KO Associates > Nairobi, Kenya > Firm Profile
KO Associates Offices
4th Avenue Towers, 14th Floor,
4th Ngong Avenue
Nairobi
Kenya
KO Associates > The Legal 500 Rankings
Kenya > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3
Setting its sights especially on green and sustainable financing, KO Associates supports a wide array of financial institutions from both at home and across the East African region, advising on finance transactions and structuring, regulation, and compliance, as well as securitisation processes and equity and hybrid products. The team is led jointly by Crispine Odhiambo, who specialises in structured, project, and green finance, Brian Odongo, who assists with high-value transactions, and Ken Rutere, who, having joined from Igeria & Ngugi Advocates in November 2022, extends the real estate financing offering.Practice head(s):
Crispine Odhiambo; Brian Odongo; Ken Rutere
Testimonials
‘KO Associates has a well-rounded team that has the rare and incredible ability to take time to understand one’s business/commercial environment in their assignment. They are deliberate and intentional in the conduct of their work.’
‘The ability to walk in the shoes of the entity they are offering legal solutions to. We have been confident and comfortable to have them present financial criteria we are preparing to our Board members and stakeholders.’
‘The team has a competent, hands-on professional and dedicated workforce.’
‘Crispine Odhiambo has supported us immensely, sometimes on short notice; all the while delivering great value and professionalism.’
‘The level of commitment makes this firm truly stand out and it makes all the difference to us as an organisation.’
‘The team has also demonstrated incredible technical skill and agility.’
We have appreciated the knowledge and attention to detail that Crispine Odhiambo together with his associates have brought to the assignment they have handled for us. Their technical expertise certainly sets them apart.’
Key clients
Equity Bank Kenya Limited (EBKL)
National Bank of Kenya
KCB Capital
Palladium Group – Kenya Investment Mechanism
ABSA Kenya PLC
Mwalimu National DT
Stima SACCO DT
Consolidated Bank Ltd
Development Bank Ltd
Water Sector Trust Fund
Poa Internet Kenya Limited
Nordic Aviation Capital
Ahadi Wireless
National Social Security Fund
National Olympic Committee (NOCK)
Work highlights
- Advised the Water Sector Trust Fund, Kenyan State Corporation on the mandate to assist in financing the provision of water services to areas of Kenya without adequate services.
- Advised the Kenya Investment Mechanism (KIM) Business Advisory Support Services (BASP), a USAID program, on facilitating the investment of up to $520m in key sectors of Kenya’s economy, including agriculture, and for regional trade and investment opportunities under the Prosper Africa initiative.
- Advised and acted for various banks including Equity Bank, National Bank, Consolidated Bank, ABSA and large SACCOs including Mwalimu National Sacco, Stima Sacco and Safaricom Sacco on securitisation with respect to various transactions within their portfolios to protect the banks’ interests.
Kenya > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3
Embedded in the East African corporate and commercial space, KO Associates services a range of listed firms, startups, multinational corporations, financial institutions, and international development institutions, with an emphasis on the tech and infrastructure sectors. Founding partner Crispine Odhiambo heads the team in collaboration with Brian Odongo, together bringing a wealth of experience in transactions and structuring. Ken Rutere supports on matters in the TMT and IP fields.Practice head(s):
Crispine Odhiambo; Brian Odongo
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘KO Associates has a well-rounded team that has the rare and incredible ability to take time to understand one’s business/commercial environment in their assignment. They are deliberate and intentional in the conduct of their work. Not many firms have the ability to walk in the shoes of the entity they are offering legal solutions to.’
‘The team has a competent, hands-on, professional and dedicated workforce.’
‘Crispine Odhiambo has supported us immensely, sometimes on short notice, all the while delivering great value and professionalism. The team has shown up each time we required their support.’
‘The team has demonstrated incredible technical skill and agility. We have appreciated the knowledge and attention to detail that Crispine Odhiambo has brought to the assignment. They have taken the time to understand our business and what we do. Their technical expertise certainly sets them apart.’
‘The Firm has a proven track record of success in advising clients on complex and challenging transactions. The lawyers are committed to understanding their clients’ businesses and objectives, and providing them with tailored and practical advice.’
‘The advantage is that KO Associates has a strong regional presence operating in five markets in East Africa through the Citadel Law Africa (CLA) network. This gives the firm a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape in the region, and allows it to provide clients with seamless cross-border services.’
‘Deep technical expertise with the requisite understanding of the relevant laws and regulations.’
‘Excellent communication and interpersonal skills as the lawyers are well capable of communicating effectively and also keep the client well appraised of the matters with routine status updates.’
Key clients
Adrian Kenya Limited
Water Sector Trust Fund
Bamburi Cement PLC
Kenya Investment Mechanism (KIM) Business Advisory Support Services (BASP)
Lordship Africa
Kenya Climate Ventures
BSD East Africa
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)
Superfluid Labs
Blue Mountain Livestock Company
Work highlights
- Advised Water Sector Trust Fund on the establishment of a well-functioning revolving fund and reviewed and appraised existing financing frameworks, principles, models and mechanisms for alignment with the funding criteria.
- Advised Kenya Climate Ventures in the designing of an impact fund and provided support in fundraising from development financial institutions, commercial and impact investors and donors.
- Advised Jubilee Holdings Limited on a deal involving diverse investigations by the Competition Authority of Kenya touching on abuse of buyer power, restrictive trade practices and consumer protection.
Kenya > Privatisation and projects Tier 3
Geared strategically towards large transportation and infrastructure projects, KO Associates‘ projects team is well-versed in providing legal advisory services to a range of stakeholders including government entities, banks and financial institutions, and public and private developers. Founding partner Crispine Odhiambo is valued for his transportation and energy sector expertise, and leads the team alongside Ken Rutere, who, having joined the firm from Igeria & Ngugi Advocates in November 2022, has already made a mark in the PPP arena. Abigail Namasaka supports on project structuring.Practice head(s):
Crispine Odhiambo; Ken Rutere
Other key lawyers:
Stacy Waweru; Abigail Namasaka
Testimonials
‘I have had the privilege of working with KO Associates for more than one year, and I must say that their team’s strengths and key capabilities are truly commendable. This law firm consistently delivers exceptional legal services with a commitment to excellence that sets them apart in the legal industry.’
‘Ken Rutere and Abigail Namakasa and the team at KO Associates have consistently demonstrated qualities that make them stand out in the legal industry. Their exceptional legal expertise, client dedication, clear communication, and commitment to staying ahead of the curve are just a few of the reasons I hold them in high regard.’
‘It was a pleasure to work in collaboration with KO. Their knowledge of the subject was impressive and helped us satisfy the client and meet the tight deadlines. As a woman, I liked working with KO’s female experts who were diligent, available, and knowledgeable.’
‘Crispine Odhiambo and his team combine both professionalism and integrity while also creating a positive working environment. Even though the project work was on a complex topic, they gave us a piece of mind that the inputs would be of high quality. ’
‘The KO Associates team was comprised of well experienced experts with diverse and extensive experience and expertise in policy and legislative drafting and review, development of board instruments and charters, corporate governance, legal audits, and compliance.’
‘Crispine Odhiambo was an all-rounder who coordinated the assignment very well and was able to manage other team members, who also did well in their individual tasks or components of the assignment. Honestly it was the inputs of each individual within the team that led to this successful delivery of the assignment to the satisfaction of the client.’
‘I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with various law firms, but KO stands out. Their embrace of technological advancements illustrates what it means to be a modern law practice. From the seamless virtual consultations to the digital case management systems, they epitomise the perfect blend of legal acumen and technological innovation.’
‘Crispine Odhiambo’s dedication to the craft of law isn’t just evident in the results he achieves, but in the way he navigates the complex legal landscape with confidence. What strikes me most is his unique ability to demystify intricate legal jargon and scenarios, translating them into actionable insights for his clients. Beyond his legal expertise, he is approachable and genuinely cares for his clients’ best interests.’
Key clients
Castalia Limited
Private Infrastructure Development Group
Nairobi City County Government
Maritime & Transport Business Solutions
Kenya Ports Authority
Kilifi Port Development Limited (KPDL)
Oserian Two Lakes Industrial Park (OTL IP)
National Bank PLC
Safaricom PLC
Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA)
Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KENGEN)
The PPP Directorate
The World Bank
Kisii Municipality
Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED)/Tetratech/ UK FCDO Programe
Farmdo Energy Kenya Limited
Vantage Point Ventures Limited
Ahadi Konnect Affordable Broadband Network
Work highlights
- Advised the Nairobi City County Government on the implementation of the proposed Smart Street Lighting Project.
- Advised the Kenya Ports Authority in the transaction preparation of six transport and logistics assets, being the Mombasa and Lamu Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Lamu Port (Berths 1-3), Mombasa Port (Berth 11-14), Kisumu Port/cold Chain and Logistics Park and Naivasha Cold Chain Logistics Park, to be implemented under a PPP arrangement.
- Advised Safaricom PLC on the development of a Kenya National Smart Grid Network deploying AI platform and advanced data analytics under a PPP arrangement at a cost of $350m.
KO Associates > Firm Profile
The Firm: KO Associates LLP is a leading corporate & commercial Law Firm in East Africa that offers full service. The firm is distinctively international in its outlook and approach and advises the world’s leading companies and financial institutions on their most complex matters in Africa and it is well known and regarded for its subject-matter expertise in technology, energy and infrastructure work in Africa. The firm has a strong team of Sixteen (16) qualified Advocates with strong expertise which has resulted in consistent ranking by legal directories including the Africa Legal Awards (ALA), Legal 500, Chambers Global and IFLR1000. We have been ranked among the leading Specialist Firms in Africa in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 by Africa Legal Awards. The firm operates in five markets in East Africa being Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia through the Citadel Law Africa (CLA) network.
The firm has expertise in Banking & finance, corporate and commercial, Technology, Projects, Energy & Infrastructure, Trade & investment, Real Estate & Construction, Dispute resolution, Tax & wealth management, Compliance & Governance and Intellectual Property. Our clients range from financial institutions, investment firms, public institutions, multinationals, and listed firms that operate in Kenya and Africa as a whole. Our vision is to be a World Class Law Firm with roots in the African Continent offering high quality legal services across the globe. To achieve this, we focus on our mission of offering timely, practical. and innovative legal solutions to clients in our areas of expertise
AREAS OF PRACTICE
COMMERCIAL & CORPORATE M&A PRACTICE
Our Commercial and Corporate M&A Practice advises firms across the broad spectrum of corporate work including contracts, compliance, financing, takeovers, M&A, joint ventures, Strategic Partnerships, disposals and corporate restructurings, as well as general commercial, labour, antitrust and corporate compliance issues. We support a number of entities and firms both large and small in their operations. The range of business we support include listed firms, technology startups, Multinational Corporations, conglomerates, manufacturing firms, retail and distribution companies, financial institutions, foundations, infrastructure developers, international development institutions among others
We advise on all aspects of enterprise life including commercial contracts, cross border transactions, raising capital and operating sustainably. This includes work with sellers, lenders and financial advisers on both public and private mergers and acquisitions, and private equity buyers on private equity financed deals. In our work we are committed to providing excellent service and to finding innovative solutions to the most complex, multi-jurisdictional and at times first of its kind transaction structures for our clients.
INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT & PPPs PRACTICE
KO Associates LLP is at the forefront of the infrastructure financing market for large scale infrastructure developments in Africa. Our sector experience spans through Industrial Parks/ Special Economic Zones, transport infrastructure including roads, rail and ports and PPPs, energy and telecommunication sectors.
We are innovative, responsive and quite familiar with the region’s terrain having worked with Governments, government agencies, regulators, Commercial Banks, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), large commercial banks and Project developers and contractors. We are particularly strong in: Transport and Logistics (roads, ports, & railways) , Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones Development , Social Infrastructure – Housing, Hospitals, Schools and Sporting Facilities , Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and PFI schemes and Telecommunication Infrastructure.
We have worked with large clients including financing of 1050MW Amu Power Plant, Konza Technopolis City Project and Lamu Port under LAPSSET Corridor Development.
TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA & TELECOMUNICATIONS (TMT) PRACTICE
KO Associates LLP advises global technology firms, major media houses, telecommunications companies and financial institutions who rely on our team to provide specialist legal services.
We are trusted by our clients because we bring the right mix of industry practice, government networks and experience to their most challenging and complex legal, regulatory and compliance issues. We invest time to understand our clients, their strategic objectives before offering relevant and practical advice. We have distinguished ourselves as one of the leading Technology and Intellectual Property law firms in Kenya. We offer our clients high quality, innovative and solution -oriented advice which aligns with their goals.
Our diverse experience includes advising the largest telecommunication services and mobile provider in Kenya on data protection and compliance with the European Union General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act, 2019. Advising leading multinational technology companies specializing in Internet-related services and products including online advertising technologies, search, cloud computing, software, and hardware, in all legal issues including, regulatory and compliance, representation in contentious matters, transaction advisory, intellectual property, regulatory review and policy analysis and competition law and advised the East African Community / Investment Climate Facility for Africa on the EAC Study on Intellectual Property Laws and Anti-Counterfeiting Measures.
BANKING & FINANCE PRACTICE
Our Banking & Finance Practice advises leading Banks and Financial institutions in East Africa including Equity Group, ABSA PLC, Jubilee Holdings, AfDB, World Bank among others . we advise on the structuring, documentation and securitization processes for a variety of credit facilities, namely: corporate finance, Asset Finance, Mortgages, Lines of Credit and Term Loans. our key services include: Legal due diligence, deal structuring, Securities Registration, Regulation, Governance and Compliance, Debt Recovery, Review of Financial contracts, Restructuring, Administration and Insolvency, Insurance, Fintech.
COMPETITION & REGULATION PRACTICE
Our Competition & Regulation Practice supports regulated entities and sector players in compliance with competition law and regulation under COMESA and domestic jurisdictions in East Africa. The range of support relates to merger notification, control and exemption, service and consumer complaints, abuse of buyer power, restrictive trade practices, and consumer protection. Our team leverages its cooperative approach with various market and sector regulators to steer transactions be it in enforcement or compliance. We carry out pre-emptive analysis and institutional training to align commercial decisions, instruments and policy with competition laws and regulation to forestall any potential points of exposure.
Our broad understanding of competition & regulatory compliance requirements across different sectors, our ability to keep abreast with changes in laws and regulations, as well as our good relations and strategic partnerships with the market and sector regulators allows our team to be quick to solutions as well as mitigate any points of exposure well before occurrence. Our team equally leverages on continued industry engagement and research to map trends and changes within the sector to enable us to offer well thought out insights. We utilize the regulators self-reporting ecosystem to enable control of transactions. Our regional presence also allows to leverage our strength and synergies across border and regional competition regulators.
COMPLIANCE AUDIT, GOVERNANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Our team of Corporate Governance, Compliance and Legal Audit experts supports private companies, publicly listed companies, public agencies, SACCOs, international organizations and multi-national corporations to enable them; strengthen their governance structures; comply with national and international regulatory frameworks; prepare reporting frameworks to facilitate and ease compliance; assess compliance; unearth legal loopholes likely to cripple business operations; and undertake legal due diligence. The highly skilled, client focused and innovative team provides specialist services with a view to ensuring that our clients are not at cross-purpose with the law or at the risk of being sanctioned.
We have been instrumental in helping various clients in the public as well as the private sector and those operating within Kenya and multinational companies evaluate adherence to external regulatory framework and internal policies, processes, and practices. This has enabled clients identify gaps and remedy them with a view to avoid fines and/or business interruptions. In addition to identifying gaps, the Firm has been instrumental in developing frameworks for remedial action and worked along our clients to support implementation of remedial action
DISPUTE RESOLUTION & ADR PRACTICE
(Arbitration. Litigation. ADR )
With an established and impressive reputation in this field, our commercial dispute resolution and litigation lawyers are highly skilled in managing and resolving all types of corporate and commercial disputes. Our commercial lawyers are your first port of call when seeking advice and support on a broad range of operational, commercial and contractual matters that are an inevitable part of your business life.
We follow a case management approach with a strategy dependent upon the probability of success, the ramifications of the outcome on your image, the likelihood of future litigation, and the cost. This commitment combined with our in-depth knowledge and experience in each of our practice areas allows us to deliver the highest level of service.
Our main priority is to resolve disputes quickly and effectively with as little disruption to business as possible. We focus on the issues that matter to clients and how the dispute resolution process can be managed to deliver optimum results for the client.
ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES PRACTICE
KO Associates LLPs’ Energy Practice guides clients through all aspects of an energy project’s development, financing and operation. The Energy team brings to the table specialist skills in Project Finance, Infrastructure development, Environmental, Tax, Commercial and Corporate, Regulation and Property legal compliance. The team has experience in negotiating joint ventures, concessions, power purchase agreements or other development agreements, as well as providing insightful advice on environmental, regulatory, public procurement and public private partnerships compliance issues.
We are at the forefront of the renewable energy market for clean energy sources including wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, biogas and biomass. We advise public institutions, debt funders (including banks, development finance institutions, private equity funds, development funds, multilaterals) sellers and acquirers (on M&A transactions), sponsors, suppliers and equipment manufacturers.
We offer a full range of legal advisory services including legal due diligence and feasibility studies, joint ventures structuring, project finance documentation and negotiation, legal and regulatory compliance, institutional and governance design. Our experience in projects development ranges from Project Conceptualization, Feasibility studies, Project Institutional and Governance Arrangements, Drafting and Negotiating Project Agreements, Project and Corporate Finance, Project Approvals and Licensing, and Contract Management.
CROSS-BORDER TRADE & INVESTMENT PRACTICE
Our Cross-Border trade and investment Practice, focuses on the full range of legal advisory services in the trade industry. We have significant experience in handling cross –border transactions that involve governmental, intergovernmental and private parties.
Our client service strategy is to provide well thought out solutions that attend to the challenges in the trade sector. We provide guidance through local, regional and international trade laws and the interplay with economic and trade sanctions regimes. Our range of services include Trade and Investment Policy advisory , and Legal Frameworks Development ,Policy advocacy, Public-Private Sector Dialogue ,Establishment of Special Economic Zones and Free Trade Zones ,International Trade and Investment Disputes ,Trade Negotiations ,Policy and Regulatory reform ,Business Climate Advisory, Partnership Arrangements ,Institutional and Governance Arrangements, advisory and Design, Investment Due Diligence and Risk Assessment , Sector legal expertise support, Sector Research and advisory.
We have worked with a number of Regional Institutions, Development Agencies, Government Ministries, State Departments, private sector associations, public corporations and regulatory authorities in the Region to improve policy and legal environment for the EAC and COMESA regions in various sectors including trade, international development, Agriculture, water and Sanitation, financial services, transport, Energy, governance and investments.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) PRACTICE
Our Intellectual Property Practice provide the full suite of IP legal services including registration, licensing, commercialization, protection and enforcement of trademarks and brand designs, copyright, database rights, patents and utility models. We focus on providing strategic and practical legal advice to protect our clients’ innovations and IP assets
Because we are specialist leaders in innovative areas such as Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech and Digital media we are able to offer real insights to clients on get the best value for their IP Assets and how to protect and grow that value in the new digital economy environment. Our suite of legal support range from high-profile matters like M&A, IP Licensing, Joint ventures to day-to-day challenges including IP disputes, registration and renewals, regulatory issues, data protection and portfolio management.
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE
Our Real Estate and Construction practice has lawyers with the expertise to handle the entire property life cycle from the initial acquisition, development, leasing, Joint Ventures and financing all through to the final exit. We appreciate that managing a Real Estate portfolio can be challenging and sometimes complex. In that regard, we help Real Estate owners and Investors simplify the process of addressing occupancy requirement, handling lease disputes, construction, development including structuring, documenting, negotiating, Joint Ventures and preparing permits and approvals that are compliant with local land use, Public Law and environmental regulations
TAX & WEALTH MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
KO Associates Tax Practice is focused on providing timely, effective and innovative solutions on international, cross-border and domestic tax issues.
We advise on a wide range of issues in tax that cut across different sectors such as Manufacturing, Investment and Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Employment and Dispute Resolution. Our expertise in tax includes tax refunds, tax consulting, VAT, customs and excise, manufacturing tax, withholding tax, corporate tax, SEZs, income tax, private equity and investment fund tax issues, among others.
Some of our notable tax advisory services provided in the past; Successfully challenging the VAT refund formula: R=Z/T×e in Legal Notice No. 54 of 2017, Advisory services on East African Rules of origin, Immigration advisory services provided to Edge source Limited, Advisory of services to Lamu SEZ and Analysis of EAC Rules of origin.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Support Services | Dorine Adhoch | dorine@koassciates.co.ke | +254 20 271 3977 |
| Technology & IP | Ken Rutere | ken@koassociates.co.ke | +254 20 271 3977 |
| Corporate & Commercial /Dispute Resolution | Brian Odongo | brian@koassociates.co.ke | +254 20 271 3977 |
| Projects, Energy & Infrastructure | Stacy Waweru | stacy@koassociates.co.ke | +254 20 271 3977 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mr Chege Kanyuku | Associate | View Profile |
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Mr Stephen Kiptinness | On Sabbatical | View Profile |
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Mr Victor Muthui | Associate | View Profile |
|
Ms Abigail Namasaka | Associate | View Profile |
|
Ms Annabel Njoki | Principal Associate | View Profile |
|
Mr Crispine Odhiambo | Senior partner | View Profile |
|
Mr Brian Odongo | Partner | View Profile |
|
Mr Albert Rabin | Associate | View Profile |
|
Mr Ken Rutere | Partner | View Profile |
|
Ms Stacy Waweru | Associate | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Lawyers : 16Languages
English, Kiswahili & FrenchMemberships
Citadel Law Africa Law Society of Kenya East Africa Law Society The Kenyan Chapter Member firm of Advocates for International Development (A4ID)Diversity
Kiptinness & Odhiambo Associates LLP, founded in 2011 to provide legal services in four key areas namely: Projects (Energy, Infrastructure and Cross Border Trade); Technology and Intellectual Property; Corporate and Finance; and Dispute Resolution, deliberately places diversity and an inclusive work environment at the core of its operations. This diversity includes: nationality, language, race, ethnicity, age, personality, disability, and religion.
The firm is committed to providing a conducive environment that promotes Equity, gender parity, Inclusion and Diversity; as well as positioning it to attract, retain and motivate a diverse and well skilled pool of talent.
The firm’s diverse and inclusive teams have resulted in the following milestones:
- Providing legal transactional advisory services to develop East Africa’ newest and largest Transport Corridor, the Lamu Port and South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) a USD. 24 Billion corridor programme with the following facets; port, highway, railway, SEZ, airport, oil pipeline, oil refinery and resort cities;
- Representing major global technology firms based in Nairobi, including; Google Inc, Microsoft Corporation, Uber, Safaricom Plc and Huawei Technologies;
- Advising the Government of Kenya in significant legacy projects including the rollout of the Government’s Digital Literacy Program where the Firm acted as Legal Transaction Advisors, the rollout of the National Security Surveillance System where the Firm advised on the contracts for procurement of security cameras and currently, the Nairobi City Mass Transit System through a Bus Rapid Transport system and a Commuter Rail System;
- Involvement as a Legal Advisor in the Government of Kenya PPP Programme since 2014 having advised on the screening and determination of 15 priority projects with a combined project value of USD. 8.4 Billion;
- Retained in 2018 as a Transaction Advisor to carry out Investment Due Diligence for a Pension Scheme on a proposed USD.20 Million investment in 1050MW Power project. This project was unique as it was the first time a public pension fund in Kenya was considering an investment of this kind;
- Growth an average of 46% in its annual revenues between 2011 and 2021.
- Establishment of Citadel Law Africa bringing together law firms in East Africa with intention to expand into the rest of Africa.
Diversity
Kiptinness & Odhiambo Associates LLP, founded in 2011 to provide legal services in four key areas namely: Projects (Energy, Infrastructure and Cross Border Trade); Technology and Intellectual Property; Corporate and Finance; and Dispute Resolution, deliberately places diversity and an inclusive work environment at the core of its operations. This diversity includes: nationality, language, race, ethnicity, age, personality, disability, and religion.
The firm is committed to providing a conducive environment that promotes Equity, gender parity, Inclusion and Diversity; as well as positioning it to attract, retain and motivate a diverse and well skilled pool of talent.
The firm’s diverse and inclusive teams have resulted in the following milestones:
- Providing legal transactional advisory services to develop East Africa’ newest and largest Transport Corridor, the Lamu Port and South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) a USD. 24 Billion corridor programme with the following facets; port, highway, railway, SEZ, airport, oil pipeline, oil refinery and resort cities;
- Representing major global technology firms based in Nairobi, including; Google Inc, Microsoft Corporation, Uber, Safaricom Plc and Huawei Technologies;
- Advising the Government of Kenya in significant legacy projects including the rollout of the Government’s Digital Literacy Program where the Firm acted as Legal Transaction Advisors, the rollout of the National Security Surveillance System where the Firm advised on the contracts for procurement of security cameras and currently, the Nairobi City Mass Transit System through a Bus Rapid Transport system and a Commuter Rail System;
- Involvement as a Legal Advisor in the Government of Kenya PPP Programme since 2014 having advised on the screening and determination of 15 priority projects with a combined project value of USD. 8.4 Billion;
- Retained in 2018 as a Transaction Advisor to carry out Investment Due Diligence for a Pension Scheme on a proposed USD.20 Million investment in 1050MW Power project. This project was unique as it was the first time a public pension fund in Kenya was considering an investment of this kind;
- Growth an average of 46% in its annual revenues between 2011 and 2021.
- Establishment of Citadel Law Africa bringing together law firms in East Africa with intention to expand into the rest of Africa.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: A large Infrastructure development corporation based in Amsterdam
COMPANY/FIRM: A large Infrastructure development corporation based in Amsterdam
TESTIMONIAL: “The team is efficient, is keen on important details and responsive to client needs. The main strength in my view is their technical astuteness in identifying major bottlenecks in such a large project and providing excellent solutions to those bottlenecks.”
CLIENT: Team Leader, a multi -modal Urban Transport Transformation project
COMPANY/FIRM: Team Leader, a multi -modal Urban Transport Transformation project
TESTIMONIAL: “The firm’s unique expertise in the Transport and infrastructure sector makes it stand out for me. They are well attuned to the unique challenges in infrastructure. The team technical abilities have been outstanding and are they are very responsive to client needs. They are pleasant and great to work with.”
CLIENT: A Leading Telecommunication firm in East Africa
COMPANY/FIRM: A Leading Telecommunication firm in East Africa
TESTIMONIAL: “KO Associates LLP is an exemplary law firm with great people and a valuable legal service provider for us, factors which led to it to be among our most trusted legal advisors.”
CLIENT: A Pan -African Development Organization operating across 28 countries
COMPANY/FIRM: A Pan -African Development Organization operating across 28 countries
TESTIMONIAL: “…our association with the firm began years ago and I must say that I do not regret the decision. We have received excellent service, both in the form of legal services and legal advice.”
CLIENT: Carmelite Missionaries
COMPANY/FIRM: Carmelite Missionaries
TESTIMONIAL: “KO Associates LLP is a Firm that places the interest and satisfaction of their client first before their financial gain. The level of respect, kindness, patience and gentleness from the team is something we highly value.”
CLIENT: Don Bosco Tech Africa
COMPANY/FIRM: Don Bosco Tech Africa
TESTIMONIAL: “ Promptness of service and monthly update to the client on the status of the cases or issues that are being handled by the firm.”