A Lifechanging Opportunity in Nairobi

I was delighted and very fortunate to be invited to join a team of DLA Piper lawyers delivering a weeklong international business transactions negotiations and drafting course in Nairobi, Kenya. New Perimeter teamed with the East African Development Bank (EADB) to offer the training. We were also very lucky to be accompanied by lawyers from Pfizer, with whom we jointly delivered the training.

Having previously been part of the DLA Piper team in Nairobi in 2022, I jumped at the chance to return and hoped to gain more of an insight into the challenges faced by government lawyers in the East African region and to see what progress had been made since 2022.

The course was aimed at mid to senior level government lawyers from East Africa involved in negotiating international contracts, with representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. The list of representatives was impressive, with a number of Senior State Attorneys and Legal Specialists in attendance, some with over 20 years' experience.

My fellow DLA Piper trainers included lawyers from DLA Piper's Washington, London and NYC offices, as well as myself from the Dubai office along with DLA Piper's group firms in Rio de Janeiro (Campos Mello) and Kenya (IKM).

The course was led by the inspiring professor and DLA Piper of counsel, Mr. Jay Finklestein, the mastermind behind the course materials and the textbook that we followed throughout the week. The training consisted of a packed schedule, with presentations and tutorials during the morning and post-lunch negotiation simulation sessions, with the all-important tea breaks giving us all the opportunity to connect with the attendees and to gain a better understanding of being a government lawyer in East Africa.

In addition to the fundamental presentations focusing on negotiation and drafting skills, we also had the benefit of Alexandre Calmon (Campos Mello/DLA Piper, Rio de Janeiro) presenting on oil and gas and our colleagues from IKM Advocates presenting on local content and ESG considerations in public procurement. These sessions were clearly of great interest to both the participants and the trainers alike and were the main topic of conversation during the afternoon tea breaks.

During the week, we also had the opportunity to meet a group of law students and faculty members from the University of Nairobi Law School at a dinner hosted by our Pfizer colleagues. The law students were so full of drive, determination and ambition.  It was truly an evening that all of us in attendance felt very fortunate to have been a part of.

Being part of this programme is truly a life changing opportunity and I would urge anyone who has the chance to attend to do so. I learnt so much from both of my trips to Kenya and made memories that will last a lifetime.

 Kara Henderson-PriceEADB - 2024 Karen Henderson photo _2

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