Cosima Wetende is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, admitted in 2003, and is a Partner with extensive experience in civil litigation, arbitration and mediation. Her main areas of practice include employment law advisory and client support, civil litigation, arbitration and mediation in employment related matters, commercial disputes, construction, debt collection, defamation, banking and industrial accident claims. She has extensive experience representing and advising public and private companies on strategic and operational commercial matters relating to employment, disputes on contracts, tort, legal risk management and statutory compliance.  She is acknowledged for providing pragmatic solutions to clients and is ranked by Chambers Global and Legal 500 in Dispute Resolution and Employment Law in Kenya. Cosima is the convenor of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Bar Bench Committee, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Kenya Branch), a Member of the International Bar Association and a certified Executive Coach. 

Areas of Expertise

• Commercial Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation
• Employment Law Advisory and Client Support
• Banking, Insurance and Telecommunications
• Employment and Retirement Benefits
• Environmental and Conservation Law
• Forensics and Due Diligence
• Executive Coaching

Professional Experience

• Advocate of the High Court of Kenya (2003)
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2013)
• Executive Coach (2025)
• Extensive experience appearing before the Court of Appeal, High Court and subordinate courts
• Legal Counsel in domestic and international arbitrations and mediations
• Extensive experience on legal advisory and client support on employment, commercial disputes, and legal risk management
• Conducts due diligence and legal audits

Education & Qualifications

• Master of Laws (LL.M), University of Nairobi (Hons)
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), University of Nairobi (Upper Second Class Honours)
• Postgraduate Diploma, Kenya School of Law
• Bachelor of Social Sciences, Catholic University of Eastern Africa (First Class Honours)
• Diploma in Executive Coaching, Academy of Executive Coaching

Notable Matters

• Secured conviction in Kshs. 90 million fraud case for an international hotel chain
• Due diligence and legal audits for domestic and international banks, telecoms and petroleum entities
• Enforcement of securities for major lenders
• Defence counsel in class action against international audit firm (Kshs. 2.6 billion)
• Defence counsel in debt claim against an international NGO (US$ 574,315)
• Extensive employment law advisory and litigation experience
• Numerous land disputes including adverse possession and fraud
• Advisory role in US class action involving alleged human rights breaches
• Defence Team member on insurance claims arising from terrorist bombing and aircraft accident
• Advisory on international tourism contract breach (US$ 3 million)
• International petroleum trade dispute (US$ 350,000)
• Defence team in major international construction arbitration (US$ 1.4 million)

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Integrating Mediation into Kenya’s Civil Justice Process: A Survey of Advocates in Nairobi
• Strathmore Law School Employment Law Mediation Summit Panelist

Professional Memberships

• Law Society of Kenya
• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators FCIArb)

Awards & Rankings

• Chambers Global: Ranked in Employment and Dispute Resolution
• Legal 500: Leading Individual Employment Law