Vruti Shah
Partner | Nairobi
Contact
T: +254 20 503 1600
Overview
Vruti Shah is a Partner in our Nairobi office and a member of the Mergers & Acquisition and Projects team.
Vruti specialises in mergers and acquisitions (public and private), corporate and business restructuring and advising family businesses, corporate and commercial transactions, establishment of joint ventures, capital raisings (debt and equity) and the provision of regulatory advice. She advises various institutional investors, private equity funds, large corporates and various family businesses.
Experience
Vruti has advised on the following transactions:
* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
- Rubis Energie S.A.S (France) in connection with the acquisition of the entire share capital of Gulf Energy Holdings Limited by Kenol Kobil PLC and the transfer of business and assets of Gulf Energy Limited to Gulf Energy Holdings Limited.
- Emerging Capital Partners in relation to carrying out a due diligence on Mbaraki Bulk Terminal Limited and its group companies (the Group) with regards to the potential financing of a newly formed Mauritian holding company of the Group, by way of convertible debt.
- First Carlyle Growth V in relation to the acquisition of 60% of the shareholding in a Mauritius company AK Life Sciences Ltd (Target) and its subsidiaries (together the Group).
- Deacons (East Africa) PLC on various options of business recovery including administration.
- Kenya Airways on its USD 2 billion balance sheet debt and equity restructuring.
- CDC Group (CDC) on the USD 140 million into ARM Cement Limited.
- A confidential client on options it had to end administration process of a company.
- A confidential client on options it had under insolvency regime and assisted them with a turnaround strategy.
- A confidential creditors on the claims process for a listed company in administration.
- A confidential creditors for claims against a company in administration.
- Athi River Mining Limited on its capital restructuring and liquidity issues.
- First Carlyle Growth V in relation to the acquisition of 60% of the shareholding in a Mauritius company AK Life Sciences Ltd (Target) and its subsidiaries (together the Group).
- Star Foods Holding Limited (An Abraaj SPV) in the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Java House (Mauritius) Limited from ECP Africa FIII Investments LLP.
- Kuehne + Nagel Management Limited in relation to its acquisition of Trillvane Limited.
- ARM Cement PLC in relation to its disposal of 100% of the issued share capital of Mavuno Cement Limited to Omya (Schweiz) AG and Pinner Heights Limited, Swiss and Mauritian entities respectively, after completion of the transfer of its non-cement business to Mavuno Fertilizers Limited and its subsidiaries.
- Aureos Africa Fund LLC, Swedfund and AfricInvest Fund from UAP Holdings Limited: Assisted in advising the exit of three private equity investors, Aureos Africa Fund LLC, Swedfund and AfricInvest Fund from UAP Holdings Limited.
Awards
- Legal 500 recognised Vruti as a Leading Partner for Commercial, Corporate and M&A in Kenya (2026) and prior, as a Next Generation Partner in the same category for six years (2020-2025).
- IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide has rated Vruti as a Highly Regarded lawyer for her work in Corporate and M&A, Restructuring and Insolvency for two consecutive years (2024-2025).
‘Vruti Shah is innovative and solution-oriented. I also appreciated her approach to client management which was direct and responsive.’ – IFLR1000, 2025
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
- LLB from the University of London.
- Graduated cum laude in the Legal Practice Course from Nottingham Law School.
- Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
INSIGHTS
East Africa: Restructuring Quarterly Bulletin – November 2025
Kenya: Winding up a solvent company – Liquidation vs Deregistration
East Africa: Restructuring Quarterly Bulletin – March 2025
East Africa: Restructuring Quarterly Bulletin – December 2024
Kenya: Land sales in insolvency – Court ruling empowers administrators with flexibility
Kenya: Why more distressed Kenyan companies should consider going into administration
East Africa: Restructuring Quarterly Bulletin – August 2023
Kenya: A snapshot of family trusts
East Africa: Restructuring Quarterly Bulletin March 2023
Kenya: Official Receiver launches pilot e-filing site for applications under the Insolvency Act, 2015
Kenya: High Court Clarifies the Legal Position on Foreign Insolvency Proceedings in Kenya
Africa: Guide to Restructuring and Insolvency published
Kenya: More companies are going insolvent in Kenya, putting the spotlight on severance pay for employees
Kenya: The Need for Change: The Transfer of Businesses Act and its Application in the Sale of Distressed Assets
AVCA Legal & Regulatory Bulletin: Restructuring distressed Private Equity Portfolio Companies in Kenya and beyond
East Africa: Restructuring Quarterly Bulletin June 2022
East Africa: Restructuring Quarterly Bulletin November 2021
Kenya: Restructuring distressed private equity portfolio companies – an overview
East Africa: Business is Looking up Amidst COVID 19
Kenya: Key changes introduced by The Employment (Amendment) Act, 2021 and Business Laws (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 2021 (Signed Into Law on 30 March 2021)
Kenya: The end of non-classification of restructured loans: What next for lenders and borrowers?
Kenya: Restructuring Quarterly Bulletin
The Business Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020
The Law of Contract (Amendment) Act, 2019
Kenya’s Legislature Deals a Blow to Minority Shareholders
Overview
Vruti Shah is a Partner in our Nairobi office and a member of the Mergers & Acquisition and Projects team.
Vruti specialises in mergers and acquisitions (public and private), corporate and business restructuring and advising family businesses, corporate and commercial transactions, establishment of joint ventures, capital raisings (debt and equity) and the provision of regulatory advice. She advises various institutional investors, private equity funds, large corporates and various family businesses.
Experience
Vruti has advised on the following transactions:
* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
- Rubis Energie S.A.S (France) in connection with the acquisition of the entire share capital of Gulf Energy Holdings Limited by Kenol Kobil PLC and the transfer of business and assets of Gulf Energy Limited to Gulf Energy Holdings Limited.
- Emerging Capital Partners in relation to carrying out a due diligence on Mbaraki Bulk Terminal Limited and its group companies (the Group) with regards to the potential financing of a newly formed Mauritian holding company of the Group, by way of convertible debt.
- First Carlyle Growth V in relation to the acquisition of 60% of the shareholding in a Mauritius company AK Life Sciences Ltd (Target) and its subsidiaries (together the Group).
- Deacons (East Africa) PLC on various options of business recovery including administration.
- Kenya Airways on its USD 2 billion balance sheet debt and equity restructuring.
- CDC Group (CDC) on the USD 140 million into ARM Cement Limited.
- A confidential client on options it had to end administration process of a company.
- A confidential client on options it had under insolvency regime and assisted them with a turnaround strategy.
- A confidential creditors on the claims process for a listed company in administration.
- A confidential creditors for claims against a company in administration.
- Athi River Mining Limited on its capital restructuring and liquidity issues.
- First Carlyle Growth V in relation to the acquisition of 60% of the shareholding in a Mauritius company AK Life Sciences Ltd (Target) and its subsidiaries (together the Group).
- Star Foods Holding Limited (An Abraaj SPV) in the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Java House (Mauritius) Limited from ECP Africa FIII Investments LLP.
- Kuehne + Nagel Management Limited in relation to its acquisition of Trillvane Limited.
- ARM Cement PLC in relation to its disposal of 100% of the issued share capital of Mavuno Cement Limited to Omya (Schweiz) AG and Pinner Heights Limited, Swiss and Mauritian entities respectively, after completion of the transfer of its non-cement business to Mavuno Fertilizers Limited and its subsidiaries.
- Aureos Africa Fund LLC, Swedfund and AfricInvest Fund from UAP Holdings Limited: Assisted in advising the exit of three private equity investors, Aureos Africa Fund LLC, Swedfund and AfricInvest Fund from UAP Holdings Limited.
Awards
- Legal 500 recognised Vruti as a Leading Partner for Commercial, Corporate and M&A in Kenya (2026) and prior, as a Next Generation Partner in the same category for six years (2020-2025).
- IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide has rated Vruti as a Highly Regarded lawyer for her work in Corporate and M&A, Restructuring and Insolvency for two consecutive years (2024-2025).
‘Vruti Shah is innovative and solution-oriented. I also appreciated her approach to client management which was direct and responsive.’ – IFLR1000, 2025
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