Chambers and Partners top ranks Law Scholar Dr Kariuki Muigua

Local legal scholar and advocate, Dr. Kariuki Muigua has maintained his listing on the authoritative Chambers and Partners ranking of top local lawyers. 

The Environmental Law and Policy Consultant who also serves as a member of the National Environment Tribunal stands out as one of the 7 local lawyers ranked in the Chambers and Partners Band 1 category which lists the crème de la crème of local lawyers.

The ranking of Dr. Muigua stands out as the only lawyer placed on Band 1 with a mix of ongoing academic and private practice engagements. His alternative dispute resolution (ADR) accomplishments also appear to have catapulted him to the apex band

While acknowledging the ranking feat, Dr. Muigua noted that his continued focus on ADR had positively served to secure his ranking this year. “I am humbled by the ranking for the second year running which celebrates my ADR practice area passion and my scholarly pursuits,” said Dr Muigua.

The recently released list, also ranks city lawyers including Senior Counsel, George Oraro, John Ohaga, Jonathan Havelock, Karori Kamau, Njeri Kariuki and Njoroge Regeru on Band 1.

According to Chambers and Partners, individual lawyers are ranked in their practice-area(s) on the basis of their legal knowledge and experience, their ability, their effectiveness and their client-service. Chambers and Partners identifies and ranks the most outstanding law firms and lawyers in over 180 jurisdictions throughout the world. Their rankings are based on the research of more than 170 full-time editors and researchers employed at their head office in London.

 On the Dispute Resolution: Arbitrators – Kenya practice area, Dr Muigua who also sits on the global Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) is described as a big noise in the arbitration association. Notes the Chambers and Partners citation: “Kariuki Muigua of Kariuki Muigua & Co is held in high regard by market commentators for his role in the Kenyan arbitration sphere. He possesses stellar experience in commercial and constitutional disputes, as well as environmental matters and those relating to the extractive industries. In addition to being “a big noise in the arbitration association,” he is widely recognised for his academic work.”

 An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya of over 27 years standing and a partner practicing at Kariuki Muigua & Co. Advocates, a firm that specialises in environmental and commercial law litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Dr Muigua is an accomplished Mediator and a Chartered Arbitrator, with widespread training and experience in both international and domestic commercial arbitration and mediation.  

He holds a Ph.D. in law from the University of Nairobi and has undertaken specialised courses specifically on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Audit (EA) which earned him the EIA/EA lead expert accreditation by the National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya (NEMA).

He is also a Lead Consultant and Expert at Pristine Consultants, an Environmental Law and Policy Consultancy drawing its clientele from Kenya and elsewhere around the world. It consults for high profile local and international clients on Environmental policy, Environmental dispute/conflicts resolutions, strategic environmental planning, Occupational Health and Safety management, Cleaner Production (CP), Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Audit.    

 On the academic front, Dr. Muigua, teaches law at the School of Law, University of Nairobi and has also previously taught at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP).

Dr. Muigua is the author of an Environmental Law book titled, Nurturing Our Environment for Sustainable Development, Glenwood Publishers, Nairobi – 2016). He has also co-authored a book titled, Natural Resources and Environmental Justice in Kenya, (Glenwood Publishers, Nairobi, 2015). 

He has published many articles on Environmental Law and Natural Resources.  As an Environmental Law Consultant, he has worked with both the government and private entities. Dr. Muigua has also collaborated with various environmental advocacy groups in Kenya and regionally. He works with professionals affiliated to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) especially in the areas of Environmental Resources and their management through Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Mediation and Public Participation.

 His research interests include environmental and natural resources law, governance, access to justice, human rights and constitutionalism, conflict resolution, the nexus between environmental law and human rights and governments’ policy with regard to environmental law and economics.

 His other works include: Alternative Dispute Resolution and Access to Justice in Kenya, (Glenwood Publishers, Nairobi, 2015); Resolving Conflicts through Mediation in Kenya, (Glenwood Publishers, Nairobi, 2013); and Settling Disputes through Arbitration in Kenya, (Glenwood Publishers, Nairobi, 2012).