IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

K&S gets much of its reputation from Oliver Fowler, who is referred to by peers as "the best commercial lawyer in Kenya". "The preeminent lawyer in the country," says a global client, "he gives magic circle quality, as good as Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Norton Rose." "An absolute star," says another peer.

Clients have high praise for the firm. "Very good in their degrees of accuracy, you will not get an error in the docs [documents], they understand the commercial aspects - really bring out nicely what the interest of the party is and bring about speedy negotiations," says one. Another adds: "very pro-active, I like the way they push transactions through, nothing is ever left pending with them... whenever I go to them I feel a burden off my shoulders".

On a firm level, some competitors question the reliance on Fowler especially since the spin-off of the founders of Coulson & Harney. "Very good, very ethical, trouble is it has not really grown much, they only really have Fowler, who is excellent". As long as Fowler is there, there is little question of its position.

The firm does have younger lawyers who are active on the major deals such as Binti Shah. Fowler worked with Amar Thethy and Kenneth Kamaitha to advise NAS Holdings in the exit of major Kenyan shareholders and sale of NAS Airport Services to Servair, and with Mahesh Acharya to assist I&M Bank on a $28 million private placement as part of an employee share ownership plan.

Binti Shah led a deal with Sam Wainaina for Agence Francaise de Développement on its $93 million project financing to the Kenya Airports Authority.

Sarah Kiarie and Ruth Kirunga acted for Aramex International in its multi-million acquisition of an international courier company and local loop courier company.