Nyaanga & Mugisha Advocates is one of the reputed, dynamic and progressive mid-size boutique law firms in Kenya providing a comprehensive range of corporate and commercial legal services to local and international clients. The firm, organized into three complimenting departments based on practice areas, namely, Dispute Resolution Department, Real Estate and Banking Department and Commercial Department, is in a quest to be a premier law firm by providing a comprehensive range of high quality legal services and solutions to its clientele.

The Firm has an outstanding track record in Commercial and Civil Litigation with Partner and Associates being known for their vitality, depth and experience in commercial law, constitutional law, employment and labour law, intellectual property law, tax law, procurement law, debt collection and securities, election petitions and judicial review among others. The firm’s lawyers also have prominent expertise and experience in resolving a wide variety of disputes through arbitration and mediation especially in the banking, construction and real estate sectors.

In banking and securitization, NMA has is on the panel of several local and regional banks and routinely advises on structuring of financial products, secure lending, security perfection and asset financing and due diligence on banking securities. The firm also has an efficient, responsive and vibrant real estate and conveyancing department which provides legal services and advise to diverse clientele in conveyancing transactions with diligence and strict attention to detail.

The corporate and commercial department advises our clientele on a wide range of commercial transactions including business and asset acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, syndications, restructurings and financing. It also specializes in fashioning tailor made instruments used in banking, development of new products, derivatives, structuring of finance instruments, capital markets and debentures. The department undertakes negotiations, with or on behalf of the clients, drafting of the required documents including information memoranda and all transactional documents and legal due diligences.

The firm also advises and acts for employees and employers in all aspects of employment law, including employment contracts, pay and benefits compliance policies and procedures redundancy, business reorganization, share schemes and incentives, pension schemes and provident funds. The firm also practices intellectual property on wide range of matters including patents, trademarks, copyright, industrial designs and utility models. The firm lawyers have undertaken various registrations of trademarks, renewals, and assignment for local and overseas clients under the Trade Marks Act and International Treaties.

The firm lawyers are above-average professional who are recognized experts in their field possessing excellent academic credentials, great people skills, integrity and unmatched drive. The firm’s Managing Partner Geoffrey Nyaanga is a respected Dispute Resolution and Corporate Commercial lawyer with over 13 years post admission experience. Prior to founding the firm, Geoffrey was the Partner at Mwaniki Gachoka & Co. Advocates in charge of Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Commercial Departments having joined the firm from MMC Asafo he worked as an Associate in the Dispute Resolution Department. His areas of practice are Dispute Resolution, Commercial and Corporate Law, Probate and Administration law, Employment Law, and Property and Real Estate Law.

Over the years, Geoffrey has earned a strong reputation as a go-to lawyer who has successfully handled numerous high value litigation cases as well as complex arbitrations in the course of his practice. He has also advised many clients on commercial transactions and corporate matters. Geoffrey holds Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) from Moi University, a Masters of Arts (M.A) from the University of Buckingham (UK) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Member of Law Society of Kenya and East Africa Law Society.

Bernard S. Mugisha is a Partner in the firm’s Dispute Resolution Department.  He has broad experience and deep knowledge in commercial and civil litigation, employment and labour law, banking law and arbitration. Previously, Benard served as a Senior Associate in Litigation and Dispute Department of MG Law Advocates and as a Litigation Associate at the firm of Kale, Maina & Bundotich Advocates. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) from Moi University and a Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law and is a Member of Law Society of Kenya and East Africa Law Society.

Rispa Nyoro is the Partner in charge of the Real Estate and Conveyancing Department and specializes in Conveyancing, Bank Securities, Property law, Finance and Commercial law. She has wide experience in handling real estate and land transactions, bank securities and advising clients on financial and commercial matters.  Previously, she worked at Kale, Maina & Bundotich Advocates where she was the Partner in charge of the Commercial and Conveyancing. She holds an LL.B Degree (Hons.) from Moi University, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law and is a member of Law Society of Kenya and East Africa Law Society.

The firm’s partners are supported by a team of over dozen Associates and business support professionals in the service offering to clients.  Nyaanga & Mugisha  has continues to grow and now comprises almost two dozen members who available to answer to the needs of the clients around the clock. The firm’s main office is strategically situated on 2^nd Floor, Shelter Afrique in Upper Hill in Kenya’s Commercial and Financial Hub.

The year 2022 was a year of many firsts for CR Advocates LLP as the firm defied every theory of law firm growth to emerge as a top mid-size firm in Kenya. In the wake of its rise to the top, CR Advocates LLP scooped two top legal awards and earned its place in the law listings in the country among the Top 20 Law Firms in Kenya.

First, CR Advocates LLP as a firm came of age by emerging as the top recommended law firm in Kenya by highly-rated The Lawyers Global.  CR Advocates LLP was the Winner of the Legal Award of The Lawyers Global ranking in Kenya based on reviews by clients and independent analysis by the directory. It beat top tier firms including Gikera & Vadgama Advocates and Walker Kontos Advocates to scoop the coveted award.

Second, CR Advocates LLP made a debut into THE LAWYER AFRICA Top 100 Law Firms in Kenya List which is based on headcount and reputation for excellence. The firm emerged among the TOP 20 LAW FIRMS IN KENYA by headcount having two dozen fee earners within its ranks. In this category, CR Advocates LLP stands shoulder to shoulder with many seasoned law firms including Mohamed Muigai LLP, Robson Harris LLP and Mboya Wangong’u and Waiyaki Advocates.

Third, CR Advocates LLP was shortlisted for the Nairobi SME Law Firm of the Year Award at Nairobi Legal Awards. The award recognizes the top mid-size law firms in the country. As if that was not too much already, CR Advocates LLP beat a dozen established law firms to emerge as the overall winner of the prestigious award with Igeria & Ngugi Advocates emerging as 1st Runners Up and McKay Advocates as 2nd Runners Up.

The overall result is that the firm of CR Advocates LLP begins the year 2023 as the top law firm in Kenya being the reigning award winner of both SME Law Firm of the Year Award 2022 and The Lawyer Global Legal Award Kenya 2022. In addition, the firm is now confirmed as being amongst the top 20 law firms in Kenya by THE LAWYER AFRICA.

The quick-paced upward trajectory of CR Advocates LLP which has earned it the reputation of disruptor in the corporate and commercial law scene is attributable to excellent client service and consistently efficient, reliable and cost-effective legal services. The firm boasts over 25 legal professionals most of whom are leaders and rising stars in their respective specialist practice areas.

CR Advocates LLP clientele ranges from established multinationals to state corporations and emerging SMEs and Startups as well as individuals clients.  Founded in 2013 by Princess Caroline Mutisya, one of Kenya’s top Real Estate, Commercial and Corporate Law Attorneys, the firm is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year as it pivots to embrace its new status as a leading law firm in the country and to set the stage to dominate the legal scene for the next decade.

There is no doubt CR Advocates LLP is the law firm to watch this year as every move the firm’s Managing Partner Princess Caroline Mutisya and her team makes is bound to shake the legal sector. The firm is admittedly a case study for  legal services sector analysts seeking to seeking to unearth the secret of building a top law firm from the bottom up within a decade.

Bowmans has made a substantial investment in its tax capacity in East Africa by expanding its Tax Practice in Nairobi with recruitment of four (4) associates. Senior Associates, Fredrick Ogutu and Patience Mbugua, joined the firm on 1 May 2022. This is in addition to Associates Lynet Mwangi and Bernard Kirii who joined the firm on 1 March 2022, adding further depth to the firm’s tax service offering.

Before joining Bowmans, Fredrick was a manager in the tax and legal department of audit firm Deloitte & Touche LLP. He has extensive experience in providing tax advisory on both local and international/cross – border tax issues, tax restructuring, tax support in mergers and acquisitions, tax due diligence, tax dispute resolution, tax compliance and assessment of tax risks across various sectors.

Patience Mbugua previously worked in the tax dispute resolution department of the Kenya Revenue Authority (“KRA”), where she gained considerable experience in handling tax disputes involving taxpayers in various sectors. Prior to that, she worked for an audit firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and has considerable experience in providing a wide array of tax services including direct and indirect tax compliance, tax reporting, tax advisory, KRA audit support, tax dispute and tax litigation.

Lynet previously worked in the tax and regulatory services department of audit firm, KPMG East Africa, as well as Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Matthews. She has wide experience providing tax services, including tax advisory and structuring, KRA audit support, tax dispute resolution and regulatory compliance. Bernard Kirii joined Bowmans from KPMG East Africa, where he specialized in tax dispute resolution services for clients; tax optimization; tax restructuring; and tax advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions.

According to Bowmans, the expanded tax team helps expand the firm’s tax offering especially by providing additional assistance in mergers and acquisition transactions, including undertaking tax due diligence reports; tax restructuring and optimization involving both local and international/cross border entities; assistance with KRA audits; and conducting tax health checks on all tax heads. These services are in addition to the current tax advisory and tax dispute resolution services provided by Bowmans.

“We are pleased that the team has chosen Bowmans as their new home, and we are confident that they will enhance the tax service that we offer our clients across our geographical footprint,” said Bowmans Tax Partner and Head of Tax Practice Alex Mathini. Alex has been ranked by Chambers & Partners for the last six (6) consecutive years and Chambers Global Guide 2022 ranks Alex among the Top 2 Lawyers in Tax Law in Kenya.

In addition to Alex and the four new associates, Bowmans Tax Practice in Nairobi includes Andrew Oduor (Tax Partner), Samuel Githanda (Senior Associate), Nelly Chepkoeach (Associate) and Maurice Muma (Associate). Andrew Oduor is a tax practitioner of sixteen (16) years who is active in tax litigation, tax compliance and tax advisory services. He is the Kenyan contributor to an annual Global publication by Thomson Reuters Practical Law on Tax Litigation in Kenya.