It will no longer be difficult for investors and global organisations to access international legal services after DLA Piper, a global law firm with presence across the world, strengthened its presence in the region.

According to David Church, the DLA Piper international development partner, the firm has expanded partnerships with more regional lawyers "to serve the increasing demand for quality legal services across the East African region”.

"The formation of DLA East Africa is a proactive response to the increasing demand from clients, especially investors, for international-related legal services that cannot be provided by local law firms. 

"We are happy to help fill this gap,” Church pointed out on the sidelines of the group’s annual retreat in Kigali last week.

"The alliance strives to provide regional and international businesses with coordinated legal services across East Africa,” Church said.

In addition to working together on many jurisdictional transactions, the DLA Piper partnership share best practices, training, knowledge and support related to speciality practice areas across the countries.

DLA East Africa brings together six of the region’s leading law firms from Six East African member firms in Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda. Equity Juris Chambers is the group’s partner in Rwanda

Last week’s retreat focused on innovations in structuring oil and gas projects and power generation projects.

The company presently works with over 4,200 lawyers spread across 70 offices in 30 countries.