rankings
IFLR 2012
Individual rankings: Leading Lawyers: Richard Harney and Philip Coulson
Firm - Tier 2 Financial and Corporate
Chambers 2012
Leading Lawyers: Richard Harney– Corporate/Commercial, Philip Coulson - Corporate/Commercial
and John Syekei – Corporate/Commercial: Intellectual Property
2011 - Global Law Experts ranked us as follows:
Kenyan - International Law Firm of the Year and Cross Border Law Firm of the Year.
Lex Mundi Pro Bono awarded us the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation Award 2011 in recognition of Coulson Harney's outstanding contribution to pro bono work in Africa.
This award is given by the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation in recognition of the incredible contribution member firms are making around the world and as an example of the impact lawyers can have on the lives of those in their communities.
Chambers and Partners ranked us as follows:
Individual rankings:
- Richard Harney: Band 1 - Corporate/Commercial
Richard Harney is commended for his "outstanding negotiating abilities," and is "exceptionally commercially minded."
- Philip Coulson: Band 2 - Corporate/Commercial
Philip Coulson is "highly dedicated and knowledgeable about a wide range of legal matters," including conservation and tourism.
John Syekei – up and coming Intellectual Property.
Firm rankings:
- Band 2 - Corporate/Commercial
“Formed in 2008 as a breakaway from Kaplan & Stratton, this firm has grown to four partners and has rapidly become a key player on the country's legal scene. The team's highlights include a range of public work, such as the privatisations of three government-owned enterprises. It also advised Liberty Holdings on the takeover of the insurance entities owned by the CFC Stanbic Group, and counselled Kenya Petroleum Refineries on the sale of 50% of its shares to Essar Energy. Philip Coulson is "highly dedicated and knowledgeable about a wide range of legal matters," including conservation and tourism. Richard Harney is commended for his "outstanding negotiating abilities," and is "exceptionally commercially minded." The firm has also been joined by John Syekei, who specialises in IP issues”.
2011 – IFLR 1000 ranked us as follows:
"Coulson Harney moves up a tier after competitors report it has solidified its place in the market over the past 12 months. The corporate boutique firm has doubled in size since it opened in 2008, picking up talent from a number of top firms. Under the leadership of Philip Coulson and Richard Harney, former Kaplan & Stratton partners, the firm has excelled in M&A work in particular"
2010 - PLC Which Lawyer ranked us as follows in their individual rankings:
Individual rankings:
- Richard Harney: Highly recommended
“Clients and peers see him as a very good choice for large corporate/M&A matters, and also has a vibrant equity capital markets practice.”
- Philip Coulson: Recommended
“Another one of the key corporate/commercial figures within the large team at this firm. His focus is on M&A and corporate transactions, as well as having a strong following within the telecoms sector.”
- John Syekei: Highly rated
“John Syekei has been highly rated in the International Whos Who of Trade mark lawyers 2009 and 2010, and International Whos Who of Patent lawyers 2009 and 2010. He has been nominated by his peers as being one of the world’s leading practitioners in this field.”
Firm rankings:
- Leading - Corporate/Commercial
- Band 1
2010 - Chambers and Partners ranked us as follows:
Individual rankings:
- Richard Harney: Band 1 - Corporate/Commercial
Richard Harney is described as a “brilliant commercial brain” and acknowledged as a “true heavyweight who is without peer in East Africa.”
- Philip Coulson: Band 2 - Corporate/Commercial
Philip Coulson is recognised for his excellent local knowledge and useful contacts, in addition to his "experience, professionalism, responsiveness and engaging personality."
Firm rankings:
- Band 2 - Corporate/Commercial
“Coulson Harney has already established a significant presence in Kenya’s legal market since opening in September 2008. Ex-Kaplan & Stratton lawyers Richard Harney and Philip Coulson are aiming to use their extensive corporate experience to win complex multi-jurisdictional transactional business for the new firm. The four-partner outfit's international profile is enhanced through its association with South African firm Bowman Gilfillan. Work highlights to date include advising NIC Bank on its cross-border acquisition of Savings & Finance Commercial Bank in Tanzania. The team is also acting for the Kenyan government on the National Bank privatisation.”
2010 – Legal 500 ranked us as follows:
- Band 2 – Corporate/M&A
The firm was established by Philip Coulson, ‘a top rank corporate lawyer’, and Richard Harney, ‘one of the best company lawyers in East Africa and a good team player’. The firm currently boasts seven fee-earners. The team acts for a good range of blue-chip clients including Liberty Group, Actis Capital and Equity Bank, and has joined the Africa Group established by Johannesburg headquartered Bowman Gilfillan.
The Kenya Industrial Property Journal
The Kenya Industrial Property Journal (the Trademarks and Patents Journal - Kenya) where all trademarks and patents are published before registration and grant respectively is now available online on the Kenya Industrial Property website at www.kipi.go.ke, and click here to download the journal.
The New Kenyan Merger Control Laws
The anticipation for up to date antitrust laws in Kenya is over. The recently promulgated Competition Act (the Act) came into effect on 1 August 2011 and replaces the Restrictive Trade Practices Monopolies and Price Control Act (the RTPA). On the whole, it aims to promote and safeguard competition in the national economy, protect consumers from unfair and misleading market conduct and provide for the establishment, powers and functions of the Competition Authority (the Authority) and the Competition Tribunal (the Tribunal). The Authority is the oversight body which is mandated to implement the Act while the Tribunal is the first point of reference for aggrieved persons with competition concerns.
Getting The Deal Through - Mergers and Acquisitions 2011
Mergers and Acquisitions in Kenya.
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Advised Hass Consult on the development of nine exclusive villas and forty residential apartments in Nairobi. Advice was also given on the acquisition of land, joint venture structuring and sale of the residential units.
SOPHIA KAREN LIMITED
Advising Sophia Karen Limited on the development and leasing of an international school in Nairobi to GEMS Education. Advice was given on the acquisition of land, negotiation of the purchase agreement, development agreement and lease to GEMS Education, the various construction contracts and project financing in relation to the land acquisition and construction of the school.
SAFARICOM AND SEVEN SEAS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Drafting and negotiating a co-operation agreement between Safaricom Limited and Seven Seas Technologies Limited for collaboration in the research and development of innovative technology products, including the use of cloud computing.
THE LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY & THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
Advising The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy in the acquisition of approx. 28,500 acres of land in Laikipia, Northern Kenya by a third party for the purposes of the permanent preservation and protection of land and wildlife. The transaction involved due diligence, complex corporate and property structuring, developing a tax efficient conservation model compliant with Kenyan law and included drafting and negotiating lease-back agreements, easements, granting of various options, rights and conservation management agreements.
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