CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates > Nairobi, Kenya > Firm Profile

CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates
ABC TOWERS, 6TH FLOOR
ABC PLACE, WAIYAKI WAY, PO BOX 40034
NAIROBI 00100
Kenya

Kenya > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Utilising a strong sector-focused approach, CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates has a full-service offering to clients in the energy, aviation, financial services, telecoms, and manufacturing industries, in core corporate competencies including M&A, restructuring, special purpose vehicles, and regulatory and due diligence advice. Oil, energy, and mining specialist Julius Wako heads the team, joined by Shitul Shah, who works on M&A and capital markets, Hanee Khan, who enjoys a niche in aviation, Abdulhafeez Noorani, who is often retained for property and banking transactions, Alex Muchira, who has specialist expertise in foreign direct investments, and Cheryl Mageto, who deals with private equity and corporate compliance. Former practice head Hamish Keith retired in December 2022, but continues with the firm in a consulting capacity. Samson Mac’Oduol departed in December 2022.

Practice head(s):

Julius Wako

Testimonials

‘The team has both depth and breadth of knowledge, and is well-connected in the Kenyan business community. This enables them to give pragmatic and practical advice to clients.’

‘Haanee Khan is well-connected and brings a wealth of advantages to the table. A great negotiator, he seeks workable and innovative solutions and is able to move business deals forward at a good pace.’

‘CMS is diverse in covering a wide spectrum. Professionalism is the key point that impressed. Everybody in the firm kept treating our cooperation with respect. Their advice was to accurate and to the point. Fulfilled all their obligations on time.’

‘Haanee Khan and the team at CMS provide excellent and clear advice for foreign clients involved in Kenya.’

‘Honest and objective advice given by the team.’

‘Approachable and quick in responding.’

Key clients

Thika Power Limited

Kentalya PLC (Part of Volmary Group)

Vodafone International Holdings BV

Hydrobox Group

Work highlights

Kenya > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3

CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates‘ banking and finance practice is a strong choice for blue-chip global heavyweights requiring transactions and investments support in Kenya, as well as Kenyan clients conducting business across the region. Julius Wako heads the team, with specialist expertise in the energy, projects, and infrastructure space, and is joined by Nishit Maru, whose niche is in the shipping sector, and Stella Situma, who deals primarily with real estate and bank securities.

Practice head(s):

Julius Wako

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The team is very responsive and provides commercially sensible and practical legal advice. Their turnaround times are also very prompt, and we have found them to be very responsible with timeframes.’

‘Julius Wako is a real star and knows the market very well. He resources at the right level, and is always on hand to provide guidance and appropriate partner-level involvement.’

‘The firm has specialised knowledge in the perfection of securities. They are fully dedicated to their work and make timely and precise communication with their clients.’

‘Julius Wako is thorough and devoted to his duties. He always makes time to return calls whenever applicable. He also goes out of his way to give sound advice and suggestions on possible solutions necessary to expedite the process.’

Key clients

Stanbic Bank Kenya

Standard Chartered Bank

I&M Bank Kenya

ABSA Bank

NCBA Bank

Victoria Commercial Bank

Bank of Baroda

Alba Petroleum Limited

Seabulk Trading Limited

Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited

Work highlights

Kenya > Dispute resolution Tier 3

The dispute resolution offering at CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates is strongest in commercial, employment, maritime, and real estate litigation, representing a range of domestic players. Practice head Samir Inamdar is regularly retained by shipping companies, P&I Clubs, and other commercial enterprises on Kenyan law disputes, while George Muchiri is a top choice for arbitration. Grace Kinyanjui specialises in environmental law and debt recovery, Collette Akwana is well-versed in commercial, civil, and employment disputes, and Gibran Darr is strong in the land and construction arena.

Practice head(s):

Samir Inamdar

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The firm is very professional and knowledgeable in a wide range of legal issues, the partners are hands on.’

‘The team is highly industrious and dedicated. They are also proactive and have a very good turnaround time. They do deliver.’

‘Collette Akwana is very studious, apt and responsive. A good communicator and very innovative in thought and providing solutions.’

‘George Muchiri’s ability to keep the end game in mind and present a compelling argument that carries all stakeholders with him is invaluable.’

‘CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates has a great dispute resolution team in Kenya, with a focus on commercial litigation but with the ability to also assist with other disputes, e.g. media law.’

‘Samir Inamdar has been an excellent advocate who is considered, thoughtful and explains things carefully. He clearly has lots of experience and reassures clients.’

‘Victor Mungai assists Samir Inamdar and is extremely efficient in assisting with preparing legal arguments. They are an excellent team.’

‘CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates is a reputable firm with premium corporates as clients. The firm operates with a high degree of professionalism and ethics. Their knowledge of all legal statutes and their competency in various fields including ours in particular (construction) is not easily available with many other firms.’

Key clients

Medical Protection Society

Japan P & I Club

Sybrin Kenya Limited

Jubilee Allianz General Insurance (K) Limited

Avmax Aircraft Leasing Inc

Weld-Con Limited

Oceanview Plaza Limited

Kensalt Limited

Safaricom Limited

Golden Sand Resort Apartments Owners’ Association

Ecobank Kenya Limited

Old Mutual Holdings Limited

Petro Oil Kenya Limited

Work highlights

Kenya > Real estate and construction Tier 3

Catering to a range of commercial enterprises, domestic entities and developers, CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates assists with development projects, sales and acquisitions, and the exercise of land rights. Practice head Harpreet Ubhi's expertise spans property, real estate, and probate law, and the team also benefits from the experience of Stella Situma, who works on real estate and bank securities, and Nancy Ndegwa, who advises on all property and construction matters. Hamish Keith retired in December 2022, but continues with the firm in a consulting capacity.

Practice head(s):

Harpreet Ubhi

Other key lawyers:

Stella Situma; Nancy Ndegwa; Hamish Keith; Abdulhafeez Noorani; Lillian Lofty

Testimonials

‘Great firm with great individualised personnel. Effective and responsive.’

‘Nancy Ndegwa is effective, responsive, timely, measured and gives great legal advice.’

‘Over the past 12 months, I have been able to both sell and also purchase simultaneously two properties in Nairobi, with the help of CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates. The attention to every detail was excellent in all the paperwork, transfer details, tax issues and assistance in general in both transactions. For this I am very grateful for the very professional assistance that I received from Harpreet Ubhi.’

Key clients

VDH Developments Limited

Viewpoint Properties Limited

Brookshill Crescent Investments Limited

Atelier Residency Limited

Work highlights

CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates (CMS DI) is the oldest law firm in Kenya tracing its origins to 1899 with offices in Nairobi and Mombasa, and is part of CMS, a future-facing international firm with more than 5,000 lawyers across more than 70 offices in 40 countries worldwide.

CMS-DI is one of the most reputable full-service civil law practices, engaging in all aspects of corporate, commercial, real estate, and dispute resolution services. With over 40 experienced lawyers, a number who are dual qualified (England and New York), handling significant, ground-breaking, and noteworthy commercial transactions, CMS-DI’s clients include Kenyan-owned companies, multinational corporations, development institutions, foundations, and private clients conducting business across Africa.

Department Name Email Telephone
Corporate and commercial Hamish Keith
Corporate and commercial Abdulhafeez Noorani
Corporate and commercial Shitul Shah
Corporate and commercial Julius Wako
Corporate and commercial Nishit Maru
Foreign direct investment Hamish Keith
Foreign direct investment Shitul Shah
Foreign direct investment Samir Inamdar
Capital markets Hamish Keith
Capital markets Abdulhafeez Noorani
Banking and finance Julius Wako
Banking and finance Abdulhafeez Noorani
Construction Samir Inamdar
Litigation and dispute resolution Samir Inamdar
Litigation and dispute resolution George Muchiri
Intellectual property Shitul Shah
Property and real estate Harpreet Ubhi
Property and real estate Lillian Lofty
Property and real estate Nishit Maru
Maritime and admiralty Samir Inamdar
Maritime and admiralty Nishit Maru
Insurance Hamish Keith
Insurance Samir Inamdar
Regulatory compliance Abdulhafeez Noorani
Mining and energy Hamish Keith
Mining and energy Julius Wako
Employment Shitul Shah
Employment Abdulhafeez Noorani
Employment George Muchiri
Immigration Shitul Shah
Number of Lawyers : 40
:
English
Hindi
Kiswahili
CMS

Contacts : Samir Inamdar (Samir.Inamdar@CMS-DI.com)
Contacts : Oliver Manyasi (Oliver.Manyasi@CMS-DI.com)
Other office : Mombasa
Dual qualified : 6
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