Our practice areas

What We Advise On

We advise clients across the full spectrum of commercial legal activity - from startup formation to complex cross-border transactions, property acquisitions, and fintech licensing in Kenya and East Africa.
Corporate & Commercial Transactions
Fintech & Financial Regulation
Mergers, Acquisitions & Private Equity
Real Estate & Infrastructure
More Practice Areas
Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech
Intellectual Property Law
Oil And Gas
Mining & Extractives
ABOUT THE FIRM

Who We Are

18 Years of Legal Leadership
Ex Visa East Africa & Safaricom PLC

Thomas Louis Advocates is built on senior executive experience at Visa East Africa - Director & Head of Legal across 15 markets, and Safaricom PLC, where Thomas Louis advised the world's first mobile-based overdraft product, Fuliza M-PESA.

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Sector-Specific Depth
Fintech, Real Estate, M&A, Corporate

Our practice is concentrated in the sectors where legal risk is highest - fintech regulation, real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate compliance across Kenya and East Africa.

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Nairobi-Based, East Africa Focused
Millennium Business Park, Karen

Based at Millennium Business Park on Langata Road, Karen, Nairobi. We advise clients across Kenya - and across East Africa, with experience in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

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Modern, Proactive Legal Counsel
Built to Unlock Business Value

We combine deep sectoral expertise with a modern, proactive legal approach. Our legal solutions are designed not just to mitigate risk, but to unlock business value for the businesses and investors we serve.

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RECOGNITION & CREDENTIALS

We Have Been Recognised.

Over 17 years of legal leadership. Six industry recognitions. A track record built inside East Africa's most significant corporations.
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2018 Strathmore Law School Extractives Baraza “Round Table” Award.
Leader of the overall Best Team in a Petroleum Contract-Negotiation Simulation contest as part of Strathmore University’s Master of Laws (LL.M) Oil & Gas Law Program.
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2019 Safaricom Way Heroes Award.
Safaricom PLC CEO recognition for “Demonstrating simplicity in delivery of innovation” for Thomas Louis’ role advising the world’s first mobile-based overdraft facility ‘Fuliza’.
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2020 LSK Nairobi Young Lawyer of the Year (Nominee)
Nominated Law Society of Kenya Young Lawyer of the Year at the annual Nairobi Legal Awards.
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2020 Safaricom Way Heroes Award
Safaricom PLC CEO recognition for “Embodying the Spirit of Safaricom” for achieving positive regulatory posture vis a vis Financial Services regulators.
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2022 LSK Nairobi Corporate Lawyer of the Year (finalist)
Nominated as a finalist for the Law Society of Kenya (Nairobi) Corporate (in-house) Lawyer of the Year Award at the annual Nairobi Legal Awards.
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2025 LSK Top 50 In-House Counsel Private Sector
Overall Law Society of Kenya Honoree-Leading In-House Counsel & Top 50 Private Sector Category Counsel 2025 at the annual Nairobi Legal Awards.
Our Vision
To be a full-service commercial law firm serving the Innovation Economy in Africa
2008 - Legal Trainee at HH&M
Thomas Louis joins the law firm of Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews (then Hamilton Harrison & Mathews) as a trainee Legal Clerk.
2010 - Lawyer-Dispute Resolution at HH&M
Thomas Louis starts hands on training as a lawyer under one of Africa's most respected and globally ranked Litigation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Law offices at Dentons HH&M.
2014 - Bar Finals, KSL
At his first attempt, Thomas Louis passes the bar exams (Advocates Training Program) at the Kenya School of Law.
2015 - Legal Assistant at HH&M
Thomas Louis Secures a permanent contract of employment as a Legal Assistant in the Corporate Commercial and M&A Department at Hamilton Harrison & Mathews, Advocates, Nairobi.
2016 - Associate Advocate at Dentons HH&M
Following admission to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Thomas Louis gets promoted to a fully qualified Associate Advocate and Fee Earner handling complex commercial deals including M&A, PE, Project Finance, Banking, Real Estate & Infrastructure Advisory including PPPs.
2018 - Legal Leadership at Safaricom PLC & M-PESA Africa
Thomas Louis head hunted by Safaricom PLC to join the company's legal team as Legal Counsel (Manager) Financial Services, overseeing legal, regulatory and public policy operations within the company's fintech and mobile money division. He would later handle all legal work relating to M-PESA in 7 countries in Africa.
2019 - Safaricom CEO's Award (Fuliza Innovation)
Thomas Louis receives Safaricom Way Heroes Award, 2019 for "demonstrating simplicity in delivery of innovation" for his role in advising the world's first mobile-based overdraft financial product-Fuliza M-PESA.
2020 - Safaricom CEO's Award (Regulatory Engagement)
Thomas Louis receives the CEO's Spirit of Safaricom Heroes Award, 2020 for exceptional stakeholder coordination and for his diligent work engaging with the Central Bank of Kenya.
2022 - Senior Leadership at Visa (CEMEA) East Africa
Thomas Louis appointed as Director & Head of Legal for Visa-Central Europe Middle East & Africa (CEMEA) to set up the legal and regulatory function in East Africa, Nairobi Hub. He oversaw legal and regulatory strategy across 15 African markets.
2022 - Strathmore University Law School
Master of Laws (Oil & Gas Law Option).
2025 - Formation of Thomas Louis Advocates (TLA)
After 17 years of combined experience, Thomas establishes TLA to serve innovation-driven businesses with strategic legal counsel.
REACH US DIRECTLY
For Legal Solution
+254 115 702 315
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Schedule Consultation

Share Your Matter
Tell us about your transaction or legal challenge. We assess it confidentially and outline exactly what you need.
Meet Our Counsel
Speak directly with Thomas Louis or a member of the TLA team. No layers, no juniors handling your matter without oversight.
Get a Clear Path Forward
Walk away with legal clarity and a practical plan, not just a consultation. We tell you what you need and how we can help.

A Practice Built on Real Experience

Not a theory-based practice. TLA was built by a lawyer who negotiated billion-dollar infrastructure deals, advised the world's first mobile overdraft product, and oversaw legal strategy across 15 African markets.
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Years of Legal Leadership
Industry Awards & Recognitions
African Markets
Core Practice Areas
Year Founded, Nairobi
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18+ Years of Legal Leadership
frequently asked questions

COMMON QUESTIONS

1
What types of clients does TLA work with?
TLA advises startups, fintechs, real estate developers, investors, PE/VC funds, multinational corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. Our clients range from first-time property buyers to regional banks executing cross-border acquisitions. What they share is the need for legal counsel that understands their sector.
2
Do I need a lawyer to buy property in Nairobi?
Yes. Under Kenya's Advocates Act, conveyancing must be carried out by a licensed advocate. But beyond the legal requirement, a Nairobi property transaction in 2026 requires six verification checkpoints, Ministry of Lands, NCC, NEMA, NCA, Ndungu Report, and KCAA airspace clearance. Most agents will not conduct any of these on your behalf.
3
What is the CAK notification requirement for M&A deals?
Under the Competition Act 2010, transactions where combined turnover or assets of the merging parties exceed KES 1 billion require mandatory CAK notification before completion. From November 2025, cross-border East Africa transactions also require notification to the EACCA. Completing a notifiable transaction without clearance is a criminal offence.
4
How do I get started with TLA?
Reach us at info@tladvocates.com or call +254 115 702 315. We are based at Millennium Business Park, Karen, on Langata Road, Nairobi. The initial consultation is free, tell us about your matter and we will tell you clearly what you need and how we can help.
Ready to Speak to Our Team?
Contacting the firm is free. Whether you are evaluating a transaction, navigating a regulatory issue, or managing a complex legal matter, we provide clear and practical legal guidance.
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CLIENT STORIES

Satisfied Clients

Confidential Client
Business Investor, East Africa
Thomas Louis Advocates is an embodiment of what the modern-day investor, shareholder or executive genuinely needs when navigating a market as dynamic, innovative and exciting as East Africa. TLA is our trusted legal business partner.
Confidential Fintech Client
Fintech Founder, Nairobi
The lawyers at TLA understand the full value chain of innovation, from ideation to design, development, and deployment. This firm understands what it takes to build a tech product from scratch and how to structure partnerships needed to take innovations to market while mitigating regulatory risk.
Confidential Real Estate Investor
Property Developer, Kenya
TLA took the headache out of our multi-user real estate development project and walked with us through many complex processes - helping us efficiently structure our property interests in the region. They were professional and diligent, always keeping us advised and updated.
Confidential Real Estate Investor
Property Developer, Kenya
TLA took the headache out of our multi-user real estate development project and walked with us through many complex processes - helping us efficiently structure our property interests in the region. They were professional and diligent, always keeping us advised and updated.
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