Updated October 13, 2026 · Published by WKA Advocates
Begin with the legal decision you need to make: purchasing, leasing, developing or resolving a disagreement. Compare the proposed work, reporting and independence of the adviser. A property investigation and a full completion instruction should have clear deliverables, so you can judge whether the legal scope answers your actual questions.
What Matters in Choosing your real estate lawyer
For choosing your real estate lawyer, start with a written account of the proposed dealing and the documents already available. Request a written scope and fee basis, then compare what each proposal actually includes. Ask about independence where the seller or agent recommends an advocate. Look for a process that explains unresolved issues before you commit funds. No ranking or marketing claim can replace an assessment of the particular property and transaction.
Practical Preparation Checklist
Ask for the responsible advocate and a written scope.
Compare due diligence, completion and registration deliverables.
Confirm fees, reporting and potential conflicts of interest.
Connect the Records to Your Objective
Explain the decision you need to make and prepare a consistent set of documents. Property references, party names and relevant dates should match across the records. Where something is missing or inconsistent, identify it for review rather than filling the gap with an assumption. Preserve original correspondence and obtain appropriate independent information.
Agree which legal checks are included and where survey, valuation, structural or other specialist advice is needed. A legal review can identify obligations and document risks, but it should not be confused with a technical inspection. Ask for the material findings and outstanding questions in writing.
Plan the Legal Work and Next Step
Review the proposed timing, responsibilities and costs before committing to a further step. Where a payment, notice or signature is required, establish its purpose and the conditions that apply. If a dispute or urgent deadline exists, raise it at the start of the instruction. Clear scope and reporting help you evaluate the advice and decide whether to proceed or investigate further.
Common Question
Does a number-one ranking prove a lawyer is right for my purchase?
No. Relevant experience, independence, scope, communication and written terms are better starting points for evaluating your particular instruction.
Tell our Nairobi team whether you are buying, selling, leasing, developing or dealing with an existing dispute. Share the property reference, documents available and any material deadline. Call +254 798 035 580, email info@wka.co.ke, or view contact and instruction details. We can assess the enquiry and explain the proposed scope before work begins.
General property information for Kenya. Advice depends on your documents, current law and circumstances. Updated 13 October 2026.
