Legal team size: Five

Major legal advisers/ external counsel: Anjarwalla & Khanna Advocates

Country you’re based in: Kenya

Looking forward, what trends do you foresee in the legal landscape over the next 5–10 years that companies should prepare for?

The legal landscape is rapidly evolving, and over the next decade, we anticipate significant developments in data protection, ESG regulation, and digital transformation. Companies will need to navigate increasingly stringent data privacy laws, particularly with heightened enforcement of Kenya’s Data Protection Act and global equivalents like the GDPR.

There will also be growing legal scrutiny on ESG reporting and corporate sustainability practices. Furthermore, legal departments must prepare for the implications of emerging technologies, especially AI, which will require a more proactive, tech-literate approach to regulation and compliance. The legal function will be expected to operate as a strategic enabler advising business on these new trends and how the business can remain compliant, rather than acting solely as a gatekeeper.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

One particularly fulfilling experience was contributing to the establishment of a philanthropic endowment fund aimed at supporting education for disadvantaged children. It was a blend of legal structuring, governance planning, and stakeholder engagement giving me an opportunity to interact and meet former heads of states of various African countries that had visions they were willing to bring to light. This demonstrates how the legal function can drive meaningful social impact. Another memorable experience involved advising on a multi-jurisdictional transaction requiring harmonisation of diverse regulatory frameworks specifically for Kenya, Nigeria and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It challenged me to think across legal systems, adapt quickly, and provide commercially sound advise while upholding legal integrity.

How does your team contribute to the overall business strategy of the company?

As the legal, governance, risk and compliance function at Zamara, our role goes beyond regulatory compliance. We act as strategic partners, supporting sustainable growth and operational resilience. We advise the business on the steps to take, the measures to implement, and the likely impact of business strategic decisions, both before and after they are made, to ensure the organisation is prepared for the consequences of such decisions.

Our legal advise informs key business decision ranging from product development and client contracts to corporate structuring, risk mitigation and dispute resolution mechanisms. We provide board and committee support, ensure governance frameworks remind robust, and help the organisation navigate complex regulatory changes. By ensuring legal and reputational risks are properly managed, we contribute directly to the company’s long-term strategic stability and credibility in the market.

How are you bringing the legal department closer to your business colleagues?

We have deliberately positioned the legal function as a business enabler. This involves simplifying legal language, offering user-friendly tools and templates, and conducting regular training sessions for non-legal teams. We also hold collaborative planning sessions with various departments, usually at the beginning of every year, and quarterly check-ins to align on objectives and timelines.

By demystifying legal processes and maintaining open, responsive communication, we have fostered a culture in which business leaders view legal as both a trusted advisor and a driver for compliance and effectiveness. These early engagements enable us to pre-empt potential issues and promote compliance in a legally sound manner.