MK Associated Advocates is a law firm in Rwanda, founded on 11th of December 2017 by enrolled advocates of the Rwanda Bar Association and East African Law Society . The law firm aims at providing legal services to both nation and international clients. It is situated in Remera opposite Prince House at Gashumba House on the first floor. Established in 2017, MK Associated Advocates has grown from a Two-lawyer office to a diverse practice of approximately 15 lawyers who serve an ever-expanding national and international client base. Our clients range from emerging companies to established industry leaders that reflect Rwanda's status as one of the premier technology and commercial centers in Rwanda and East African region. Our office is a hub for the firm's litigation, corporate and intellectual property practices. Lawyers in our Corporate Litigation Practices are leaders in the defense and arbitration of companies and their officers and directors in complex shareholder and consumer class actions. MK Associated Advocates firm is renowned in areas of Intellectual Property Practice in Rwanda with well experienced and specialized counselors in the area. The clients also benefit from our experience in other core areas such as commercial, environmental, labor and employment, real estate conveyance and construction, Insurance, Reinsurance and Insurance Recovery, Banking and Finance, Cross Board, Customs and International transactions, Legal Consultancy & Research Development, Immigration and tax. The lawyers in Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Practice help clients to achieve their business objectives in a range of regulatory, litigation, legislative and transactional matters at the intersection of law, business, science and public policy. To actively contribute to our strong tradition of pro bono representation, our office is a major center for the firm’s Community Partnerships. This outreach program encourages MK Associated Advocates employees to contribute financial support, pro bono legal representation, volunteer service and in-kind donations in partnership with the area of nonprofits. MK Associated Advocates’ clients rely on the valuable insight of our seasoned legal team, who have years of experience working on unique and challenging issues. Our office exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit, camaraderie and collegiality of Rwanda, and is backed by the capabilities and depth of a leading regional firm in East African Community. In its efforts of securing regional partnerships, MK Associated Advocates partnered with Mayanja & Arinaitwe Advocatess and Solicitors in Uganda. Mayanja & Arinaitwe Advocates and Solicitors a Ugandan law firm located in Kampala along Buganda Road at the 2nd floor of Mukwano Courts building (suite 212).
To lay more insight to both our staffs, lawyers and clients, at MK Associated advocates we provide trainings to enhance professional development and strengthen the relationship between our lawyers and clients.
Under this area of practice we handle a client`s dispute who may desire to settle by seizing court; we file a case in court and handle it professionally until court judgment is pronounced. The disputes under this area range from civil complaints, family matters, land wrangles, among others over which we counsel the client, and handle law suits on their behalf. We have a good success record of winning cases at 80%. We also have professional indemnity, in case a client loses a court case. Our law firm strains it further to seek court injunctions and any other court order a client may require, that will solve his/her problem. The firm also handles inter-country Adoption and guardianship causes. At MK Associated Advocates, under the area of criminal law, we defend the client and protect or fight for our client’s rights from the day he or she has been summoned by Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), file transferred to the prosecutor, court seized for hearing or trial and finally judgment pronounced. In civil cases, upon obtaining judgment, we ensure that the judgment is successfully executed, with help of the firm’s licensed professional court bailiffs.
This area of practice at our law firm involves corporate banking and finance, Insurance, Tax advisory, Company registration, business registration and all antecedents commercial and corporate transactions are all handled at our law firm. We have both local and international clients to whom we provide legal advice on sophisticated matters including; mergers and acquisitions, and cross border transactions together with sister-correspondent law firms. We handle trademark registration and all intellectual property protection issues with the pride of having good working relations with both our clients and RDB (Rwanda Development Board).
The firm specializes in recovery of debts and monies on behalf of its clients, both individuals and corporate clients, including financial Institutions. Together with our professional relations with professional court bailiffs, we do a good job through issuing demand notices; commencing mediation procedures on behalf of the client for debt recovery and we choose the best available offer and relief for our client, instituting Summary suits and all available legal means to make sure that the client recovers most if not all of their monies including expenses and costs.
At MK Associated Advocates we think of other possible methods of resolving a dispute before proceeding or filing the matter in the courts of law. In so doing, we try our best and in the best interest of the client to provide the client with other possible methods that can be adopted in relation to his or her dispute. We try our best to solve his problem and give genuine and professional legal counsel and advice. We do not rush to court; we explain all options available and the possible remedies before a client files a case in court. This area covers all areas of the law both civil, commercial and criminal law. We also advise our clients to settle their disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (A.D.R) which includes mediated negotiations, conciliation and Arbitration. ADR saves a lot of our client’s time and resources. We work as a Team and any lawyer at the firm is available to advise a client. We are building expertise in domestic and international arbitration, which best suits our client’s needs.
Construction industry in Rwanda is one of the developing sectors and it is fundamental to the economic development of Rwanda. This sector includes building (Real Estate) and civil engineering. At MK Associated Advocates, we guide and advice our clients on construction laws and policies in Rwanda; including the master plans of the Kigali City, Districts and Towns. We represent our clients to the regulatory bodies under construction and Real Estate and we ensure that our clients are granted construction permits for the implementation of their structural plans. At MK Associated Advocates, we also negotiate construction deals and tenders for our clients in their best interest; this includes construction contract drafting and review. In the areas of Real Estate, we undertake conveyance in all land transactions; transfer of titles, Searches, Drafting of and registration of Agreements, lodging Caveats, securitization and mortgages, dealing and liaising with RDB and other government agencies. We also do real Estate management, draft tenants agreements, tenants demand notices on behalf of the clients.
Labour and employment law is the area of practice that relates to the relationship of an employer and the employee, trade unions, including the rights of employee and employer. At MK Associated Advocates, we negotiate, draft and review contracts of employment on behalf of our client and protect the employment and labour rights of our client. We also advise our clients on laws and policies related to Labour and Employment in Rwanda as revised and amended from time to time. We represent our clients before the authorities including the Labour Inspectorate, courts of law and other institutes or entities as the case may be.
MK Associated Advocates provides advice to its clients and supports the immigration needs of the client; we coordinate business visitors, applications, entry visas, work permits, permanent residence and citizenship. We make sure that our client’s foreign employees have and travel with all necessary documents for their working permit application.
Education sector in Rwanda is developing and improving year after year. MK Associated Advocates provides legal services to education learning and training institutes. We provide school policy audit, deliver legal opinions, and provide legal services to the human resource of the school including all services related to labour and employment law to the school. Further we represent the schools before the authorities and courts of law where necessary.
MK Associated advocates partners with NGOs and media entities in providing legal community awareness through TV shows, Radio programs and field community out-reach. Under community awareness, we inform the community about their legal rights on various topics including civil rights and human rights.
