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What
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  • Banking & Finance
  • Civil Litigation
  • Corporate
  • Criminal Defence
  • Data Protection
  • Debt Recovery
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Divorce & Family
  • Employment
  • Estate Planning
  • Full-Service
  • Human Rights
  • Immigration
  • Insurance
  • IP & Tech
  • Maritime
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Personal Injury / Accident
  • Real Estate
  • Tax
Where
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Guide Practice Areas

Reference

Practice Areas Guide

What each area of law covers and the lawyers who practise it in Kenya

Law covers many distinct areas, each requiring different expertise. This guide explains the 53 practice areas on Law Firms in Kenya so you can identify the type of lawyer your matter needs. Use it to understand what each area covers before you browse firms by practice area.

Practice Areas

A to Z of Legal Practice Areas

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Resolving disputes outside the courtroom through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Used to settle commercial, family, and civil disputes faster and more privately than litigation.
Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption
Advising businesses and individuals on compliance with anti-corruption laws, internal investigations, and defending against bribery and corruption allegations brought by bodies such as the EACC.
Artificial Intelligence Law
An emerging area covering the legal issues raised by AI systems, including liability, data use, intellectual property in AI outputs, and regulatory compliance for businesses deploying AI.
Asset Tracing & Recoveries
Locating and recovering misappropriated funds or assets, often in cases of fraud, debt, or financial crime. Involves investigation, freezing orders, and enforcement across jurisdictions.
Aviation Law
Governing aircraft, airlines, airports, and air travel. Covers aircraft financing and leasing, regulatory compliance, accident claims, and disputes in the aviation sector.
Banking & Finance Law
Advising banks, lenders, and borrowers on loans, security, financial regulation, and transactions. Covers everything from loan agreements to compliance with Central Bank of Kenya requirements.
Betting, Lotteries & Gaming Law
Regulating the gambling and gaming industry, including licensing, compliance with the Betting Control and Licensing Board, taxation, and advertising rules for operators.
Capital Markets
Advising on the issuing and trading of securities, stock exchange listings, bonds, and compliance with Capital Markets Authority regulations for companies raising capital.
Children Law & Adoption
Matters affecting children including custody, guardianship, adoption, child maintenance, and protection. Governed by the Children Act 2022 and handled with the child's best interests as the priority.
Civil Litigation
Resolving non-criminal disputes through the courts, including contract disputes, property claims, debt recovery, and personal claims. Covers the full process from filing to trial and appeal.
Company Formation & Business Set-up
Helping entrepreneurs and investors register companies, structure businesses, draft founding documents, and meet the regulatory requirements to start operating legally in Kenya.
Competition & Antitrust Law
Ensuring fair competition in the market. Covers merger approvals, anti-competitive practices, abuse of dominance, and compliance with the Competition Authority of Kenya.
Constitutional Law
Matters relating to the Constitution of Kenya, including fundamental rights, judicial review, public interest litigation, and challenges to the actions of government and public bodies.
Construction Law
Governing building and infrastructure projects. Covers construction contracts, disputes between contractors and clients, delays, defects, and payment claims in the built environment.
Consumer Protection Law
Protecting the rights of consumers against unfair business practices, defective products, and misleading advertising under the Consumer Protection Act.
Contract Law
The drafting, review, and enforcement of agreements between parties. Covers commercial contracts, breach of contract disputes, and ensuring agreements are legally sound and enforceable.
Corporate & Commercial Law
Advising businesses on their day-to-day and strategic legal needs, including governance, transactions, commercial agreements, and regulatory compliance across all sectors.
Criminal Law
Defending or prosecuting individuals and organisations accused of crimes. Covers everything from minor offences to serious felonies, bail applications, trials, and appeals.
Cyber Security, Privacy & Data Protection
Advising on the protection of personal data and digital systems. Covers compliance with the Data Protection Act 2019, data breaches, privacy policies, and cybercrime matters.
Debt Recovery, Restructuring & Insolvency
Recovering debts owed to clients and advising on insolvency, liquidation, and business restructuring under the Insolvency Act when companies or individuals cannot meet their obligations.
Employment & Labour Law
Governing the relationship between employers and employees. Covers contracts, unfair dismissal, redundancy, workplace disputes, and compliance with the Employment Act.
Energy, Oil & Gas Law
Advising on the energy sector including petroleum, electricity, and renewables. Covers exploration licences, energy contracts, regulatory compliance, and sector disputes.
Environmental Law
Protecting the environment and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Covers impact assessments, NEMA compliance, conservation, and environmental disputes.
ESG & Climate Change Law
Advising organisations on environmental, social, and governance obligations and climate-related regulation, reporting, and risk as sustainability becomes central to business.
Estate Planning, Wills & Succession
Helping individuals plan how their assets are managed and distributed. Covers drafting wills, probate, letters of administration, and succession under the Law of Succession Act.
Family Law
Personal and domestic legal matters including divorce, separation, matrimonial property, child custody, and maintenance under the Marriage Act and Matrimonial Property Act.
FinTech Law
Advising financial technology businesses on regulation, licensing, digital payments, mobile money, lending platforms, and compliance in Kenya's fast-growing fintech sector.
Forensics, Risk & Compliance
Investigating financial irregularities and advising organisations on managing legal risk, regulatory compliance, and internal controls to prevent fraud and misconduct.
Human Rights Law
Protecting and enforcing fundamental rights and freedoms. Covers public interest litigation, discrimination, civil liberties, and representing individuals against rights violations.
Immigration Law
Advising on entry, residence, and citizenship. Covers work permits, dependant passes, investor visas, citizenship applications, and immigration compliance for individuals and businesses.
Insurance Law
Governing insurance policies and claims. Covers disputes between insurers and policyholders, claims handling, regulatory compliance, and advising on insurance contracts.
Intellectual Property Law
Protecting creations of the mind including trademarks, patents, copyright, and designs. Covers registration, licensing, enforcement, and disputes over intellectual property rights.
Land Law
Governing rights and interests in land. Covers ownership, title disputes, land registration, adjudication, and the complex land tenure systems found across Kenya.
Legal Research & Consultancy
Providing specialist legal research, opinions, and advisory services to other firms, businesses, and organisations on complex or novel legal questions.
Maritime Law
Governing shipping, ports, and matters at sea. Covers cargo disputes, vessel registration, marine insurance, and admiralty claims, particularly relevant along Kenya's coast.
Mediation & Arbitration
Structured methods of resolving disputes without going to court. A neutral mediator helps parties reach agreement, while an arbitrator makes a binding decision on the dispute.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Advising on the buying, selling, and combining of companies. Covers due diligence, transaction structuring, negotiations, and regulatory approvals for corporate deals.
NGO & Non-Profit Law
Advising non-governmental and charitable organisations on registration, governance, compliance, and the regulatory framework governing the non-profit sector in Kenya.
Notary Public & Commissioner for Oaths
Official certification of documents and administering of oaths. Notaries authenticate documents for international use, while commissioners for oaths witness sworn statements and affidavits.
Occupational Health & Safety Law
Ensuring safe workplaces and compliance with health and safety regulations. Covers workplace injury claims, employer obligations, and safety standards under applicable law.
Pensions & Retirement Benefits Law
Governing retirement schemes and benefits. Covers pension fund management, member rights, regulatory compliance with the Retirement Benefits Authority, and related disputes.
Personal Injury Law
Helping people injured through accidents or negligence claim compensation. Covers road accidents, workplace injuries, and public liability claims, often involving insurers.
Private Client Services
Personalised legal advice for individuals and families, particularly on wealth, estate planning, trusts, and succession. Often serves high-net-worth clients with complex affairs.
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Advising investors and businesses on equity investment. Covers fund structuring, investment agreements, due diligence, and exits for private equity and venture capital deals.
Procurement & Public Procurement Law
Governing how public bodies and businesses procure goods and services. Covers tendering, procurement disputes, and compliance with public procurement regulations.
Product Liability Law
Holding manufacturers and sellers responsible for harm caused by defective or unsafe products. Covers claims for injury or loss arising from faulty goods.
Real Estate & Conveyancing
Handling the legal transfer of property. Covers buying, selling, and leasing of land and buildings, title searches, sale agreements, and registration at the lands registry.
Regulatory & Compliance Advisory
Helping businesses understand and comply with the laws and regulations governing their industry, reducing legal risk and avoiding penalties from regulators.
Sports Law
Governing the business and regulation of sport. Covers athlete contracts, sponsorship, disputes, governance of sports bodies, and disciplinary matters.
Tax Law
Advising on tax obligations and disputes. Covers income tax, VAT, customs, stamp duty, tax planning, and representing clients in disputes with the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Technology, Media & Telecommunications Law
Governing the tech, media, and telecoms sectors. Covers licensing, content regulation, digital services, telecommunications compliance, and technology contracts.
Trust Law
Establishing and managing trusts for wealth protection, succession, and charitable purposes. Covers setting up family trusts, trustee duties, and administration of trust assets.
White Collar Crime & Corporate Investigations
Defending against and investigating financial and business-related crime such as fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering, including internal corporate investigations.