Oraro & Company Advocates

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The law firm of Oraro & Company Advocates (formerly Oraro & Rachier Advocates) was founded in 1977, over thirty years ago and presently comprises three partners who are George Oraro, Hilary Chacha-Odera and Pamella Ager. In addition to the partners the firm employs a support staff of thirty, comprising Associates, Legal Clerks, Messengers, Office Managers, Accounts Staff, Secretaries and Computer Operators and a Librarian.

The firm has a wide practice experience in matters relating to Banking, Corporate, Commercial Law and Civil and Criminal Litigation. The firm’s clientele include Industrial and Commercial Companies, Banking and Financial Institutions, Local and International Non-Governmental Organisations, Insurance Companies, Trade Unions, as well as Government and Parastatal bodies.

The firm is equipped with and subscribes to a wide range of publications relating to local legal practice as well as materials obtained from other jurisdictions. The relevant reference works, Law Reports, Statutes and journals from commonwealth jurisdictions and non-commonwealth common-law jurisdictions have been acquired for use in the law firm.

In addition to ordinary practice, the Partners are Board Members of various charitable organisations, private and public companies, learning institutions and professional bodies. The Partners also sit on the Boards of various interest groups in advisory capacity.

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Oraro & Company Advocates has been involved in advising clients in the other East African countries and in South Africa. It also has clients in other Commonwealth countries, providing advice to investors intending to invest in Kenya. The firm’s knowledge and experience is enhanced by the synergies it has with other law firms globally having worked with international firms.

The firm’s international clients include leading international organizations, multi-nationals, banking and financial institutions, insurance companies and international Non-Governmental Organisations.

With regard to international experience, the firm provides diverse legal services to its clients including: mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, capital markets, energy law, commercial and company law, project finance, corporate finance, securities, telecommunications, securities litigation, regulatory enforcement, intellectual property, environmental law and practice, real estate, employment and government contracts and public procurement matters, litigation, arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

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EXPERIENCE STATEMENT

BANKING FINANCE AND CAPITAL MARKETS

The firm has considerable experience in the following areas:

a) Drafting and negotiating single bank and syndicated loan agreements and multiple option facilities.
b) Drafting and negotiating trade finance documents.
c) Taking of security in connection with lending transactions.
d) Mortgage and other asset securitisations.
e) Debt restructuring documentation.
f) Listing of securities and undertaking all aspects of Due Diligence prior to listing.
g) Divestiture of Government shares in Public Corporations.

The firm has considerable experience in the following areas:
• All forms of private and public company commercial work including: share sales, asset sales and joint venture agreements.
• Acting for Receivers of Companies and the Deposit Protection Fund.
• Commercial conveyancing in development of substantial and residential commercial projects.
• Negotiating Agreements with contractors involved in the development of commercial property.

CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

The firm’s civil and commercial litigation practice has an outstanding reputation and considerable experience in the following areas:
• Acting for Banks in enforcing and recovery under security documentation.
• General property litigation.
• Advising receivers and liquidation on receivership and winding up of companies.