. As a result D&I are able to offer their clients comprehensive legal services and support to meet their legal requirements. D&I offers its clients wide-ranging legal services in all areas of corporate,
♦ Commercial and Property Law
♦ Civil Litigation,
♦ Arbitration and Other Forms Of Dispute Resolution.
D&I’s mission is to provide its clients with sound, practical legal advices, expeditiously and cost effectively.
For more information visit: Daly & Inamdar Advocates
4. Hamilton Harrison & Mathews in Nairobi
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Hamilton Harrison & Mathews is one of Kenya’s highly acclaimed law firms, with a tradition of excellence dating back to 1902. HH&M has built up a reputation as an innovative, experienced, responsive and highly-skilled firm with the capacity and technical expertise to offer practical legal solutions to both corporate and individual clients.
HH&M has consistently been rated as top tier dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law firm in Kenya by various international legal directories including Chambers Global, IFLR 1000 and Legal 500. The firm is one of Kenya’s largest law firms with a dedicated team comprised of 14 Partners and 24 Associates who are supported by a team of over 40 legal assistants, administrative and paralegal staff.
We offer legal services to clients all over Kenya and have our primary office in Nairobi and the second office in Mombasa. HH&M provides a full range of legal services to an extensive client base which includes local and foreign companies, individuals, state corporations and Non-Governmental Organizations.
For more information visit: Hamilton Harrison & Mathews in Nairobi
5. Iseme, Kamau & Maema Advocates (IKM)
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Iseme, Kamau & Maema Advocates (IKM) is a leading law firm in Nairobi, Kenya. Through its alliance with DLA Piper, a global law firm, and DLA Piper Africa, a regional alliance across Africa, IKM is in a unique position to act on local, regional and international legal matters.
For more information visit: Iseme, Kamau & Maema Advocates (IKM)
6. Kaplan & Stratton Advocates
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Kaplan & Stratton is a premier law firm providing a comprehensive range of legal services and solutions for domestic and international clients. The firm has a reputation as one of the leading law firms in the East African region. International and cross-border work forms an important part of our business. The firm was established in 1927. The firm comprises 20 partners, all of whom are Kenyan citizens.
For more information Visit: Kaplan & Stratton Advocates
7. Mohammed Muigai Advocates
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Mohammed Muigai is a leading law firm based in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. Comprising 6 Partners, 5 Associates and with the finest legal and administrative support staff, the firm’s reputation as a market leader derives from a tradition of excellence that spans over two decades. The firm practices a wide-ranging divided into four principal departments, namely:
♦ Litigation and Arbitration,
♦ Conveyancing and Property Law,
♦ Commercial Transactions, and Legal Advisory
♦ Consultancy, under which there are several specialist sub-categories.
The firm’s client base is as diverse as it is large involving individuals and corporate entities- both local and international. We understand our clients’ needs and work relentlessly to ensure delivery of innovative solutions, sound representation and pragmatic commercial advice based on our knowledge and experience cutting across the business and legal practices.
For more information visit: Mohammed Muigai Advocates
8. Muthaura Mugambi Ayugi & Njonjo Advocates
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
MMAN Advocates is a leading Kenyan Corporate law firm that aims to provide innovative and meaningful legal solutions for its clients. Central to the firm’s culture is a commitment to deliver a superior experience for clients by understanding their needs and exceeding their expectations.
MMAN offers general advisory and transactional legal services, notably:
♦ Banking and Finance,
♦ Corporate Commercial,
♦ Employment and pensions,
♦ Infrastructure and projects,
♦ Intellectual property,
♦ Litigation,
♦ Arbitration
♦ Real estate.
The law firm caters for individuals, SMEs leading companies and public sector. The firm also advises both local and foreign clients, many of whom are drawn from the firm’s target industry sectors of agribusiness, financial services, energy, engineering and construction, integrated marketing communications, retirement benefits, telecommunications, and transport.
For more information visit: Muthaura Mugambi Ayugi & Njonjo Advocates
9. Oraro & Co Advocates
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Oraro & Company Advocates is a top-tier, full-service Kenyan law firm. The firm’s areas of strength include:
♦ Corporate and Commercial,
♦ Dispute Resolution,
♦ Intellectual Property,
♦ Real Estate,
♦ Conveyancing & Securities and Tax.
The firm’s partnership includes some of Kenya’s best legal minds and its lawyers are recognized by several international leading legal directories such as Chambers Global, IFLR 1000 and Legal 500. The firm is well-recognized for its contribution to Kenyan jurisprudence (through its formidable dispute resolution team), work on some of Kenya’s largest deals and its significant contributions to Kenya’s legal profession. Established 39 years ago, by George Ororo SC (one of Kenya’s top litigators), the firm offers clients on-the-ground insights and a door to the strong business connections it has built locally, regionally and globally.
For more information visit: Oraro & Co Advocates
10. Prof. Albert Mumma and Company Advocates
Category: Law Firms in Kenya
Prof. Albert Mumma & Company Advocates is a medium-sized Nairobi based law firm with an excellent reputation in legal, professional and consultancy circles for the high quality of its work, its integrity, and its responsiveness to clients’ needs. Prof Albert Mumma & Company Advocates was registered in 1995. In 1998 the firm merged with another and practiced as a partnership before resuming practice under the original firm name.
The firm’s professional team has excellent academic credentials and a good rapport with a broad range of clients within the public sector, civil society and in the business community. The firm has a unique reputation among Kenyan law firms for its unrivaled expertise in the field of legal consultancy services at international, regional and national levels and has advised many national and international non-governmental organizations, including the World Bank, the IFC, UNEP and the East African Community.
For more information visit: Prof. Albert Mumma and Company Advocates
11. Intellectual property law in Kenya
Intellectual property law is a concern in protecting the product of creation or product of the human mind. The manifestation of intellectual property law are:
♦ Patents- After making any invention, you get the certificate from the patent office.
♦ Utility models- This is also called petty patents. In utility models the innovation doesn’t have to be entirely new, it might be new in Kenya.
♦ Copyright- Copyright is useful in three areas- literature, software and entertainment amongst others.
♦ Trademark.
♦ Trade secret.
For more information visit: Intellectual property law in Kenya
Top Best Lawyers in Kenya
George Oraro
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
He is the founder and Senior Partner at Oraro & Company Advocates. In the span of his 35 years of service at the firm, he has been involved in practicing litigation in the High Court, the Court Of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Kenya.
Mr. Oraro is a great lawyer for cases related to Banking, Corporate, Commercial Law and Civil and Criminal Litigation. He successfully defended former Cabinet minister Henry Kosgey in a case at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He also represented the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) at the Goldenberg Commission of Inquiry.
Fred Ngatia (SC )
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
Soft-spoken but with stinging facts on matters of law. He is a hard-working lawyer who presents himself well and is highly regarded for his litigation experience.
The brilliant lawyer is regarded in legal circles as the guru of constitutional and judicial service cases. He has been the lawyer for the late Cabinet Minister George Saitoti and represented him at the Goldenberg Commission of Inquiry. He also successfully represented the Jubilee Alliance during the 2012 election petition at the Supreme Court among others.
Prof Githu Muigai (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
He is a former constitutional lecturer at the University of Nairobi and currently the Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya. Prior to becoming Attorney General, he served in the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) and at the United Nations as Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and a member of the American Association of Trial Lawyers.
Ahmednassir Abdulahi (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
Former Dean, law school U.O.N and member of JSC- a master in Litigation and Arbitration and played a critical role in the recruitment of judges of the Supreme Court.
He is a senior partner in Ahmednassir, Abdikadir and Company Advocates alongside former Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohammed. He successfully represented the IEBC during the 2012 election petition at the Supreme Court. He is also the publisher of the Nairobi Law Monthly.
Fred Ojiambo (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
Impeccable mastery of language and partner at one the best law firms around. He is a “brilliant lawyer” who is held in high esteem across the market. He represented Lord Decamere’s grandson when he shot a Kenyan on his expansive ranch near Nakuru and got away with it.
Prof. Patricia Kameri Mbote (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
Her scholarly contribution on Land Law to the legal fraternity is enormous. She is Professor of Law at Strathmore University. She previously worked as an Associate Professor of Law at the School of Law, University of Nairobi and is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She has served as a Policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
She has published widely in the areas of international law, environmental law, women’s rights and property rights.
Ambrose Rachier
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
He is a successful practitioner, especially in the area of conveyance. An advocate of the High Court, an expert on property rights and human rights and legal & ethical issues relating to health.
Amos Wako (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
The longest-serving AG, (Constitutional Law) He is the immediate former AG of Kenya. He served the Kenyan government as the chief legal advisor for 20 years. Wako served as the Secretary-General of the African Bar Association between 1978 and 1980. He is a member of faculty at the University of Nairobi and he served as a committee member with the UN Human Rights. He oversaw the transition from a single party state to multi-party democracy.
Kenneth Fraser (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
He is the senior partner of the Hamilton Harrison & Mathews firm and heads the Litigation Department. He has extensive commercial litigation and arbitration experience in connection with various aspects of banking law, state corporations, insurance law, communications law, and commercial law.
James Orengo (SC)
A man of vast experience, his legal mind, and political career place him in a unique position. This is one of the senior lawyers who represented the CORD coalition in the petition case. He is a prominent lawyer in Kenya, a former Ugenya MP, former Minister and currently the Siaya County Senator.
Jotham Arwa
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
One of the Best litigation lawyers. He is the Managing Partner of the law firm of Rachier & Amollo Advocates, where he heads Legal Consultancy and Commercial Law department. Arwa, arguably one of the most brilliant legal and analytical minds in the business, has tremendous experience in civil and criminal law in addition to his impeccable expertise in a commercial matter.
Jotham Arwa
He has rendered numerous complex legal consultancy services on various fields over the years and has a wealth of experience in legal and regulatory framework review. He has taught law in various universities and colleges including Kenya school of monetary studies, Kenya school of law, University of Nairobi and he is presently lecturing law at the Jomo Kenyatta University Agriculture and technology.
Pheroze Nowrjee (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
He is an iconic figure in the disputes arena, who is highly regarded for his knowledge of constitutional law. Clients seek his advice on, particularly complex cases.
Currently, he is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Zanzibar, and Tanzania. In addition to that, he is also a barrister on Lincoln’s Inn. He earned a B.A. degree from Xavier’s and later attended Yale University from where he earned LLM degree in 1974.
Joe Okwatch (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
Gibson Kamau Kuria (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
Since 1975, Dr. Kuria has published many articles on constitutionalism, rule of law, human rights, legal education, family law, and succession in such scholarly journals as The East African Law Journal. On 28 March 2003, Dr. Kuria was appointed by the President to serve as assisting counsel in the commission to enquire into the Goldenberg Scandal. He has received so many local and international award for championing for human rights.
Paul Muite (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
Paul Kibugi Muite- a reformist, human rights lawyer, senior counsel, leader and politician. He is one of the founders of the original Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) before its breakup and became the first vice-chairman of FORD-K under the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. He is currently representing the Mau Mau against the British government.
Willy Mutunga (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
He is an intellectual, reform activist, and, since June 2011, the Chief Justice of Kenya and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya. He is also the author of a number of widely published articles on the rights of detainees, the role of NGOs and civil society in democratization, the constitutional rights of Kenya’s nomad pastoralists, and the rights of tenants.
Until his appointment as the Chief Justice, Dr. Mutunga was the representative for the Ford Foundation in Nairobi, overseeing all grants making in the Eastern Africa region, mainly focusing on human rights and social justice and protection of women’s rights.
Prof. PLO Lumumba
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
He has over 25 years’ experience in legal practice and academia. He has in-depth experience gained over the years in several practice areas as follows: civil litigation, commercial and conveyance law, trusts, probate and administration law, constitutional and family law, employment, and labour law, administrative and human rights law.
P.L.O- Lumumba has lectured at the United States International University, Nairobi, the University of Nairobi, and Widener University (USA) Nairobi Summer Programs. P.L.O- Lumumba is a renowned legal practitioner recognized by peers as a leading litigator in Constitutional Law and Judicial Review Cases.
He has also has been recognized by the Kenya- USA Society as a Leader in the mould of Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. With several thousand speeches on diverse subjects delivered in and outside Kenya, Lumumba is recognized as one of the leading public speakers in Kenya. In the period between 2002- 2005, Dr. Lumumba served as the Secretary (Chief Executive) of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, the body that was mandated to collect Kenyan views and prepare draft Constitution for deliberations at the National Constitutional Conference.
Rachael Omamo (SC)
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
A lawyer with vast experience. She is the first woman to become the chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). She is the immediate former ambassador to France and currently Kenya’s Defense secretary. She was a member of the task force for the establishment of Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission, a member of the taskforce on the Review of Landlord and Tenant legislation as well as Assisting Counsel to the Ndung’u Land Commission.
Judy Thongori Wanjeri
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
A family lawyer and former executive director Fida
Mohamed Nyaoga
Category: Best Lawyers in Kenya
He has extensive experience in civil and commercial disputes and is also considered a go-to specialist for admiralty and maritime law. He specializes in corporate finance, civil and commercial litigation. He is a recognized authority on bank securities. In addition to the practice of Law, he is the immediate past Vice-Chairman of the Law Reform Commission and the Chairman of its Business Laws Committee.
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