The Kenyan constituent of the Africa Legal Network, Anjarwalla & Khanna is home to a highly specialised and reputable banking, finance, and insolvency practice, whose expertise is employed by well-known domestic and international lenders requiring assistance across a range of sector-specific transactions. Syndicated debt financing, aviation finance, project finance, security transactions, fintech, capital markets, and debt financing are among the team’s strengths. Strongly entrenched in the insolvency space and leveraging extensive banking and finance experience, Sonal Tejpar leads the team, joined by Akash Devani, a reliable resource for large commercial lending transactions, Mona Doshi, a specialist in Islamic finance, Shellomith Irungu, who has a significant understanding of the energy and infrastructure sectors, and James Njenga Mungai, who focuses on transactions, insolvency, and restructuring.

With a strong foothold in complex domestic and cross-border finance transactions, Bowmans assists a wide range of clients, including lenders and borrowers across the energy, telecoms, real estate, and financial services sectors. Leveraged and acquisition finance, structured finance, derivatives, securitisation, subordinated debt, and insolvency and restructuring lie within the strengths of the practice, in addition to a dedicated fintech team. Practice head Cornelius Kigera has most recently been engaged by lenders in the oil and tea sectors on commodity finance matters, while Dominic Indokhomi is the go-to for queries relating to digital assets. Managing partner Paras Shah supports on complex transactions, including IPOs and sovereign bonds.

Prominent in the space of government financing, especially in relation to the oil and energy sector, Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews runs the gamut of corporate finance transactions advice to large local and international corporations in real estate, manufacturing, and agriculture. Structured finance, sovereign bonds, securitisations, and syndicated lending also count among the practice’s strengths. Practice head Richard Omwela excels in loan, equity and project financing, and leads a team including Sigee Koech, who specialises in secured and unsecured financing for lenders and local and cross-border transactions for borrowers, Daniel Wanjau Muriu, who focuses on capital markets, and Andrew Mugambi, who works on project and PPP financing.

DLA Piper Africa’s Kenyan wing, Iseme, Kamau & Maema Advocates, is a heavy hitter for domestic commercial banks, and regional and global mulitlateral lenders and development finance institutions seeking advice on a range of banking and finance matters. With a strong track record spanning several landmark decisions, the team specialises in lending and securities, corporate lending, structured finance, debt restructuring, and cross-border and syndicated loans. Practice head Anne Kinyanjui is a powerhouse in loan and syndicated finance transactions, while Kamami Christine Michira serves the wide range of secured and unsecured, tier two, trade, asset and invoice financing, and Norah Mutuku excels in real estate, bank securities and finance. Amrit Soar, having retired in January 2023, remains at the firm in a consulting capacity.

The growing practice at ENSafrica has a strategic focus on offering sustainable financing options to domestic and international banks and corporations, including hybrid banking solutions which combine bonds and loans. Capital markets, asset-backed securities, secured credit facilities, term loan facilities, and project and property financing are routine matters within the team’s portfolio. With specialist experience in infrastructure and aviation finance and derivatives, Binti Shah leads, supported by Nkatha Omondi, who can be relied on for high-profile mandates related to projects and energy.

Counting among its client portfolio major development finance institutions and domestic banks, Kaplan & Stratton Advocates is known for its work in the aircraft leasing and finance space, in addition to bank syndications, project financing, bonds and securities. Ruth Kirunga leads the team, with significant experience in complex structures and securities, while Peter Hime is the go-to for aircraft finance and acquisition. Eva Biegon supports on debt finance, securitisation, project finance and trade finance.

As the Kenyan component of Eversheds Sutherland Africa Alliance, MMAN Advocates draws on an expansive network when working on cross-border mandates, primarily representing lenders and borrowers in the aviation, energy, real estate, infrastructure, tech, and telecoms sectors. Practice head Judy Kabubu specialises in banking law and securitisation, while founding partner Waringa Njonjo advises lenders on corporate financing, syndication and sell-downs. Suzanne Muthaura is an asset and aviation finance expert, and Christopher Kiragu, who was promoted to partner in January 2023, has a keen interest in capital markets.

Acting for major commercial banks and development finance institutions both at home and abroad, Walker Kontos Advocates has gained a reputation for advising on the full range of legal, regulatory, and compliance issues in the banking and capital markets arena. Notable for its track record in project finance, syndications, and DFI investments, the team is also routinely engaged on initial public offerings, rights issues, and note and bond programs. Leadership is shared between syndicated financing adept Alexandra Kontos, project and corporate finance specialist Michael Kontos, finance transactions expert Peter Muhiu Mwangi, and banking all-rounder Deepen Shah.

Regional and global financial players seeking assistance with their transactions and investments in Kenya, as well as domestic banks, rely on Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr incorporating Kieti Law LLP for tailored advice on regulated industries including healthcare, financial services, insurance, banking, and energy. Managing partner Sammy Ndolo is the heart of the team, leveraging experience in acquisition finance, syndicated lending, structured finance, trade and commodity financing, and debt and equity capital markets. Brian Muchiri supports on due diligence and corporate compliance evaluation.

CMS Daly Inamdar Advocates‘ banking and finance practice is a strong choice for blue-chip global heavyweights requiring transactions and investments support in Kenya, as well as Kenyan clients conducting business across the region. Julius Wako heads the team, with specialist expertise in the energy, projects, and infrastructure space, and is joined by Nishit Maru, whose niche is in the shipping sector, and Stella Situma, who deals primarily with real estate and bank securities.

Setting its sights especially on green and sustainable financing, KO Associates supports a wide array of financial institutions from both at home and across the East African region, advising on finance transactions and structuring, regulation, and compliance, as well as securitisation processes and equity and hybrid products. The team is led jointly by Crispine Odhiambo, who specialises in structured, project, and green finance, Brian Odongo, who assists with high-value transactions, and Ken Rutere, who, having joined from Igeria & Ngugi Advocates in November 2022, extends the real estate financing offering.

Mboya Wangong'u & Waiyaki Advocates‘ strong roots in banking, finance and capital markets make the firm a solid choice for national and international entities seeking advice on IPOs, finance transactions, real estate investment trusts, exchange-traded funds and other cutting-edge capital markets instruments. Managing partner Gladys Mboya, who has a keen interest in development finance, leads the team alongside Godwin Wangong’u, a key player in corporate finance and capital markets transactions. Peter Waiyaki and CG Mbugua focus on novel capital markets deals, June Njoroge-Ngwele and Sylvia Kang'ethe specialise in real estate financing, and Kimani Njane excels in projects and infrastructure finance.

Counting several major domestic banks in its client portfolio, MMC ASAFO is frequently retained on matters involving banking and finance transactions, regulation, and fintech. Leadership is split between Esther Njiru-Omulele, who specialises in real estate financing, and structuring, and Isaiah Mungai Kamau, who offers a wealth of experience in syndicated finance, corporate finance, and debt restructuring.