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Paras Shah

Managing Partner | Kenya | Nairobi

Paras-Shah

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Contact

T: +254 20 503 1600

E: paras.shah@bowmanslaw.com

Overview

Paras Shah is the managing partner of our Kenyan practice. He specialises in corporate and commercial law, banking and finance law, privatisations, M&A, capital markets and real estate law. He has a an LLB (Hons) from King’s College London, a Diploma in Legal Practice (cum laude) from the College of Law, UK, a Diploma in Management from Henley School of Management, UK, and a Diploma from the Kenya School of Law. He is qualified as a Solicitor in England, and an Advocate in Kenya

As part of the Firm’s senior leadership, Paras has also played an important role in building and fostering economic ties with clients and ILFs in the UK, India, Dubai, and Japan and in Africa.

He uses his 25 years of experience to get under the skin of every client he works with, to ensure his advice is always tailored to their specific needs and risk appetite. He helps his clients transform their businesses through IPOs, takeovers, listings and public-private partnership (PPP) transactions.

As Managing Partner of our Nairobi office, he directly manages teams of expert lawyers from across our offices to deliver a seamless cross-border service. Clients receive the best legal advice, delivered in a way that ensures efficiency and results.

He works with local and multinational companies, family businesses, financial institutions, state owned entities, and institutional investors. He acts as their trusted advisor working closely with them to understand their commercial needs and future objectives and guiding them locally with his vast local experience and contact base.

Clients enjoy his no-nonsense, commercial approach and his ability to provide solutions, rather than simply illustrate problems. Aurélie Pujo, Senior Partner & General Counsel at Amethis recently said: “Paras and the team at Bowmans give us the confidence we need to continue to expand our business. His advice is technically excellent and focused on the practicalities of getting deals done. His knowledge of our market helps us deal with the regulators, counterparties and other lawyers, and he is always available to guide us. Importantly, we also enjoy working with him – his optimistic approach means we look forward to picking up the phone!”

 

Experience

Jurisdictions in which transactions worked on: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania Ethiopia, South Africa, Dubai, India, Germany, and United Kingdom.

Paras has advised:

  • Amethis and Naivas in relation to the sale of a 40% stake in Kenya’s largest retail chain, Naivas to IBL;
  • Safaricom PLC on its market entry into Ethiopia;
  • The Government of Kenya in relation to a number of sovereign bonds and privatisations;
  • Linde Group on the sale of its controlling stake in BOC Kenya Limited (a listed company);
  • Allianz on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Jubilee Insurance’s general insurance business in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Mauritius;
  • Rubis Energie S.A.S (France) on its USD 420 million take-over of KenolKobil PLC (NSE listed), a pan-African downstream oil company and the subsequent delisting of KenolKobil PLC; and
  • Tullow PLC on its upstream oil exploration project in Northern Kenya and midstream crude oil pipeline project in Kenya.

Awards

  • African Legal Awards awarded Paras the Partner of the Year Award for East Africa (2023).
  • Chambers and Partners ranked Paras in Band 1 for Banking & Finance (Kenya) (2016-2023); Band 1 for Corporate/ M&A (Kenya) (2015-2024); Band 2 for Real Estate (Kenya) (2019-2023), prior to that in Band 3 for the same category (2016-2018); and in Band 3 for his work in Projects and Energy (Kenya) (2018-2023).
  • IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide rated Paras as Highly Regarded (2018-2023) for work in Capital markets, Project development, Banking and M&A, particularly within the Energy, Transport, Real Estate and Social Infrastructure Sectors.
  • Legal 500 ranked Paras as a Leading Individual for Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Kenya (2016-2024) as well as Commercial, Corporate & M&A (2018 to 2024) and Real Estate and Construction, Kenay (2023-2024).
  • ILO awarded Paras the Client Choice Award for corporate counsel in Kenya.

‘He is very commercially minded.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras Shah is a very good lawyer and has got a good reputation.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras has a strong focus on ensuring the clients’ satisfaction and on building long-term relationships with them.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras Shah handles transactions expertly, so that the client is on a seamless and confident journey.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘He is specialised and strong in handling real estate matters.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras Shah has years of experience that don’t go unnoticed.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras Shah is well-versed in private equity and capital markets deals’Legal 500, 2024

AREA OF EXPERTISE

Qualifications

  • LLB from King’s College London.
  • Diploma in Legal Practice (with distinction) from the College of Law in the United Kingdom.
  • Diploma in Management from Henley School of Management.
  • Postgraduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law.
  • Attended an executive law firm management course at Harvard Law School.
  • English-qualified solicitor;
  • Advocate of the High Court of Kenya; and
  • Qualified Certified Public Secretary in Kenya.

INSIGHTS

Kenya: Regulations on the public offer of securities and listings overhauled Kenya: New licensing category to regulate private equity and venture capital Kenya: Charting the path to economic supremacy in Africa GHR Beyond, Africa Edition: Kenya Chapter Africa: M&A in Key Jurisdictions – Bowmans report on current trends published Non-listed Public Banks can now hold virtual general meetings Convening General Meetings for public listed companies during Covid 19 pandemic: Bowmans Unlocks Conundrum Overview: An analysis of the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020 Convening Public Company General Meetings during the Covid-19 crisis COVID-19: The Kenya Government’s Economic Stimulus COVID-19: Impact on Businesses and Investments in Kenya The Law of Contract (Amendment) Bill, 2019 The interest rate cap is no more… The Law of Contract (Amendment) Act, 2019 Petroleum Act, 2019 is now in force New Energy Act embraces Renewable Energy Parliament extends the period for consideration and approval of Land Regulations and Wildlife Conservation Management Regulations by 6 months  Banking 2018: Roundtable Who’s Who Legal: Banking 2018 Roundtable Next-generation Africa-GCC Business Ties in a Digital Economy Revised Kenya-India double taxation agreement comes into force Legal Week: Global M&A Guide 2017 Africa Business Communities: Brexit Article Arabian Business: Why Gulf Investors Keen on Kenya Kenya in prime position to attract more investors Obama Boost for Africa Healthy pipeline should see deals pick up in Africa
Brochures

Overview

Paras Shah is the managing partner of our Kenyan practice. He specialises in corporate and commercial law, banking and finance law, privatisations, M&A, capital markets and real estate law. He has a an LLB (Hons) from King’s College London, a Diploma in Legal Practice (cum laude) from the College of Law, UK, a Diploma in Management from Henley School of Management, UK, and a Diploma from the Kenya School of Law. He is qualified as a Solicitor in England, and an Advocate in Kenya

As part of the Firm’s senior leadership, Paras has also played an important role in building and fostering economic ties with clients and ILFs in the UK, India, Dubai, and Japan and in Africa.

He uses his 25 years of experience to get under the skin of every client he works with, to ensure his advice is always tailored to their specific needs and risk appetite. He helps his clients transform their businesses through IPOs, takeovers, listings and public-private partnership (PPP) transactions.

As Managing Partner of our Nairobi office, he directly manages teams of expert lawyers from across our offices to deliver a seamless cross-border service. Clients receive the best legal advice, delivered in a way that ensures efficiency and results.

He works with local and multinational companies, family businesses, financial institutions, state owned entities, and institutional investors. He acts as their trusted advisor working closely with them to understand their commercial needs and future objectives and guiding them locally with his vast local experience and contact base.

Clients enjoy his no-nonsense, commercial approach and his ability to provide solutions, rather than simply illustrate problems. Aurélie Pujo, Senior Partner & General Counsel at Amethis recently said: “Paras and the team at Bowmans give us the confidence we need to continue to expand our business. His advice is technically excellent and focused on the practicalities of getting deals done. His knowledge of our market helps us deal with the regulators, counterparties and other lawyers, and he is always available to guide us. Importantly, we also enjoy working with him – his optimistic approach means we look forward to picking up the phone!”

 

Experience

Jurisdictions in which transactions worked on: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania Ethiopia, South Africa, Dubai, India, Germany, and United Kingdom.

Paras has advised:

  • Amethis and Naivas in relation to the sale of a 40% stake in Kenya’s largest retail chain, Naivas to IBL;
  • Safaricom PLC on its market entry into Ethiopia;
  • The Government of Kenya in relation to a number of sovereign bonds and privatisations;
  • Linde Group on the sale of its controlling stake in BOC Kenya Limited (a listed company);
  • Allianz on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Jubilee Insurance’s general insurance business in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Mauritius;
  • Rubis Energie S.A.S (France) on its USD 420 million take-over of KenolKobil PLC (NSE listed), a pan-African downstream oil company and the subsequent delisting of KenolKobil PLC; and
  • Tullow PLC on its upstream oil exploration project in Northern Kenya and midstream crude oil pipeline project in Kenya.

Awards

  • African Legal Awards awarded Paras the Partner of the Year Award for East Africa (2023).
  • Chambers and Partners ranked Paras in Band 1 for Banking & Finance (Kenya) (2016-2023); Band 1 for Corporate/ M&A (Kenya) (2015-2024); Band 2 for Real Estate (Kenya) (2019-2023), prior to that in Band 3 for the same category (2016-2018); and in Band 3 for his work in Projects and Energy (Kenya) (2018-2023).
  • IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide rated Paras as Highly Regarded (2018-2023) for work in Capital markets, Project development, Banking and M&A, particularly within the Energy, Transport, Real Estate and Social Infrastructure Sectors.
  • Legal 500 ranked Paras as a Leading Individual for Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Kenya (2016-2024) as well as Commercial, Corporate & M&A (2018 to 2024) and Real Estate and Construction, Kenay (2023-2024).
  • ILO awarded Paras the Client Choice Award for corporate counsel in Kenya.

‘He is very commercially minded.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras Shah is a very good lawyer and has got a good reputation.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras has a strong focus on ensuring the clients’ satisfaction and on building long-term relationships with them.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras Shah handles transactions expertly, so that the client is on a seamless and confident journey.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘He is specialised and strong in handling real estate matters.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras Shah has years of experience that don’t go unnoticed.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Paras Shah is well-versed in private equity and capital markets deals’Legal 500, 2024

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