Corporate & Commercial
Integrated counsel across the lifecycle of a modern African business, incorporation, joint ventures, M&A, governance and exit.
How we work this practice.
From incorporation and joint ventures to M&A, governance and exit, we deliver an integrated corporate and commercial practice that aligns with how clients actually do business in Kenya and across the region. We act for founders building their first institution, established groups consolidating market position, and international investors entering East Africa for the first time.
Our strength is sequencing. We see how today's shareholders' agreement constrains tomorrow's exit, how a casually drafted board mandate becomes a deadlock years later, and how foreign-investment structures interact with tax, regulator approvals and immigration. We design for the whole arc, not just the immediate transaction.
Partners lead every mandate end-to-end. Clients get senior judgement at the moments that matter, not handed down through layers of associates, and the same team that negotiates the deal stays through closing, integration and the post-completion disputes that often define real value.
- Cross-border M&A and FDI structuring
- Shareholder disputes and deadlock resolution
- Group restructurings and insolvency
- Modernising founder governance for institutional investors
What we deliver.
A deliberate four-step approach.
Strategic counsel, executed with the discipline of a top-tier institution.
Deal scoping and term sheet
Legal and regulatory diligence
Transaction documentation and negotiation
Closing, regulatory filings and integration
Distinctions that matter to the outcome.
Partner-led on every transaction, no junior hand-offs
Practical playbooks for diligence, signing and integration
Trusted referral network across East and Southern Africa
Boardroom credibility built over decades, not engagements
Where we apply this practice.
Who you'll work with.
Gertrude Kibare
Managing Partner. Leads the firm's litigation and banking & finance practice with a focus on strategic, resilient counsel.
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Johnson P. Osoi
Founding Partner. Leads complex corporate, project finance and energy mandates with a regional footprint.
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Topua Lesinko
Partner. Advises on constitutional law, M&A, public procurement and election disputes across Kenya and the region.
SEE FULL PROFILEAnswers from our desk.
Can you lead an M&A across multiple African jurisdictions?+
Yes, through our trusted referral network across East and Southern Africa.
Do you draft shareholders' agreements for founder-led businesses?+
Yes. We design governance that protects founders during growth and works for institutional investors at the next round, with practical deadlock, drag and tag mechanics.
Can you advise on foreign direct investment into Kenya?+
Yes, including entity selection, KenInvest registration, sector-specific approvals, exchange-control considerations and the tax overlay on dividend repatriation.
How do you handle conflicts in board and shareholder disputes?+
We screen rigorously at intake. Where we have any pre-existing relationship with another party, we decline rather than ringfence. Clients value the certainty.
Do you offer ongoing company-secretarial or governance support?+
Yes, on a retainer basis. We act as governance counsel to boards, run board calendars, prepare minutes and advise on Companies Act compliance.
Articles, publications and legal updates.
East African M&A: Where Capital Is Moving in Q1 2026
Sector flows, deal structures and the regulatory choke-points shaping mid-market M&A in East Africa.
Kenya Data Protection: What Boards Should Action in 2026
ODPC enforcement trends, DPIA expectations and the privacy posture every Kenyan board should be reviewing this quarter.
Discuss your matter, confidentially.
Whether you require a confidential consultation or a free case evaluation, our partners are ready to listen.