July 10, 2017
Oraro & Company Advocates recently admitted three of its senior associates to partnership. The three include Georgina Ogalo-Omondi (who works in the disputes and employment teams), Cindy Oraro (who is part of the firm’s corporate and commercial team) and Lena Onchwari (a member of the firm’s tax team). With these appointments, the full-service firm which was started as a solo practice, over 40 years ago by George Oraro SC now has twelve (12) partners.
The announcements which were formally made on the 29th of June, 2017 are further testament of the firm’s recent vigorous organic growth strategy, as they come hot on the heels of the admission into partnership of Corporate & Commercial lawyer Jacob Ochieng (who has been ranked by Chambers Global (2017 & 2016) as a lawyer to watch). Jacob joined the firm’s corporate and commercial team in February 2017 from Anjarwalla & Khanna.
Managing Partner Chacha Odera, had this to say, “With these promotions we want to not only secure our place as one of Kenya’s leading firms but to build a legacy of among other things a firm known for its leadership’s integrity and professionalism; values we feel Georgina, Cindy and Lena espouse. With these and our other recent appointments we also want to show clients that with us, diversity, experience and merit are more important than age. Also, that we are not just building a firm but an institution that will continue to grow and evolve to respond to Kenya’s changing business and legal landscape. Georgina, Cindy and Lena will no doubt add great value and perspectives to our partnership. They have already in their own ways proved themselves as fine lawyers and have also demonstrated an unwavering commitment to help the firm in its service delivery to clients and further to raise its profile higher, in among other areas, corporate law, extractives, employment and tax. I want to congratulate them once again and encourage them to keep blazing the trail for other young Kenyan women lawyers.”
An alumnus of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University where she obtained two degrees (LLB and BCom (Economics)), Georgina joined the firm 8 years ago. Georgina is particularly known for her expertise in employment and labour relations and has been involved in some of Kenya’s most prolific employment disputes. She was recently ranked by international leading legal directory Chambers Global in its 2017 report for her employment work, with the report, describing her, “As a senior associate who is involved in a number of the firm’s biggest cases, alongside key partners. Sources acknowledge her for her handling of mid-level employment disputes.” Georgina has also served as guest faculty member at the Strathmore Law School, lecturing on litigation in the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
In 2017 Cindy Oraro marks her fifth year working with the firm. Cindy specialises in energy, infrastructure, natural resources, PPP and projects and has experience advising on renewable energy projects, particularly solar. She has also written extensively on Kenya’s extractive industry sector with a focus on the country’s effort to overhaul regulation of this sector. In addition, she has participated in various fora giving views on legislative amendments on the same. She has worked with several local and international financial companies. In terms of professional and academic training, she has a degree from Durham University (LLB (Hons)) and another degree from the University of Bristol (LLM in Commercial Law). Noteworthy is that she was previously seconded to a leading global practice in its London offices. She is also a country representative of Legal and Businesswomen for Africa, on the advisory board of Roko 20 Academy and was previously a Co-chair of the advisory board of Educate Global Fund (an impact fund investing in businesses that significantly improve educational outcomes and life chances for children in low income communities).
Lena Onchwari who joined the firm’s tax team as a lateral hire in 2015 from Viva Africa Consulting LLP is in addition to being a qualified advocate, an accountant by training and holds a CPA (K). A notable highlight is that Lena was part of a team that successfully represented a leading petroleum company and its related companies, in an income tax appeal. A Master’s graduate of the University of Maastricht, she has expertise in both domestic and international law, in fact she is currently the Law Society of Kenya’s representative to the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Tax Agents’ Committee.
The firm which was earlier in the year cited by two leading international directories Chambers Global and Legal 500 as one of Kenya’s top firms, is known in the market for its high calibre of leadership. In fact its senior partner George Oraro SC was in March, 2017 inducted into the LSK’s Roll of Honour. The firm’s managing partner Chacha Odera is a recognized legal educator and has among other things facilitated several CLE’s and served for eight years in the Council of Legal Education. He also lectures at one of Kenya’s leading law faculties – Strathmore Law School and is a regular speaker at various events on legal practice and dispute resolution – for instance, he spoke at the 4thInternational Litigation and Asset Recovery Forum in Lagos, Nigeria.
Earlier, in 2015 the firm made significant strides to expand its partnership with the recruitment of Geoffrey Muchiri(formerly of Inamdar & Inamdar Advocates) who joined the firm’s well-regarded disputes team, Nelly Gitau (formerly of Harrison, Hamilton and Matthews and who was also cited by IFLR 1000 (2016) as a Rising Star in Banking) and Noella Lubano, a disputes lawyer who joined from Anjarwalla & Khanna.
To see more about the announcements and the firm’s recent activities, please visit our LinkedIn page here.
