Legal team size: Ten

Major legal advisers/external counsel: Clyde & Co. (UK), White & Case (US/UK), Eckert Seamans (US), TripleOklaw Advocates (KE), Mohammed Muigai LLP (KE), Oraro & Co (KE), Bowmans or Coulson Harney (KE)

What are the most significant cases and transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Leading the legal team in the structuring and restructure of complex aircraft leasing and financing agreements for the existing and new fleet of aircraft (over 38 aircraft) that supports the airline operations.

Leads the legal team in the capital restructure team and plan that would see the airline go to market for a strategic equity partner. Actively engaged on day-to-day basis in provision of legal advisory services on all operational, labour and compliance matters in the multi jurisdictions or countries where the airline operates in.

Actively involved and lead the legal team in the teams structuring of sensitive shareholder related facilities and related paperwork.

Establishment of a robust data privacy and compliance frameworks that covers the multi jurisdiction that the airline operates in management of enterprise-wide regulatory compliance risks including local and international civil aviation regulations which are key for air operators.

Actively leading the legal team in the crystallisation and management of strategic partnerships and alliances that are key for airlines’ operations globally. All these we take consideration of different aspects thereof including from an anti-trust (competition law) perspective.

Management of complex governance matters across the airline and its subsidiaries in line with best corporate governance benchmarks.

Which recent political, economic or regulatory changes have impacted your work the most in recent years?

Being a global air transport operation, many complex laws and regulations come in to play both locally and globally because they impact our operations, and it is our role to ensure the regulatory compliance items are in check. Recently, personal data privacy has taken the forefront of attention at operations such as ours and general data protection regulations especially in the EU have become key for us.

Of course, global political and socio-economic situations remain key for us as they either affect the pricing of key commodities that hugely affect us like oil (jet fuel) and impact the stability / or volatility of the local and international currencies which our customers use to transact when travelling with us as well as how we finally account for certain FX denominated transactions in our books.

Are there any causes, business or otherwise, you are passionate about?

I worked previously in banking and insurance that I was well experienced passionate and had good expertise in, but I am now focused on airline transportation which I find challenging due to its dynamism.