Cavendrys is not your typical law firm, say co-founders Janet Othero and Catherine Kariuki Mulika, who have announced the creation of their own specialist TDFI firm after several years as partners and leaders of commercial and technology practices at one of East Africa’s top full-service law firms.
Their new firm is built for Kenya’s digital future, say Othero and Mulika, where innovation moves fast, regulation is evolving, and legal advice must go beyond checking boxes. Based in Nairobi but with a cross-border outlook, Cavendrys works with the people shaping tomorrow’s economy: tech founders, fintech disruptors, digital platforms, telecom operators, and impact-driven investors.
“We specialize in law for the technology, telecoms, data, fintech, intellectual property, and innovation (TDFI) sectors,” say Othero and Mulika.
Speaking with Africa Legal after their new firm was publicly revealed, Othero and Mulika note that the evolution of technology law and practice from TMT to TDFI in itself illustrates the rapid change for this sector that’s key to Africa’s future.
“We realised with time that TMT was becoming very general,” says Mulika, a leading voice in digital economy law who earlier this year was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Legal Leadership in Africa. “Ten years ago someone may say they’re a tech lawyer, but in today’s age there are so many standalone and specialist parts that are becoming vital in themselves, like fintech or IP. Our focus on TDFI makes it very clear what areas we specialise in.”
The focus of Cavendrys is deliberate, with Othero and Mulika not trying to do everything but instead going deep where it matters most to the digital economy.
The firm’s founders are not just legal advisors, but legal architects in the digital space who have contributed to policy discussions, reviewed draft laws, and helped shape Kenya’s frameworks from the inside out. They offer clients unmatched context and foresight with Cavendrys proximity to the ecosystem.
Othero, who is the Managing Partner of Cavendrys and will lead the firm’s Real Estate, Infrastructure & Financing for the Digital Economy practice, says she couldn’t be prouder and more delighted to begin this new chapter. She acknowledged the impact of many mentors in her career, including those who’d helped her grow from pupil to partner and co-Head of TMT during her 14 years at TripleOKLaw, becoming consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in Kenya.
“Informal and formal training experiences imparted by my seniors in the profession and mentors are part of the blocks I rely on for the next phase of my career,” she said when publicly revealing the launch of Cavendrys. “I am indebted to my peers in the profession who have shared words of encouragement and wisdom as we embark on this journey, especially those who taught me that starting something new isn’t a risk when it’s rooted in the right experience.”