INTRODUCTION

Were & Oonge Advocates is a medium-sized legal firm set up in January 2007. The firm was started by F. J. Were an Advocate who has been in practice for over the years and Edward. M. Oonge an Advocate with extensive experience in a wide spectrum of law particularly commercial litigation, corporate, commercial transactions and criminal litigation and defence. The firm was set up with a vision of providing personalized, timely and effective legal solutions and services to its clients.

SUPPORT STAFF

We have a competent and committed support staff comprising of an Associate Advocate, Administrative Assistant, a Clerk, a Messenger and an Accountant.

Our staff is trained frequently to fit the challenges of the job market to maintain corporate image memory and resource of the firm and to keep them well within corporate expectation. The firm also takes up student lawyers to undertake their pupilage in the firm.

We are aware of the bureaucratic nature of some aspects of our practice especially in matters relating to commercial and conveyancing briefs, for this reason we have engaged consultants to assist us at the various government bodies where such bureaucratic road blocks get into the way of efficient delivery of services.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Our firm carries out legal work for a wide range of clientele ranging from individuals, small businesses, large companies and international organizations. We have specialized in diverse areas of practice such as, corporate and commercial law, conveyancing, general property law, banking securitization and criminal litigation.

We also engage in incorporation of companies, registration of Trusts, Non Governmental Organizations, foundations and business names including advising on ideal business organizations to be registered, capitalization, structuring and re-structuring of companies. We also undertake transfer of ownership of business interests, asset disposal and project financing.

We advise and prepare agreements and documents relating to corporate, trade and asset financing. We advise on insolvency and appointment of receiver managers, restructuring of companies and preparation of a wide range of commercial agreements.

We review security documentation and carry out registration and perfection of a wide range of securities, re-structuring of loans, realization of securities and assist in recovery of debts and advising generally on compliance with various legal requirements.

We negotiate, draft and implement agreements for licensing, distribution, shareholding, stock sales, asset sales and assist in the establishment of joint ventures. We prepare a wide range of commercial documents including memorandums of understanding, licences, contracts, leases and other related documents.
We offer guidance on relevant legislation affecting new business ventures including import and export laws, immigration law labour and taxation, and we assist foreign companies in registration of local companies and in obtaining work permits.

In the Intellectual Property portfolio, we register, renew and prepare licence or assignment agreements for trade and service marks for our local and overseas clients under the Trade Marks Act. The firm also undertakes registration of patents and industrial designs as well as the registration of copyrights. The firm offers advice on and undertakes proceedings for the enforcement/protection of intellectual property rights before the Kenya Industrial Property Tribunal and the courts.

We have built up an experience in litigation touching on motor accident claims, workmen’s compensation, medical and general negligence and general insurance claims as well as succession and children matters.

We have extensive trial practice at all levels of the Kenya Court system ranging from Administrative Tribunals to the Court of Appeal on a wide range of criminal and civil cases. These cases involve debt collection, labour matters, judicial review proceedings, contractual claims, inquests, immigration cases, land cases, probate and succession, enforcement and realisation of diverse securities as Charges, Debentures and Guarantees among many more.

We also undertake arbitration on a diverse range of disputes mainly of a commercial nature and participate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) on various commercial and non-commercial matters.