With a pan-African presence in the market, the corporate team at Bowmans, which is jointly led by Rainbow Field and Joyce Karanja, is commended by clients for its ‘strong expertise in M&A and commercial law’. Field specialises in corporate and commercial transactions, as well as joint ventures, while Karanja is well-versed in competition merger control. Paras Shah is experienced in private equity and capital markets work, and Kendall Evans is a key member of the team for matters related to corporate restructurings. Other key contacts in the group include venture capital expert Vruti Shah, private M&A specialist Christina Nduba-Banja, Yusra Butt, Richard Harney, and Wathingira Gituro.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘We have worked with the Bowmans team on several occasions during the review period as our offshore counsel. Their collective expertise and responsiveness are unparalleled, enabling our Sri Lankan clients to enter and expand within the African market with confidence and ease. Our positive experience with the team has led us to consistently recommend Bowmans to all our clients seeking to invest or establish operations in Africa.’
- ‘We have worked extensively with Paras Shah, Vruti Shah, and Yusra Butt. The team demonstrates strong expertise in M&A and commercial law matters and has effectively guided our clients in establishing their initial ventures in the African market.'
- ‘Bowmans has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of both the Kenyan legal landscape and the unique needs of a manufacturing business. What makes the practice stand out is its combination of technical legal excellence with practical, business-focused advice. The team is highly responsive, commercially astute, and proactive in identifying risks before they escalate, which has been invaluable to us.'
- ‘What has truly set the Bowmans team apart are the individuals we have had the privilege of working with. Vruti Shah and Yusra Butt stood out for their dedication, professionalism, and client service. They consistently kept us updated, spent long hours reviewing and perfecting documents, and ensured all submissions were made in a timely and efficient manner. Beyond their technical excellence, they were approachable, friendly, and made what was a demanding process far easier to manage.'
Key clients
- Amethis Milling, Arrandale Holdings Ltd, Merec Financial Corporation
- Actis
- Star Food Holdings Ltd
- The Bluck family and Nodor International
- Lipton Teas and Infusions B.V.
- Holcim Group
- Africa Poultry Development Ltd
- Kenchic Uganda Ltd
- Wananchi Group (Holdings) Ltd
- KCB Group Plc
- Leapfrog Investments
- Kenafric Manufacturing Ltd
Work highlights
Advised the Amethis Private Equity Fund, Merec Financial Corporation, and Arrandale Holdings Ltd (as the Sellers) on the sale of the entire issued share capital of Stratton Africa Holding Ltd, the Mauritius holding company of the Merec industries, to Dubai-based Invictus Investment Company Plc, a listed company on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
Advising Actis Fund (through Star Foods Holding Limited) on the sale of the entire issued share capital of Java House to Alterra Africa and Phatisa, private equity funds.
Advising a majority of the shareholders of Wananchi Group (Holdings) Ltd on the sale of their shares to Axian Telecom Fibre Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Axian Telecom Ltd, a company incorporated under the Laws of Mauritius.
Lawyers
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Practice head
Joyce Karanja; Rainbow Field
Other key lawyers
Yusra Butt; Vruti Shah; Paras Shah; Kendall Evans; Christina Nduba-Banja; Richard Harney; Wathingira Gituro