K-Solutions & Partners

1. Firm Details 

K-Solutions & Partners (KS&P) Law firm was established in 2007 and currently has a vast number of both domestic and international clients. The Firm employs 15 permanent staff including 9 Advocates as well as external Legal Consultants.

JULIEN KAVARUGANDA | SENIOR PARTNER  

Phone: +250 788 300 926  

Email: [email protected]  

BACKGROUND  

Julien is the Founder & Senior Partner of K-Solutions & Partners, a corporate law firm in Kigali, Rwanda. He has been practicing at the Brussels Bar Association before joining the Rwanda Bar Association in 2004. Julien is the immediate former President of the Rwanda Bar Association and the current President of the Bar Association of Great Lakes Bar Associations (Rwanda - Burundi - East DRC Bar Association : Goma & Bukavu). He is also Vice Chairman of the Kigali International Arbitration Center, Board Member of the East African Law Society, Board member of MTN Rwanda Ltd and recently appointed Board Member of Rwanda Finance Ltd.

Julien has over seventeen years of experience in the legal sector. His practice covers corporate and commercial law inclusive of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, privatization, banking and finance, project finance, capital markets, arbitration, energy and natural resources, and infrastructure law.

He is also actively involved in a number of environmental and ecological issues in the local community.

CYAGA N. ERIC | MANAGING PARTNER  

Phone: +250 788 300 973  

Email: [email protected]  

BACKGROUND  

Eric is the Managing Partner at K-Solutions & Partners. He pursued his undergraduate Studies at Kigali Independent University (ULK) (Kigali- Rwanda) and postgraduate MBA for Lawyers Studies at De Monfort University (Leicester- UK).

He is a member of the Senior Roll of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East African Law Society, an Accredited Mediator, a certified Adjudicator and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

His role at K-Solutions & Partners is to ensure the legality of commercial transactions, advise companies and individuals on their legal rights and duties. Eric has a deep understanding of the aspects of contract law, securities law, insolvency, business organization and employment law.

He can also share his knowledge gained as a Board Member in different institutions such as GT Bank (Rwanda) Plc and the Centre of AI Policy & Innovation Ltd. He is the newly elected Vice-President of the service cluster within the Private Sector Federation. He also serves as the Honorary Consul for Côte d’Ivoire in Rwanda.

MURAGIJIMANA EMMANUEL| CHIEF ASSOCIATE  

Phone: +250 788 306 145  

Email: [email protected]  

BACKGROUND  

Emmanuel has over 18-year experience in provision of legal advice and supports the law firm in transactions by ensuring compliance with the legal requirements. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business law, currently a member of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East Africa Law Society. He is also a Private Notary with his office at K-Solutions & Partners Law Firm.

He has occupied different positions: legal officer at the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, Legal Officer and later Head Legal and Company Secretary at BCDI S.A. and Ecobank Rwanda Limited and Advisor to the Speaker.After nine (9) years of working experience in the banking sector, he joined the Parliament of Rwanda, where he served in the capacity of Advisor to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.This has allowed him to become familiar with the ways in which Parliament organizes itself effectively to carry out its key functions of legislation, representation and oversight. He has ability in legal advisory and drafting services. After the parliamentary experience, he joined K-Solutions & Partners Law Firm in capacity of Legal Consultant where he has completed different works in legal due diligence exercise for acquisition and other business combination, facilitating clients in their relationship with local and international banks (team leader on Bio, IDC, AgDvCo, Shelter in Africa project finances), corporate governance, organization registration and legal compliance and Organization restructuring. He is a member of the Senior Roll of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East Africa Law Society.

SANGANO YVES | CHIEF ASSOCIATE  

Phone: +250 788 679 086  

Email: [email protected]  

BACKGROUND  

Yves is a Chief Associate at K-Solutions & Partners and focuses mainly on Intellectual Property, corporate, commercial and Investment transactions. Before joining K-Solutions &Partners, he served in various positions such as State Attorney/Strategic investment Legal Analyst and Deputy Registrar General of Companies with Rwanda Development Board.

He has also served in the central government under the Prime Minister’s Office as Legal Advisor to the Cabinet Secretariat and local Government as Labour inspector and Public Notary at the District level.

Yves is a Member of the Senior Roll of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East Africa Law Society with vast experience of more than 16 years in General business law practice focusing mainly on Intellectual Property, Company Incorporation, Corporate Governance, Insolvency Administration Practice and Financial Transactions.

NIZEYIMANA BONIFACE | PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE  

Phone: +250 788 538 566  

Email: [email protected]  

BACKGROUND  

Boniface plays a leading role throughout all stages of litigations and investigations, with responsibilities that include: preparing research memoranda, drafting discovery documents, pleadings, correspondence, and motions; assisting with and attending witness interviews, client meetings, court hearings, and meetings with judicial officials; and assisting with deposition and trial preparation.

Boniface has developed practice skills through a wide range of client representations on behalf of companies and organizations, amongst other entities for the over 10 years he has been in practice.

He is a member of the Senior Roll of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East Africa Law Society.

NGIRINSHUTI DAVID | PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE  

Phone: +250 788 401 633  

Email: [email protected]  

BACKGROUND  

David is a highly motivated, ambitious Advocate who strives for excellence in his work and enthusiastically encourages and support others through team-work to achieve/accomplish common objectives to the best extent possible. He is a business law practitioner with specialization in corporate and commercial law practice, contracts, banking law and finance, securities, investment, tax, Intellectual property prosecution and enforcement, employment, and debt recovery. His experience includes assisting local and international clients, local and multinational companies in Merger & Acquisition transactions, corporate and projects financing through syndicated loans or other financing arrangements. He is involved in conducting legal due diligence and legal audit as well as advising in investment deals including private equity and other investment vehicles or structures. He assists with incorporation of companies, corporate governance and regulatory compliance, restructuring and insolvency management. He also provides company secretarial services and has been a member in a number of boards of directors. He advises local and foreign clients (tax residents and non-residents) on tax compliance and advises on labour law compliance and labour/employment dispute resolution. David assists or represents clients in court proceedings (litigation) and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) such as arbitration, conciliation, mediation and negotiation. He is a Member of the Senior Roll of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East Africa Law Society.

KALLAGI Arnold | ASSOCIATE  

Phone: +250 787 337 024  

Email: [email protected]  

BACKGROUND  

Arnold is a lawyer driven by a need to ensure the legality of commercial transactions through advising corporations on their legal rights, remedies and duties, including the duties and responsibilities of corporate officers. He has also participated in a number of Patent and Trademark registrations, trademark recordals, IP renewals, trademark registration objections, trademark registration appeals proceedings and among other trademark issues. He is a well acknowledged IP Attorney at the Rwanda Intellectual Property Offices. His experience also covers several areas of corporate law as well as taxation matters that he has dealt with on a number of occasions. He is also well versed with the procedures of litigation having offered advice to several clients concerning both civil and criminal matters.

He is a Member of the Senior Roll of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East Africa Law Society

KASERA OKELLO PATRICK | ASSOCIATE  

Phone: +250 787 304 541  

Email: [email protected]  

BACKGROUND  

Patrick is a highly motivated lawyer with experience in Rwandan and Kenyan laws. He has had the opportunity to work in both jurisdictions. He is a member of the Senior Roll of the Rwanda Bar Association and the East Africa Law Society.

His experience covers both the Non-Governmental Organization and Law Firms. His legal practice covers several areas such as corporate and commercial law involving due diligence exercises, drafting and review of contracts, drafting Legal opinions, regulatory compliance based on the company law and the law governing NGOs and INGOs and employment law. He has previously carried out rapporteuring services, drafting of Legal briefs and documents, report writing and facilitating public forum trainings.

2. Firm Overview  

K-Solutions & Partners (KS&P) is a law firm that was established in 2007 with the aim of offering its clients the resources and the expertise of an international law firm with a culture of delivering seamless service across local teams and offices. Our commitment is to constantly provide exceptional legal service to our clients.

KS&P is a prominent law firm in Rwanda, exceptionally well positioned to offer clients practical insights on the legal issues arising in Rwanda’s dynamic economic environment. The firm has a reputation for delivering in-depth knowledge of both local and international business practice, which has helped it to attract a vast number of both local and international clients.

KS&P team works in harmony and through employing the law alongside our creativity as tools to help our clients attain their objectives. The capacity to listen and ability to react to client needs, upholding of professional ethics, use of highly trained associates, legal assistants and support staff are the core values that we feel strongly for and that are, as lawyers, at the heart of our commitment to our clients.

The professionalism of the team, innovative problem-solving skills, commitment to the job, have earned the Firm several awards and accolades from well renowned ranking firms such as Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and IFLR as well as both national and international clients.

Our Band 1 ranking with Chambers & Partners as well as our proficiency in the languages of English and French makes us one of the best legal partners in Rwanda.

Our Firm assembles multi-disciplinary teams with experienced corporate, commercial, banking, finance, real property, legal drafting, negotiation and review, compliance advice as well as arbitration, dispute resolution and litigation lawyers from across the Firm, possessing extensive experience in a Client-centered sector.

3. Main Areas of Practice  

Our Firm is structured in several practice areas. We assemble multi-disciplinary teams with experienced corporate, commercial, finance and dispute resolution lawyers from across the Firm, possessing extensive experience in a Client-centered sector. These teams of lawyers then work together in providing services such as legal drafting, negotiation and review, compliance advice and representation in litigious matters and arbitration proceedings. The advantage of such a team-centered approach to the clientele is the highest caliber of legal advice and unique in-depth industry knowledge.

i. Corporate, Commercial and NGO practice  

In this practice, we advise NGO’s, public and private companies on all aspects of corporate activities, including company formation and management, joint ventures, management buy-outs, employment, negotiating and drafting of all types of commercial contracts and insurance just to mention a few. The members of the Firm are comfortable and conversant with all kinds of contractual arrangements such as non-disclosure and secrecy, licensing, distribution, outsourcing, agency, leasing and factoring, sales and commercial leases. The team is uniquely qualified to negotiate and prepare highly specialized contractual documents. This department also advises on corporate and securities regulatory issues, disclosure and corporate governance matters and on transactional structuring.

ii. The regulatory compliance practice  

In this area of practice, we advise boards of directors and management teams in commercial banks, financial institutions, private companies, religious institutions, non-governmental organizations and various other commercial and charitable bodies on how they can effectively discharge their duties particularly in the current environment where regulators increasingly seek to hold directors/trustees/managers accountable for failures in their organizations or products.

iii. Projects  

The Firm has the capability of representing government bodies, private companies, borrowers, insurance companies, investment and merchant banking firms and other financing institutions, corporate lenders and venture capital investors and developers across a range of industry sectors such as banking and finance, mining, real estate, transportation, oil, gas, utilities, telecoms, construction and engineering. We understand that every transaction presents unique demands. We therefore, work closely with our clients to understand their businesses, objectives and approach to their deals. Our clients rely on us to provide the in-depth industry knowledge, local market expertise, practical solutions and clear strategies necessary to make their deals work.

iv. The Banking and Finance Practice 

We advise on all aspects of commercial banking and lending business. The Firm supports borrowers, lenders, issuers, lead managers and on debts, syndicated lending, drafting and registration of security documents, trade finance, structured asset, project finance, debt recovery, receivership and liquidation. Our banking and projects experience, combined with strengths in areas such as outsourcing, construction, property development, facilities management and utilities has put us firmly at the forefront of this field. The Firm is actively involved in creating and developing sophisticated corporate structures and financial instruments. Our team is uniquely qualified to negotiate and prepare highly specialized contractual documents.

In addition to the foregoing, the Firm has the capabilities in working in diverse capital markets and venues. These include initial public offerings and private placements of securities.

v. Intellectual Property Practice 

We provide advice and general assistance regarding trademarks and patents applications, including contentious and non-contentious work, trademark infringement, passing off, opposition proceedings, copyright and design right, confidential information disputes and protection of intellectual property rights.

vi. Real Property Practice 

K-Solutions & Partners provides services with respect to real estate including the provision of assistance with acquisition and disposal of both commercial and residential properties and conveyancing in general. The Firm also provides advice and assistance where required in the legal procedures associated with project financing, mortgaging, insolvency, management of contracts in both rental and lease contracts and securities. Additionally, the Firm engages in dispute resolution on behalf of its clients involving, foreclosure, court representation, arbitration and the execution of resultant orders or awards.

vii. Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice  

The Firm handles a wide variety of domestic and international commercial disputes relating to employment, financial and corporate matters, insolvency, insurance, etc. Our litigation department has substantial experience in a wide variety of business and commercial litigation and arbitration including in sectors such as infrastructure, banking and financial institutions, construction, communications and insurance.

viii. Notary services  

The Firm offers professional private notary services which cover a wide range of documents within the ambit of Law n° 13bis/2014 of 21/04/2014 governing the office of notary. The services provided include but are not limited to authentication of deeds and signatures, certification of authenticity of a document, certification of conformity of a copy to the original as well as the notarization of Articles of Association and agreements.

The members of K-Solutions & Partners possess vast experience in advising various clients on matters ranging from the regulatory aspects of their registrations, restructurings, annual statutory filings, taxation and employment.

The Firm also provide advice and assistance to our clients in relation to changes in the country’s laws and regulations. Rwanda being a growing nation in a dynamic world, new laws and or regulatory requirements arise and change regularly. In such circumstances, our legal team work to update clients on the likely impact of those changes in their operations with practical suggestions for solutions and adjustments to their systems to ensure compliance with them.

K-Solutions & Partners also conduct regulatory audits as a "stand alone" request, or as part of preparation of directors’ compliance statements under the relevant laws establishing their organizations or as a supplement to internal audit or legal and compliance teams. The focus is to advise and assist clients in reviewing and amending their compliance systems and procedures to enable them satisfy themselves that they comply with all the country’s and organizational legal and regulatory requirements.

4. International Work  

Our affiliation with the Africa Legal Network (ALN) which is an independent alliance of leading law firms in Africa continues to enable us increase our capacity and capability to service a growing volume of high value domestic and international corporate and commercial advisory work across the African continent. We have also had the opportunity to work on a number of transactions with several international law firms such as Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, Baker & McKenzie, Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Linklaters, Hogan Lovells and Eversheds.

5. Practice areas and Offices  

Our Firm is structured in several practice areas. We assemble multi-disciplinary teams with experienced corporate, commercial, finance and dispute resolution lawyers from across the Firm, possessing extensive experience in a Client-centered sector. These teams of lawyers then work together in providing services such as legal drafting, negotiation and review, compliance advice and representation in litigious matters and arbitration proceedings. The advantage of such a team-centered approach to the clientele is the highest caliber of legal advice and unique in-depth industry knowledge.

i. Corporate, Commercial and NGO practice  

In this practice, we advise NGO’s, public and private companies on all aspects of corporate activities, including company formation and management, joint ventures, management buy-outs, employment, negotiating and drafting of all types of commercial contracts and insurance just to mention a few. The members of the Firm are comfortable and conversant with all kinds of contractual arrangements such as non-disclosure and secrecy, licensing, distribution, outsourcing, agency, leasing and factoring, sales and commercial leases. The team is uniquely qualified to negotiate and prepare highly specialized contractual documents. This department also advises on corporate and securities regulatory issues, disclosure and corporate governance matters and on transactional structuring.

ii. The regulatory compliance practice  

In this area of practice, we advise boards of directors and management teams in commercial banks, financial institutions, private companies, religious institutions, non-governmental organizations and various other commercial and charitable bodies on how they can effectively discharge their duties particularly in the current environment where regulators increasingly seek to hold directors/trustees/managers accountable for failures in their organizations or products.

iii. Projects  

The Firm has the capability of representing government bodies, private companies, borrowers, insurance companies, investment and merchant banking firms and other financing institutions, corporate lenders and venture capital investors and developers across a range of industry sectors such as banking and finance, mining, real estate, transportation, oil, gas, utilities, telecoms, construction and engineering. We understand that every transaction presents unique demands. We therefore, work closely with our clients to understand their businesses, objectives and approach to their deals. Our clients rely on us to provide the in-depth industry knowledge, local market expertise, practical solutions and clear strategies necessary to make their deals work.

iv. The Banking and Finance Practice 

We advise on all aspects of commercial banking and lending business. The Firm supports borrowers, lenders, issuers, lead managers and on debts, syndicated lending, drafting and registration of security documents, trade finance, structured asset, project finance, debt recovery, receivership and liquidation. Our banking and projects experience, combined with strengths in areas such as outsourcing, construction, property development, facilities management and utilities has put us firmly at the forefront of this field. The Firm is actively involved in creating and developing sophisticated corporate structures and financial instruments. Our team is uniquely qualified to negotiate and prepare highly specialized contractual documents.

In addition to the foregoing, the Firm has the capabilities in working in diverse capital markets and venues. These include initial public offerings and private placements of securities.

v. Intellectual Property Practice 

We provide advice and general assistance regarding trademarks and patents applications, including contentious and non-contentious work, trademark infringement, passing off, opposition proceedings, copyright and design right, confidential information disputes and protection of intellectual property rights.

vi. Real Property Practice 

K-Solutions & Partners provides services with respect to real estate including the provision of assistance with acquisition and disposal of both commercial and residential properties and conveyancing in general. The Firm also provides advice and assistance where required in the legal procedures associated with project financing, mortgaging, insolvency, management of contracts in both rental and lease contracts and securities. Additionally, the Firm engages in dispute resolution on behalf of its clients involving, foreclosure, court representation, arbitration and the execution of resultant orders or awards.

vii. Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice  

The Firm handles a wide variety of domestic and international commercial disputes relating to employment, financial and corporate matters, insolvency, insurance, etc. Our litigation department has substantial experience in a wide variety of business and commercial litigation and arbitration including in sectors such as infrastructure, banking and financial institutions, construction, communications and insurance.

viii. Notary services  

The Firm offers professional private notary services which cover a wide range of documents within the ambit of Law n° 13bis/2014 of 21/04/2014 governing the office of notary. The services provided include but are not limited to authentication of deeds and signatures, certification of authenticity of a document, certification of conformity of a copy to the original as well as the notarization of Articles of Association and agreements.

The members of K-Solutions & Partners possess vast experience in advising various clients on matters ranging from the regulatory aspects of their registrations, restructurings, annual statutory filings, taxation and employment.

The Firm also provide advice and assistance to our clients in relation to changes in the country’s laws and regulations. Rwanda being a growing nation in a dynamic world, new laws and or regulatory requirements arise and change regularly. In such circumstances, our legal team work to update clients on the likely impact of those changes in their operations with practical suggestions for solutions and adjustments to their systems to ensure compliance with them.

K-Solutions & Partners also conduct regulatory audits as a "stand alone" request, or as part of preparation of directors’ compliance statements under the relevant laws establishing their organizations or as a supplement to internal audit or legal and compliance teams. The focus is to advise and assist clients in reviewing and amending their compliance systems and procedures to enable them satisfy themselves that they comply with all the country’s and organizational legal and regulatory requirements.

6. Offices  

K-Solutions & Partners' Office is located at KG 501 ST,8, Kabare, Kamatamu, Kacyiru, Gasabo, Kigali City, Rwanda