NBMA Advocates is the Kenyan arm of South Africa based firm ENSafrica. The firm was formed by a spin-off of a four-partner team from established local firm Kaplan & Stratton in 2019.
Founded in South Africa in 1905,
ENSafrica is now a large pan-African law firm with a focus on commercial law. It employs more than 600 hundred lawyers across as offices in Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.
The firm is focused on financial and corporate, specifically M&A and restructuring and insolvency work, and infrastructure and power project development.
The firm has developed strong ties with Transnet,
Elewana Afrika, Tropical Power Kenya,
Matokeo Holdings,
Solarion Investment Group, Water Infrastructure Fund Kenya, AFD,
Proparco, Investec, Safaricom,
Societe Generale, World Courier Operations Kenya,
Calltronix Kenya,
Omnicane,
Twiga Foods, Agri Commodities & Finance,
Kisima Farm, TPS Eastern Africa, Brown Forman Corporation, and Stanbic Bank.
Research period review:
32nd edition (2022/2023)
During the research period, the firm was active in
banking and finance, capital markets, M&A and project development.
In banking and finance the firm worked on loans and financings
mainly for lenders in the financial services sector.
In capital markets
the firm's work focused on bond issues
assisting arrangers from
the financial services sector.
In M&A
the firm worked on
acquisitions, mergers and restructurings for clients in
tourism, agriculture, hospitality and investment management.
In project development the firm worked on projects for clients in the energy and financial services sectors.
Deal highlights:
32nd edition (2022/2023)
PTA
reinsurance
company acquisition of
Agriculture and climate
risk
enterprise
majority shareholding
Client Feedback:
32nd edition (2022/2023)
"Very good experience in their area of expertise. The fact the law firm has offices in the main countries of the region is a very positive point on multi-jurisdiction transactions. Communication between the offices is smooth and effective. "
"They displayed a mastery of local law related to public entity borrowing, local capital market regulations and tax laws. The team provided exemplary advice on structuring options and went above and beyond in providing critical support in proposing options for issues we encountered."
"Timely action on issues. Quality of legal work was good – knowledge of subject matter and research work was first class. "
"Very professional, exceptionally knowledgeable, agile and responsive. "
"General M&A advice and deal structuring."
"Excellent advice on structuring of the transaction and detailed input on the various agreements and facilitating an orderly completion process. "
"The firm was competent, reliable, knowledgeable, and extremely swift in producing results and delivering the required actions and paperwork. "
"Excellent input during the negotiations in legal matters, tax advice, follow-up on close-out actions and review of the share purchase agreement provided by the seller's lawyers. The firm also developed an employee stock ownership plan for the new organisation. Communications and feedback
was very timely and informative, especially during Covid-19. "
Project
development : Infrastructure
"Due to the requirements of the domestic operator and the borrower not appointing domestic counsel, we've relied heavily on the firm to craft a ring-fenced, insolvency remote structure that remains bankable. This involved a significant amount of structuring and negotiation, striking a fine balance between the bank's credit requirements, the domestic operator's requirements and providing appropriate guidance both in respect of Kenyan law and international banking and finance practice. The firm played a pivotal role in ensuring on the one side that appropriate restrictions in place and on the other side that we have a security structure acceptable to both the domestic operator and the borrower."
"ENS are thorough but also pragmatic. In the two transactions I refer to, ENS has delivered timely and sound advice, I have been very happy with ENS' service."
"Timely, responsive, approachable, discursive, partner, advisory."
"Intelligent and committed to quality."
"Professional, knowledgeable, focused on solutions, agile and responsive. He is very sociable, too."
"Understands the issues at hand and is able to give sound advice to resolve. Innovative and was able to guide through the acquisition process."
"Pragmatic, risk-based approach. Management of efficient teams and delivery into tight timelines; highly experienced; positive engagement over the honouring of quotations."
"Communication, follow-up response, explanation of complex matters as applied to the matter at hand."
"He was extremely professional and efficient. He understood the assignment and the client's way of conducting business – he provided very insightful feedback and is an expert in the field. "
"Legal advice, client service and coordination."
"All facets very professional and knowledgeable."
"Responsiveness, problem solving."
"Strong on law and reasoning from first principles. Solutions-oriented. Proactive. Advice takes into account need for good balance between legal risk management and commerciality."
"She has excellent knowledge of the market, communication is easy, she is friendly and available."
