Africa Iseme Kamau & Maema Advocates in Kenya (“IKM”) and Ishengoma Karume Masha & Magai in Tanzania (“IMMMA (Advocates)”), members of DLA Piper Group, together with Sebalu & Lule Advocates in Uganda and Equity Juris Chambers in Rwanda today launched Juris East Africa, a new alliance dedicated to providing regional and international businesses with coordinated legal services across East Africa.
Juris East Africa was launched at an event at the Serena Hotel, Kampala, Uganda.
East Africa has become a hot spot for foreign investment into Africa. Members of Juris East Africa will work closely together in order to meet the growing demand from both regional and foreign businesses for coordinated legal services across the region.
Commenting on the launch James Kamau, Managing Partner of IKM in Kenya, said:
“The formation of Juris East Africa is a proactive response to the increasing demands from clients in East Africa and investors in this region who have been clear that they are seeking East Africa-wide solutions and that there is a wide gap in the region, which we are happy to help fill.”
Protase Ishengoma, Managing Partner of IMMMA (Advocates), said: “Both Sebalu & Lule and Equity Juris Chambers are leading law firms in their countries of operation and will add tremendous value to the Alliance.”
DLA Piper, which has its own exclusive alliance with IMMMA (Advocates), IKM and four other African law firms, is fully supportive of the launch of Juris East Africa, which will enable the firm to provide clients with more coordinated legal services across East Africa. Working with DLA Piper Africa Group firms, DLA Piper frequently advises on M&A, projects, project finance, infrastructure and government work across Africa.
Sebalu & Lule, ranked in band 1 by Chambers Global 2010, and Equity Juris Chambers, which has developed an impressive client base since it was established in 2007, are DLA Piper’s preferred law firms in Uganda and Rwanda, respectively, and are in the course of extending their relationship with DLA Piper.
Commenting on the launch of Juris East Africa David Church, DLA Piper’s International Development Partner, said: “We have worked closely with the member firms on the creation of Juris East Africa and are totally supportive. Banks, financial institutions, and domestic and foreign businesses do not want to work with several different law firms across the region. They want the seamless service and the efficiencies that they would get from working with just one firm. Juris East Africa gives them that.”
In addition to working together on multijurisdictional transactions, members of Juris East Africa will share between themselves and DLA Piper best practice, training, knowledge and support related to speciality practice areas across the countries.
