“I just want to link law to entrepreneurship, especially mergers and acquisitions and capital markets.”

For Steve Collins, the law has never been about resolving disputes after they happen. Instead, he sees it as a tool that should shape businesses from the very beginning.

“Most business owners include legal as the last resort in business development,” he says. “It should actually be among the first key considerations, and I want to use my law degree to push for that.”

As he prepares to graduate from Strathmore Law School, Steve hopes to become a lawyer who helps businesses grow and create lasting economic value.

Choosing Law and Learning to Think Beyond the Law

“My mother always said I could do law because I liked arguing,” he laughs.

Perhaps she was right. However, besides enjoying debate, Steve discovered a passion for understanding how law can influence business, entrepreneurship and economic development. Unlike many law students who gravitate towards litigation, his interests evolved towards corporate law, particularly mergers and acquisitions and capital markets. Among the courses that shaped his perspective most were ICT Law and History of Ideas.

“When you’re in class with Mr. Cecil Abungu, it’s not just about reading the materials and memorising them,” Steve explains. “It’s about understanding concepts, questioning them and thinking critically.”

The experience taught him that beyond mastering statutes and cases, Law involves developing the ability to analyse ideas and understand the broader forces shaping society.

“It really strengthened my philosophical understanding of law. If I could go back and do anything again, I would definitely spend even more time studying it,” he says in reference to History of Ideas as a course.

Law as a Driver of Economic Growth

Mergers, acquisitions and capital markets, Steve  believes, are areas with great potential to transform Kenya’s economy by helping businesses access capital, scale their operations and compete regionally.

“Actuallly, this is beneficial not just to large corporations but also to entrepreneurs and the general public,” he says. “As a developing country, it gives us an opportunity to strengthen our economy.”

For Steve, corporate law helps reduce dependence on external economies while creating systems that allow African businesses to stand out.

“We should strive to move from being a consuming country to being a producing country.”

He points to companies that have successfully transitioned from private ownership to public markets as examples of how capital markets can unlock growth.

Lawyers Should Be at the Beginning, Not the End

One of Steve’s strongest convictions is that lawyers should be involved long before disputes arise.

“Sometimes I challenge litigation because it comes in after an issue has already happened,” he says. “I want to solve problems before they become problems.”

He believes entrepreneurs should receive legal guidance from the moment they begin building their businesses, whether in intellectual property, contracts, regulatory compliance, competition law or corporate governance.

“Business should go hand in hand with legal. It shouldn’t be the last resort.”

This preventative approach, he believes, allows businesses to focus on growth rather than crisis management.

Looking Beyond the Classroom

Throughout his time at Strathmore, Steve sought opportunities outside the lecture rooms and SLS. One of the most influential experiences came through the Centre for Value Investing at the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences (SIMS), where he was among the few law students participating alongside students from other disciplines.

“Through those opportunities, you’re able to interact with people from different areas of business and understand it from the legal perspective.”

He encourages current law students to explore opportunities across the University rather than limiting themselves to activities within the Law School.

“We need to get involved with people from different disciplines because that’s where you gain new perspectives.”

Steve also took advantage of professional development opportunities offered by Strathmore Law School, including the 40-Hour Mediation Course offered through the Strathmore Dispute Resolution Centre. Looking ahead, he plans to enroll in the Masterclass in Mergers and Acquisitions as he continues building expertise in his chosen field.

Taking the Full Strathmore Experience

“Take the full experience.” He encourages students to go beyond lectures and the library by participating in the Strathmore Law Clinic, the Strathmore Law Review, the Student Civic Initiative, competitions, and interdisciplinary programmes.

“It doesn’t require everyone to remember you, but it’s important to leave here having experienced everything Strathmore has to offer.”

One of Steve’s most memorable experiences was the annual third-year academic trip to Europe, where his cohort visited The Hague in the Netherlands.

“Exposure allows you to understand how other countries approach legal and business issues.”

He says that during the trip, they visited the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), among other institutions related to public international law. For Steve, such experiences are important because they provide an opportunity to learn from global best practices while developing solutions suited to Africa’s context.

Outside academics and capital markets, Steve has a strong passion for cars. An enthusiastic automotive fan, he enjoys attending car shows and following developments in the industry whenever he gets the chance, an interest he actively pursued at Strathmore whenever there were student car shows.

Looking Ahead

For Steve, graduating from Strathmore Law School represents a significant personal achievement.

“It is a huge achievement. I’ve grown academically and become a well-rounded person.”

Although graduation marks the end of one chapter, he sees it as the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the School.

“I’ll definitely be back for short courses, webinars and more learning.”

As he embarks on his legal career, Steve remains committed to a vision where lawyers serve as strategic partners in building businesses, strengthening economies and shaping Africa’s future.

Article written by Evans Ijakaa.