Coulson Harney is a corporate law firm in Kenya and a member of Bowmans.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is strong in financial and corporate and project development work.
Key clients
In financial and corporate transactions, the firm has built relationships with Allianz Africa Holding, BOC Holding, Diageo, East African Breweries, Kenya Airways, and Old Mutual Group
In project development transactions clients of the firm include Tullow, Total, Africa Oil, Lake Turkana Wind Power, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Globeleq, Intex Construction, Standard Bank of South Africa, ENI S.p.A., Lake Turkana Wind Power, Rumuruti Solar Generation, Craftskills Energy, Frontier Energy, AMEA Power, Voltalia, Proto Energy, Windlab Developments Kenya, Virunga Power Holdings, and Empower Invest.
Research period review:31st edition (2020/2021)
During the research period the firm was active in banking, M&A, project development and project finance.
In banking the firm’s work focused on financial restructuring and loan work for a mix of lenders and borrowers for clients connected with retail and financial services.
In M&A the firm worked on acquisition transactions for buyers and sellers connected with the financial services sector.
In project development the firm worked predominantly on energy or transportation related work with a particular emphasis on for client in the roads and renewables sectors.
In project finance the firm worked on financing projects for clients mainly connected with roads and renewable energy.
In August 2020 partner Kamami Christine Michira left the firm for Iseme Kamau and Maema Advocates. In September of the same year partner Andrew Oduor joined the firm from Andrew & Steve Advocates.
Deal highlights:31st edition (2020/2021)
East African Breweries $94 million financial restructuring
I&M Holdings acquisition of Orient Bank shares
Kajiado-Imaroro and Ngong-Kiserian-Isinya road construction
Lokichar Basin crude oil extraction
Modogashe-Habaswein-Samatar and Rhamu-Mandera road construction
Client Feedback: 31st edition (2020/2021)
Bank lending: Lender side
"Attributes: proactive; dedicated; respectful of timelines; engaging. Even though they are serving as the lender's legal counsel, they have been extremely engaged with all the parties. "
M&A
"The firm has been responsive, had a positive proactive attitude and has provided a broad range of services in the transaction and has been able to leverage off knowledge and market practice from other offices. "
"Great negotiations skills; very well versed on M&A transactions; very well guided structuring advice."
Project development: Energy
"Good professional advice on various legal aspects of the transaction."
"Depth of industry knowledge, attention to detail, experience in the sector, accessibility and innovative solutions in a nascent sector in Kenya."
"They're very responsive and provide straightforward advice."
"Experience, knowledge and timely submission of advice."
"Great knowledge and experience; insights on the market; great local network."
Project development: Mining
"Highly qualified review of the documentation; legal analysis in due time; good knowledge of the risks in the oil and gas sector; and qualified suggestions how to avoid or minimize the risks."
Richard Harney
"Solid professional advice."
Alex Mathini
"He was available throughout the process, a great negotiator with excellent drafting skills. Preliminary structuring advice he gave saved a lot of time on the process."
Paras Shah
"Highly qualified lawyer, with excellent knowledge of the oil and gas sector. He gives timely feedback on the issues and involves the experts in different fields in order to provide a complete analysis. "
"Paras and Aleem make a formidable team and complement each other very well. Paras has a depth of knowledge on interactions with government contracts, whereas Aleem has distinguished himself particularly in the structuring of transactions."
Aleem Tharani
"Focused and dedicated; innovative in the solutions; very proactive."
"Reliable, responsive and very knowledgeable about the sector. Pleasant to work with."
"Solid professional advice."
"Aleem is a very strong lawyer and is able to provide relevant feedback to clients taking into account the risks clients should be able to take and the ones clients shouldn't."
"Always willing to assist and ready to think outside the box. Great in brainstorming and has in-depth knowledge and experience in the sector."
"He had everything - accessible; knowledgeable; great network; insights; proactive; friendly; professional; responsible."
"Paras and Aleem make a formidable team and complement each other very well. Paras has a depth of knowledge on interactions with government contracts, whereas Aleem has distinguished himself particularly in the structuring of transactions."
