Chacha Odera is the Managing Partner at Oraro & Company Advocates and practices in the dispute resolution practice area. He specialises in arbitration, alternative dispute resolution and litigation. With over 30 years of experience, he has represented local and international clients in banking, commercial disputes, constitutional law, electoral law, employment and labour law, insolvency, land and property law.

Chacha has been ranked by leading international legal directories such Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 in dispute resolution and employment practice areas. In the 2020 rankings, the Chambers Global Guide lauded Chacha as a “highly efficient” lawyer, quoting market commentators who commended his “very sharp mind,” and further agree that “he is a man full of wisdom; courteous, respectful, hard-working and a team player.”

Chacha was recognised as the overall lawyer of the year in 2019 at the Nairobi Legal Awards, hosted by the Law Society of Kenya, Nairobi branch.

Chacha has a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and a Post-graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. In addition to being an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Chacha is a member of the LCIA African Users’ Council, and a Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public.

Aside from his legal practice, Chacha is an adjunct lecturer at the Strathmore Law School; he has chaired two adhoc committees of the Law Society of Kenya namely, the committee for In-house Counsel and the Code of Conduct for lawyers. He has also served in various capacities in the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and the Council of Legal Education.

Chacha is a passionate philanthropist and is currently an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Milimani as well as a Paul Harries Fellow. He serves as a trustee of the Matibabu Foundation and Msaada Kenya Trust.

Chacha is a passionate philanthropist and is currently a Honary member of the Rotary Club of Milimani as well as a Paul Harries Fellow. He serves as a trustee of the Matibabu Foundation and Msaada Kenya Trust.

Experience

  • Advising the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation in the negotiations and recovery of depositor’s money from a debtor with an estimated value of USD 20 million.
  • Acted for various commercial banks including Barclays Bank of Kenya, Central Bank of Kenya, Diamond Trust Bank, Housing Finance Company of Kenya, National Bank, Standard Chartered Bank.
  • Providing legal advice to an international non-governmental organisation on the alleged unfair termination of contracts of employees on fixed-term contracts that were coming to an end.
  • Representing an International Research Institute in a suit by three self-help groups claiming adverse possession over their land worth USD 44 million.
  • Representing a leading commercial bank against three separate class action claims in the Employment and Labour Relations Court for the recalculation of terminal benefits arising from voluntary early retirement worth USD 8 million.
  • Representing a leading consumer goods company against a class action claim of over 300 employees who were terminated following a staff organisation.