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James Singh Gitau

Senior Partner

+254 722 511 736
singhgitau@ljaassociates.org

Membership in Professional Bodies:

  • Member of the Law Society of Kenya
  • Alliance High School Old Boys Club
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James Singh Gitau was admitted to the Bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1994 and obtained his LLB (Honours) from the London School of Economics, UK in 1988 after which he attended Holborn Law Tutors in London (UK), for his barrister examinations.

James was a Pupil under instruction at Denton Hall Solicitors from September 1990 to June 1991. Following admission to the Bar in Kenya he practiced law with Hamilton Harrison & Mathews Advocates where he rose through the ranks to the position of Senior Associate.

In January 2001 he formed his own law firm Singh Gitau Advocates, where, as the Managing Partner he built an impressive client portfolio including several banks, airlines, hotels, construction companies and supermarkets. James currently serves as a Senior Partner and dispute resolution lead at LJA Associates LLP. He is a practising Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with close to thirty years’ experience.

  1. Successfully advising and representing Mayfair Insurance Company in a claim filed by Peri Formworks Scaffolding Engineering (Pty) Limited for USD 1.6 Million over a payment guarantee issued in Peri’s favour on instruction of White Lotus Projects Limited. In a Ruling (30 June 2021) dismissing the suit, the High Court held that the matter was res judicata and that Peri was seeking over-compensation, having already obtained judgment against White Lotus.
  2. Successfully advising and representing the Heineken Group, a Dutch brewing company, in connection with a disputed termination of distribution agreements in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania by vacating an interim injunction obtained by the distributors to stop the intended termination in the 3 countries. Judgment was delivered against Heineken in 2019 and we are working on the Appeal. We successfully obtained orders of stay it in 2019. The value of the dispute in the 3 countries is approximately USD 30 Million. http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/190735.
  3. Successfully advising and acting for China Civil Engineering Construction Company with respect to a tender dispute pertaining to a USD 1.2 Million on demand guarantee and subsequently quashed an attempt by Capitaland to challenge the Judgment delivered in the matter in 2020. http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/200066/.
  4. Successfully advised and represented Scanad Kenya Limited, a subsidiary of WPP Scangroup PLC, a global advertising giant in relation to a USD 3.5 Million contractual dispute with the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission. http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/211739.
  5. Currently acting for African Camp Solutions in a USD 4 Million contractual dispute with Tullow Kenya B.V.
  6. Represented ICEA Lion in the conveyance of the former ICEA Building (Nairobi CBD) to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
  7. Successfully representing ICEA Lion in the subsequent litigation that ensued following Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology’s failure to pay VAT as per the terms of the sale agreement.
  8. Advising and representing Great Rift Drilling Company Limited on the contract for the provision of top holding drilling services for twenty geothermal wells valued at USD 41+ Million and the subsequent pursuit of debt worth USD 26+ Million from Geothermal Development Company.
  9. Advising and representing Guardian Bank in their litigation and debt recovery matters.
  10. Successfully obtained judgment in the Constitutional and Human Rights Court in favour of a Petitioner against Kenya School of Law and Kenya National Qualifications Authority. http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/208249.
  11. Advising and representing Zakhem International Construction in relation to opposing injunctive orders sought by Ecobank Kenya & Ecobank Nigeria Limited, restraining its group of companies located in several countries from disposing any of their assets/accounts in Kenya and as well as a mandatory injunction requiring all proceeds under a disputed agreement worth USD 52.3 Million between Zakhem and Kenya Pipeline Company to be remitted to Ecobank. Advising and representing a majority shareholder in a complex and protracted shareholders’ dispute involving several high net worth companies, family members and a multibillion-shilling dispute over numerous properties.
  12. Successfully filing a Judicial Review Application objecting to the award of the Tender for the printing of the new Kenya currency bank notes to an International Company in a contract worth over USD 105 Million in 2017 resulting in the cancellation of the award and a re-tendering process conducted by the Central Bank of Kenya. http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/150824.
  13. Currently acting for a multi-national insurance company in relation to a USD 5 Million dispute with the Note Trustee in respect of obligations accruing under a commercial paper. The matter is being arbitrated in accordance with the rules of the London Court of International Arbitration.
  • China Civil Engineering Construction Company
  • Zakhem International Construction Limited
  • Crane AB
  • Elliot’s Kenya Limited
  • Capwell Industries Limited
  • The Heineken Group
  • Mayfair Insurance Company Limited
  • WPP Scanad Kenya Limited
  • ICEA Lion Group
  • English – High Proficiency
  • Kiswahili – High Proficiency
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Kenya School of Law, 1993
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), The London School of Economics, UK, 1988

2011 – Present: LJA Associates LLP, Nairobi
Position: Senior Partner

2001 – 2010: Singh Gitau Advocates, Nairobi
Position: Managing Partner

1994 – 2000: Hamilton Harrison and Mathews, Nairobi (now Dentons Hamilton Harrison and Mathews)
Position: Associate and Senior Associate

1990 – 1991: Dental Hall Solicitors
Position: Pupil