John Syekei

John Syekei is a Partner at Bowmans in Nairobi and heads the Intellectual Property and Technology practice group in East Africa. He is also a member of the Firm's Management Board, specialising in intellectual property law, technology law, data protection, and fintech.

John advises on commercial intellectual property, technology law, e-commerce, payments, FinTech, advertising law and litigation, data privacy, and the protection and enforcement of trademarks, patents, copyright, and industrial designs. He also handles IP litigation and dispute resolution, including anti-counterfeiting raids, IP due diligence, licensing, franchise agreements, and domain name disputes. He advises leading global technology companies including Google, Uber, Microsoft, Facebook, and IBM on regulation, compliance, and corporate matters across Africa, and has advised on over 86 projects in 32 countries for Google since 2018. He has also advised on landmark trademark and IP litigation matters for Shell Brands International, Diageo, Cipla Limited, Bata Brands, Kenya Airways, and Procter & Gamble, and has managed trademark portfolios for AGRA, Four Seasons Hotels, Equity Group Holdings, and Absa Bank, among others.

John holds an LL.B from Moi University and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a Patent Agent, Commissioner for Oaths, and Notary Public.

He is consistently ranked in Band 1 for Intellectual Property by Chambers Global (2017–2026), recognised as a WTR Global Leader by World Trademark Review, and was named Kenya Practitioner of the Year by Managing IP (2023). He is a member of INTA, FICPI, IBA, and serves as Vice Chair of the Africa-Lex Mundi IP practice group.