A strong brand is one of a business's most valuable assets, yet many Kenyan businesses trade for years without registering their trade marks. Registration with the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) gives the owner exclusive rights to use the mark for the registered goods or services, and makes it far easier to act against copycats and counterfeiters. Search before you file. A clearance search helps identify existing marks that may conflict with yours, saving time and

Under the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA), many development projects in Kenya require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licence from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) before work begins. Starting a project without the necessary licence can lead to stop orders, penalties and costly delays. Developers should keep the following in mind. Check whether your project needs an EIA. EMCA sets out the categories of projects that require a

Many Kenyan families hold their wealth in land, shares and family businesses. When the owner dies without a will, those assets are distributed under the intestacy rules of the Law of Succession Act, which may not reflect what the owner would have wanted, and the process of obtaining letters of administration can be lengthy and contentious. A carefully prepared will and succession plan can prevent much of this. Certainty for your family. A valid will sets out clearly who recei