Prominent law firms going separate ways
George Oraro. FILE PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |
What you need to know:
- The union was Kenya’s first biggest law firm merger.
- It created a legal powerhouse that was likely to be emulated by others in the future.
Two of Kenya’s most prominent law firms, which merged last year, have now resolved to go separate ways.
The influential Hamilton Harrison & Mathews, and Oraro and Company Advocates, which had come together to become Hamilton Harrison & Mathews (incorporating Oraro & Co), have indicated that their partnership will be terminated by the end of this month.
In a communication sent to all staff, the management committee stated that the partners have agreed to demerge from close of business on March 31.
“The partners of the respective firms will send all member[s] of staff a memo on March 30, 2015 setting out more details on the demerger,” read part of the communication which is dated March 27.
The union, which was Kenya’s first biggest law firm merger, had created a legal powerhouse that was likely to be emulated by others in the future.
George Oraro founded Oraro and Company Advocates in 1977, two years after his admission to practise as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Hamilton Harrison & Mathews, founded in 1902, is one of the oldest and largest law firms in Kenya. It has nine partners and 17 associates as well as several paralegal and legal clerks. Kenneth Fraser is the senior partner.
It was widely anticipated that through a merger, the firms would use their synergies to effectively tap opportunities across Africa and beyond.
The larger firm would also have allowed more lawyers to specialise.
Hamilton Harrison & Mathews, and Oraro and Company Advocates were experts in, among other areas, commercial, corporate, family, constitutional, tax, civil and criminal law.
