01 Criminal Justice Advisory & Litigation +
Being accused or suspected of a crime does not make you a criminal. The presumption of innocence is the foundation of a criminal process, protecting the accused from non-judicial harm arising from mere suspicion — until a judicial pronouncement of guilt is made, the accused is to be treated as any other person. We ensure fundamental human rights in criminal proceedings are respected while safeguarding the rights of the accused before courts of law.
When you learn of potential or actual criminal charges, it is in your interest to contact a defence attorney as soon as possible to protect yourself and understand your options. Our defence attorneys include former senior prosecutors and established academics who understand the administration of justice, with vast experience from initial investigations through appeals.
02 Human Rights Law +
Human rights sit at the heart of our legal profession, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, and other international and regional human rights instruments. We advise and consult on core human rights instruments and their monitoring bodies for NGOs and public and private institutions, ensuring compliance with requirements.
Our lawyers advise on Freedom of Association, Rights of the Child, Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Prevention of Discrimination, Right to Health, and Human Rights in the Administration of Justice — including defending the rights of persons subject to detention or imprisonment. We also advise on social welfare, development rights, rights of women, and the right to work under fair conditions.
03 Civil & Commercial Law +
We handle civil and commercial disputes and litigation, advising clients through non-criminal legal processes where two or more parties are embroiled in a dispute — through to trial, where plaintiffs seek compensation or damages from defendants. Our litigation lawyers represent clients across associated proceedings, including pretrial disclosures and depositions, and we advise on settlement processes that avoid the time and expense of going to court.
We advise on a broad range of disputes: intellectual property, contracts, construction liability, workers' compensation, real estate, divorce, landlord-tenant, employment and labor, and other civil, commercial, social, and administrative procedures under Rwandan law.
04 Trade & Investment Law +
Investing in a foreign country takes more than an Investment Facilitation and Promotion Act, favourable incentives, or access to land and labor — none of it ensures the safety of your investment or the movement of capital and dividends without an international investment lawyer who understands how national law, international law, and contracts interact.
We advise and represent clients in contract negotiations and renegotiations, compliance issues, and foreign capital treatment including profit repatriation — making use of clauses such as Umbrella Clauses, Most Favoured Nation Treatment, and Fair and Equitable Treatment — as well as ordinary litigation and Investor-State dispute resolution.
05 Employment & Labor Relations +
We advise and represent clients on the rights and responsibilities of unionised employees, working conditions, and wage law. We advise employers on their duties under health and safety law — assessing workplace risks, informing employees of those risks, and training both employees and employers on how to manage them.
06 Intellectual Property Rights +
We advise on intellectual property rights over creative work, ensuring creators hold absolute and exclusive rights over their creation. We advise on the legal rules governing ownership, use, and transfer of protected subject matter, and on legal steps available in the event those rights are abused.
07 Legal Drafting +
Legal drafting is the crystallisation of a legal right, privilege, function, duty, or status in definitive form — the skill of putting words on paper to create rights and duties. A well-drafted document is structured properly, and clearly expresses its purpose and applicability.
We help clients develop and prepare public and private regulations, purchase and sale agreements, ordinances, contracts, corporate bylaws, wills, conveyances, trusts, and leases.
08 Family Disputes +
Our family law practice covers issues involving family relationships — including divorce, adoption, and child custody, among others. We represent clients in family court proceedings and related negotiations, and draft important legal documents such as court petitions and property agreements.