The Legal 500

Daly & Figgis Advocates’ ‘responses are well thought out and insightful, crafted to achieve the client’s objectives and delivered in a timely manner’. Hamish Keith, Anthony Njogu, and Sean Omondi are ‘good communicators with a good grasp of commercial issues and the ability to apply the relevant law’. Njogu, with Evans Monari successfully represented the Interim Independent Electoral Commission in judicial review proceedings which might have prevented important by-elections taking place.

Kaplan & Stratton’s Fred Ojiambo is highly recommended for high-value disputes, and has recently appeared in several high-value tax cases; he is currently acting in a dispute between two leading mobile phone operators over the value of a business on takeover. The ‘intelligent and resourceful’ Nazima Malik is currently representing one of Kenya’s largest companies in dispute with the Kenya Revenue Authority over PAYE and withholding tax issues to a value of KES4bn.

Oraro & Co Advocates’ George Oraro, ‘the best court lawyer in the country’, is representing former KCB chief executive Terry Davidson against insider dealing charges. Chacha Odera is a determined advocate with a persuasive approach; Odera recently appeared in the Court of Appeal for employees in cases against the central Bank of Kenya.

Walker Kontos Advocates’ Allen Gichuhi is ‘an outstanding litigation lawyer who leaves no stone unturned’. Gichui is defending China Petroleum Pipeline against an application to set aside a pipeline construction contract with co-defendant Kenya Pipeline Company.

Anjarwalla & Khanna’s Zul Alibhai represented Zhongman Petroleum of China in a judicial review application before the High Court challenging the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board’s decision to decline a review application for a $45m public tender award.

Hamilton Harrison & Mathews’ court department has four partners and six associates, and is well supported by leading banks. Kenneth Fraser is one of Kenya’s most senior commercial advocates. Kiragu Kimani is not only busy with court appearances but also led the work on the arbitration between Celtel and Telkom Kenya, and has become a specialist in applications to the Public Procurement Complaints, Review and Appeals Board. Clients include Kenya Airways and Kenya Electricity Generating Company.

Inamdar & Inamdar has a deserved reputation for excellence and ‘unquestionable integrity’. The venerable Bill Inamdar continues to practice and advise, although the greater part of the court litigation is handled by Walter Amoko who appeared in the Court of Appeal in Mischeck Gauku M’ambutu & Others v Kenya Railways Corporation.

Mohammed Muigai Advocates’ name partners Githu Muigai and Mohammed Nyaoga are ‘excellent, very professional, and pleasant to work with’. Githu Muigai appeared in the Court of Appeal public procurement case Kenya Revenue Authority v De La Rue Currency and Security Print.

Ochieng’, Onyango, Kibet & Ohaga is ‘a sound litigation firm, with good young people, quietly aggressive in their approach’. Partners handle cases ranging from family and criminal law to commercial disputes. James Ochieng’ Oduol is appearing in complex case before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal. James Ohaga is highly rated.