The active disputes practice at Oraro & Company Advocates represents both domestic and global clients in banking litigation, commercial disputes, and international arbitration proceedings. The department is under the leadership of a highly capable duo: George Oraro, who boasts over 47 years of experience and specialises in trade and tax disputes, and Chacha Odera, who has a wealth of knowledge in employment and labour law. Noella Lubano is skilled in construction and infrastructure-related disputes, while John Mbaluto is well-versed in constitutional and pension law matters. Claire Mwangi is another notable member of the department.
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Profile
Work Department
Arbitration; Dispute Resolution; Employment and Labour; Private Client
Position
Senior Partner
Career
Chacha is a Senior Partner at Oraro & Company Advocates and practices in the dispute resolution practice group. With over 34 years of experience, he has represented local and international clients in commercial disputes, constitutional law, electoral disputes, employment and labour law, insolvency, and property law.
Chacha has been ranked by leading international legal directories such as Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in dispute resolution and employment. In the Chambers Global Guide 2021 rankings, Chacha received a plethora of praise from the Kenyan legal community, with market observers regarding him as “an extremely able advocate and a gentleman in all manner of the word.”
Chacha was also recognised as the overall lawyer of the year in 2019 at the Nairobi Legal Awards, hosted by the Law Society of Kenya, Nairobi branch.
Chacha is a member of the London Court of International Arbitration Users’ Councils and a Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public.
Aside from his legal practice, Chacha is an adjunct lecturer at the Strathmore Law School. He has chaired two adhoc committees of the Law Society of Kenya namely the Committee for In-house Counsel and the development of a comprehensive Code of Conduct for Advocates. He has also served in various capacities at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and the Council of Legal Education.
Chacha is a passionate philanthropist and is currently a honorary member of the Rotary Club of Milimani as well as a Paul Harris Fellow. He previously served as a founding trustee of the Matibabu Foundation and the Msaada Kenya Trust.
Languages
English and Kiswahili
Memberships
Law Society of Kenya
East Africa Law Society
Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association
Education
Diploma in Law, Kenya School of Law, Kenya
LLB, University of Nairobi, Kenya
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team has shown its capacity to provide professional legal services and has rich experience in dispute resolution practice, and provides the various effective strategies to the satisfaction of the client.’
‘George Oraro with Noella Lubano were always present for our main meetings. George guided the team on different aspects while Noella led the team and put together our evidence with the associates. At the Arbitration, George would cross-examine where necessary. Noella was leading and well-prepared.'
‘The firm has wide experience in managing dispute resolution, including litigation matters. The firm is well versed with the court system in Kenya and is able to navigate the complexities in the system to support and serve its clients. In addition, they are also knowledgeable in the area of operations of my organisation that make them well-placed to provide high quality legal services as and when required.’
‘The Oraro & Company Advocates dispute resolution team is well skilled and knowledgeable. They work well as a team, building off the experience of each other and coordinating in a manner that is in the best interest of the client.’
‘Noella Lubano provides great insights in employment related dispute resolution. George Oraro is highly knowledgeable and provides workable solutions on various aspects of dispute resolution, mentioning in particular insolvency matters.’
‘Commitment to diversity and inclusion, operates a well-established and reputable legal practice, maintains transparency and upholds strong governance standards, highly respected within the industry and holds an excellent reputation, excellent at training and mentoring junior associates, providing them with valuable and diverse experiential learning opportunities.'
‘The dispute resolution team stands out for its strategic, client-focused approach that blends deep legal expertise with commercial insight.'
'We deeply value the expertise of George Oraro and Noella Lubano, as well as their strong negotiation tactics and trial readiness, which ensures that we are prepared at every stage whether the goal is to settle a matter swiftly or a robust presentation in court.'
Key clients
- National Bank of Kenya Eastern Produce Kenya Ltd Maersk Kenya Ltd Kenya Power & Lighting Company Ltd CFAO Mobility Kenya Ltd Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation The Honourable Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya Kenya Ports Authority Kapiti Plains Estate Ltd KCB Bank Ltd NCBA Bank Kenya Ltd SBM Bank (Kenya) Ltd Jubilee Insurance Company of Kenya Ltd CIC Insurance Group Ltd Kenya National Union of Teachers Uber B.V and Uber Kenya Ltd Standard Chartered Bank Canarian Holdings Ltd SBM Bank Holdings Ltd Kenya Ships Agents Association TelPosta Pension Scheme Fuji Electric Company Ltd CATIC Green Field Project (JV) Ltd Stanbic Bank Kenya Ltd Velos Enterprises Ltd Ecobank Kenya Ltd Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank Ray Pharmaceuticals Ltd Dry Associates Ltd Central Bank of Kenya
Work highlights
Instructed to take over conduct of a suit instituted by Mr. Sultan Khimji (as the Sellers Representative on behalf of the former shareholders of Fidelity Commercial Bank Limited) in the Commercial Division of the High Court of Kenya (the Suit) as against SBM Bank Holdings Limited.