About Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews

Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews is one of Kenya’s highly acclaimed law firms, with a tradition of excellence dating back to 1902. We have built up a reputation as an innovative, experienced, responsive and highly-skilled firm with the capacity and technical expertise to offer practical legal solutions to both corporate and individual clients.

Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews has consistently been rated as top tier in dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law in Kenya by various international legal directories including Chambers Global, IFLR 1000, Legal 500 and World Trademark Review.

We are one of Kenya’s largest law firms with a dedicated team comprised of 13 Partners and 40 Associates who are supported by a team of over 80 legal assistants, administrative and paralegal staff. We offer legal services to clients all over Kenya and have our primary office in Nairobi and a second office in Mombasa.

Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews provides a full range of legal services to an extensive client base which includes local and foreign companies, individuals, state corporations and Non-Governmental Organizations.

About Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews

Founded in 1902

2 Offices

200 people in their team


Practice areas
Business
Employment & Labor
Immigration
Intellectual Property
Lawsuits & Disputes
Real Estate
Bankruptcy & Debt
Media, Technology and Telecoms
Insurance

Languages spoken
Swahili
English

Social media

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Practice areas

Business

We give general advice on the setting-up of businesses and inflow of investment funds into local entities such as companies, partnerships, non-profit organizations and trusts. We also provide advice on the regulatory environment for the various types of entities and the sectors within which they operate. Whether you are an individual, small business entity or multinational corporation speak to our team to set up in Kenya. 

Experience

  • Confidential client: Acted as the legal advisor to a company on the establishment of a special economic zone in Eldoret, Kenya. This project is the first privately owned special economic zone in Kenya.
  • Confidential client: Provided comprehensive legal advice to one of the largest internet retailers in the world on the legislative framework, intellectual property concerns, collective bargaining, and transfer of undertakings and data privacy issues when looking to set up in Kenya.
  • Confidential client: Advised an American multinational corporation and technology company in relation to its registration in Kenya and have continued to advise them on various legal and regulatory matters including compliance with the Companies Act, competition law, intellectual property rights and licences.
  • Confidential client: Advised an international media company in relation to its establishment of a branch office in Kenya.
Merger & Acquisition
New Business Formation
Oil, Gas & Energy
Tax
Banking & Finance
Business Registration
Contract
Employer
Franchising
Investment
Legal Document
Licensing

Employment & Labor

The most valuable commodity in any organisation is its people. Our goal is to help you achieve good labour relations. We have capacity to advise on all aspects of the employment relationship including minimum requirements under the Employment Act, drafting senior to junior level contracts, drafting consultancy contracts, the procedure for termination of contracts and carrying out redundancies and on confidentiality and restraint of trade clauses in employment contracts. We can also help you to solve a wide range of labour disputes ranging from redundancies, collective actions led by unions, equal employment, and remuneration practice. Our experienced immigration lawyers understand that the search for talent, opportunities and employment drives the movement of people across borders. We advise our clients on issues of compliance with applicable laws and regulations relating to immigration laws in Kenya. In addition we provide our multinational clients with advice on immigration aspects of cross-border transfers and hiring.

Experience

  • Confidential client: Representing a large telecommunications company on Proceedings commenced against them by former employees claiming unfair termination following the restructuring of the company.
  • Confidential client: Acted for an international not-for-profit organisation with offices around the world The client’s Kenya office consulted us on the restructuring of their organisation in August 2017. By reconciling the contractual terms of redundancy with the Kenyan Employment Act, we guided the client through the process and ensured that there was full compliance with the law thereby minimising potential exposure to liability.
  • Various companies in the airline industry: Advising on and assisting with applying for special passes and work permits from the Department of Immigration Services for the families of their employees and dependants. We also advised on and assisted in obtaining clearance from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority ("KCAA") and obtaining alien cards from the Department of Immigration Services.
  • Various companies: Advised on employment and labor law aspects of major transactions. Some of the companies involved belong to sectors such as manufacturing, financial services and telecommunications.
  • Confidential client: Advised and assisted an international non-governmental organization: on the termination of employment, due to redundancy, of some of their employees.
Employment Rights
Hiring & Firing
Job Discrimination
Labor Law
Sexual Harassment
Social Security
Wage & Hour
Wrongful Termination

Immigration

The most valuable commodity in any organisation is its people. Our goal is to help you achieve good labour relations. We have capacity to advise on all aspects of the employment relationship including minimum requirements under the Employment Act, drafting senior to junior level contracts, drafting consultancy contracts, the procedure for termination of contracts and carrying out redundancies and on confidentiality and restraint of trade clauses in employment contracts. We can also help you to solve a wide range of labour disputes ranging from redundancies, collective actions led by unions, equal employment, and remuneration practice. Our experienced immigration lawyers understand that the search for talent, opportunities and employment drives the movement of people across borders. We advise our clients on issues of compliance with applicable laws and regulations relating to immigration laws in Kenya. In addition we provide our multinational clients with advice on immigration aspects of cross-border transfers and hiring.

Experience

  • Confidential client: Representing a large telecommunications company on Proceedings commenced against them by former employees claiming unfair termination following the restructuring of the company.
  • Confidential client: Acted for an international not-for-profit organisation with offices around the world The client’s Kenya office consulted us on the restructuring of their organisation in August 2017. By reconciling the contractual terms of redundancy with the Kenyan Employment Act, we guided the client through the process and ensured that there was full compliance with the law thereby minimising potential exposure to liability.
  • Various companies in the airline industry: Advising on and assisting with applying for special passes and work permits from the Department of Immigration Services for the families of their employees and dependants. We also advised on and assisted in obtaining clearance from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority ("KCAA") and obtaining alien cards from the Department of Immigration Services.
  • Various companies: Advised on employment and labor law aspects of major transactions. Some of the companies involved belong to sectors such as manufacturing, financial services and telecommunications.
  • Confidential client: Advised and assisted an international non-governmental organization: on the termination of employment, due to redundancy, of some of their employees.
Asylum
Business Visa
Citizenship
Dependent Visa
Permanent Residency
Retirement Visa
Work Permit

Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property practice is one of the oldest in Kenya. We advise on the registration of trademarks, patents, industrial designs, assignments and registered user agreements (licenses) for numerous multinational and local clients. We also represent clients in opposition proceedings and IP-related litigation. We pride ourselves in blending experience with dynamism and as such have employed some of the most enthusiastic, pragmatic and intelligent lawyers to meet the varied needs of our clients.

Experience

  • Confidential client: Advising a leading Kenyan bank with a presence in East Africa on all the intellectual property aspects of its banking business.
  • Confidential client: Acting for an industrial company in Kenya specializing in cement and concrete, in all its intellectual property matters in Kenya.
  • Confidential client: Advising and assisting one of the largest banks in Kenya expanding its business to the rest of the African continent on protecting its trademark.
Copyright
Patent
Trademark

Lawsuits & Disputes

For six years running we have been highly ranked in tier 1 in litigation and dispute resolution in Kenya by the leading international legal directory, Chambers & Partners. Our team of lawyers has been involved in successfully advising clients ranging from corporates to government agencies on risk and conflict management. Over time, the firm has gained specialty knowledge in commercial and contract disputes, election disputes, fraud, intellectual property disputes, employment disputes, pensions disputes, public law litigations, real estate litigation and planning disputes as well as restructuring and insolvency proceedings. Many of our clients operate in sectors frequently targeted by class action suits and public interest litigation which we are well equipped to handle.

Experience

  • Confidential client: Acting as counsel to a limited liability company which transmits, distributes and retails electricity to customers throughout Kenya in the petition that alleges that the client has imposed illegal and backdated electricity bills upon electricity consumers. The amount in dispute is US$101 million.
  • Confidential client: Acting as counsel to a State corporation established to manage Kenya’s wildlife in a matters challenging the construction of phase 2A of the Standard Gauge Railway project (SGR) a Kenyan government flagship project under Kenya Vision 2030. The value of this matter is Ksh 105 billion.
  • Confidential client: Acted for a leading player in the ICT and telecommunications sector in an application for administrative review to challenge the decision of the procurement board which annulled a tender that our client had been awarded. The value of this matter is US$12 million.
ADR Mediation & Arbitration
Appeal
Class Action
Litigation

Real Estate

We give advice on various aspects of real estate transactions including: sales, leases, purchases, charges, tenancy agreements, and commercial letting. We have a robust conveyancing practice to deal with all stages of transfer of interests in land. We guide our clients through the processes involved in real estate financing and borrowing. Our lawyers provide advisory and transactional support in REITS, construction, real estate tax, real estate investment and development, real estate partnerships, fractional ownership and franchising within the hospitality industry. We also have significant expertise in conservation-related leases in national parks and game reserves.

Within the firm is a team of lawyers with deep understanding of environmental law who constantly update themselves on changes in the law in this crucial area. Our expertise spans environmental compliance, management and liability to the environmental aspects of corporate and commercial transactions. We give advice on the legal aspects of energy, environmental due diligence, environmental reporting, land use, and planning and zoning.

Experience

  • Confidential client: Acted for an integrated specialist property company in the development of Kenya’s first grade A logistic and distribution warehouse park.
  • Confidential client: Acted for a Chinese state owned company with a branch in Kenya in the purchase of a residential property in one of Kenya’s prime locations.
  • Confidential client: Advising a developer on the best way to structure an upcoming mixed-use development that includes residential houses, leisure facilities, retail outlets and commercial offices spaces. The project value is Ksh twelve billion.
  • Confidential client: Acted for a Chinese international company in the purchase of a portion of land in a mixed use development known as Tatu City
Commercial Real Estate
Foreclosure
Housing, Construction & Development
Land Use & Zoning
Landlord & Tenant
Mortgage

Bankruptcy & Debt

When restructuring, insolvency or bankruptcy appears and financial distress threatens a business, rapidly maximizing values is key. Wherever the challenge appears today’s marketplace presents the decision-maker with a complex web of possible outcomes and legal strategies. Partner with Dentons Harrison & Mathews for tailor made solutions and advice on rescue securitizations, rescheduling of debts and debt to equity swaps and insolvency proceedings. We regularly advise public and private companies and investors. Our experience spans numerous sectors including finance, real estate, manufacturing, agriculture, trade, commodities and import and export sectors. 

Experience

  • Confidential client: Advised a leading commercial bank in Kenya on the restructuring of a facility extended to a state corporation and secured by charges over land. The bank is restructuring the facility to provide the borrower with more flexible terms of payment and prevent the continued default on the initial terms of the facility.
  • Confidential client: Advised the lender in a complex restructuring of a project loan. The restructuring is aimed at amending the current structure of principal loan payments under the facility to allow for the project loan to be paid upon sale of the property over which the bank has a charge shared with a different lender.
  • Confidential client: Advised on, and assist in the corporate restructuring of Kenya’s largest bank by assets and market share.
  • Confidential client: Acted as local counsel for a multinational brewing and beverage company, based in South Africa in the restructuring of its multi-tiered ownership structure.
Bankruptcy
Credit Repair
Creditor
Debt & Collection

Media, Technology and Telecoms

Our lawyers have a deep understanding of the telecoms sector and offer transactional and advisory services to telecom companies, internet service providers, satellite companies, media companies, and government regulatory agencies. We have extensive knowledge of the requirements of licensing, compliance, dispute resolution, infrastructure sharing, financing projects and drafting agreements. Our lawyers provide litigation services on disputes arising in this sector. We keenly follow changes in information technology and the law to give our clients innovative and effective solutions in areas such as software licensing, IP, defamation, infrastructure arrangements, spectrum auctions and e-commerce. The firm also represents clients in ADR and litigation.

Advertising and Marketing
Biotechnology
Cyber Law, Data Privacy and Data Protection
Fintech
Information Technology
Media and Entertainment
Outsourcing
Technology Transactions
Telecommunications and Broadcast

Insurance

Our firm offers support to insurance and re-insurance companies on commercial, regulatory and dispute management aspects of their business. We have vast experience in asset and liability management, bulk and other annuity transactions, the pensions buy-out and buy-in market, capital raising and securitizations, demutualizations, investment of insurance funds, collateralized re-insurance and other aspects of insurance matters. Our lawyers also advise insurance firms on such matters as claims, professional liability, insurance coverage, environmental liability, policy drafting and product design.

Experience

  • Confidential client: Successfully defending a claim against an insurer in an arbitration relating to an aviation accident claim under an aviation insurance policy, and a claim for an additional award not covered by the arbitral award.
  • Confidential client: Acted as legal counsel of an investment company registered in the United Arab Emirates in its acquisition of a minority stake in an insurance company in Kenya.
  • Confidential client: Acted for a Paris listed insurance company in its acquisition of an equity stake in an insurance advisory firm with operations in Dubai, Kenya and Qatar.
  • Confidential client: Acting for an insurer of a flour milling company which had recently constructed a series of new grain storage silos (one of which collapsed). The case raises considerations as to the cause of the collapse and whether the insurance cover extended to such cause.
Bad Faith Insurance
Health insurance
Insurance Defense
Insurance Fraud
Life Insurance

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