Olaniwun Ajayi LP

Managing Partner: Dr Tominiyi Owolabi
Partners: Wolemi Esan, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN, Oluseye Opasanya, SAN, Yimika Phillips, Dr Khrushchev Ekwueme, Muyiwa Balogun, Toyosi Alabi, Yewande Senbore, AVM Ibrahim Sharfi’i, Anuoluwapo Balogun, Ibi Ogunbiyi, Damilola Salawu, Aluju Jonathan, Bisi Makanjuola, Folasade Oluyadi, Dr Echefu Ukattah, Howard Barrie (London), Chuks Ibechukwu (London), Gabriel Onagoruwa (London)
Number of partners: 20
Directors: 3
Number of lawyers: Approx. 100
Languages: English, French, German

Firm Overview:
Olaniwun Ajayi LP is a leading law firm with a broad financial, corporate, energy and natural resources, and regulatory advisory practice areas. With almost sixty years’ experience in helping organisations, governments and individuals achieve their goals; the firm has developed expertise in sophisticated commercial transactions, a fact illustrated by a track record of involvement in some of the largest and most complex transactions across many sectors of the Nigerian economy. The firm is an international practice with lawyers who are qualified in multiple jurisdictions, including Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the State of New York.

Over the years, the firm has acted for some of the biggest corporations in Africa and across the globe, equipping it with a good mix of local knowledge and international expertise. The firm recently launched a London-based international practice fully licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, becoming the first law firm out of Africa to achieve this and effectively transitioning into an international law practice. With its new London offices, the firm is now poised to provide cross-border legal services, which was previously the exclusive preserve of UK firms and US firms. This will enable the firm to provide its clients with the bespoke service expected of a top commercial and international law firm, providing value for money while keeping abreast of the dynamic pace of the business world. The fulcrum of the firm’s strategy is the assiduous protection of its clients’ interests, employing sound judgment and innovative tools for reducing, mitigating, and where possible, eliminating the risks involved in the various aspects of their businesses. The firm is a pacesetter; strategically positioned to offer legal services on all matters related to, arising from, and ancillary to commercial enterprises, from start to finish.

Main Areas of Practice:
■ Administrative and Constitutional Law
■ Antitrust and Competition Law
■ Asset Management
■ Arbitration
■ Banking, Finance and Capital Markets
■ Corporate Commercial Law
■ Corporate Governance and Compliance
■ Dispute Resolution
■ Agriculture
■ Admiralty Law
■ Mining
■ Maritime
■ Private Equity
■ Tech and Innovation
■ Power and Infrastructure
■ Oil & Gas
■ Employee Benefit, & Executive Compensation
■ Intellectual Property
■ Licensing and Regulation
■ Media Law and Entertainment
■ Mergers and Acquisitions
■ Public Policy and Government Affairs
■ Tax
■ White Collar Defence, Investigation, Prosecution/Defence

Banking & Finance:
The firm remains one of Nigeria’s foremost commercial law firms, at the cutting edge of banking and finance work in the country and on the continent. With a dedicated team of experts in diverse aspects of finance, the firm routinely advises domestic and international commercial lenders, DFIs, governments and supranationals, as well as some of the largest corporations on various market defining deals. The firm advised on Airtel Africa Plc’s on its US$750 Million dual listing in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, a deal which is the first ever offer and inward listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The firm also advised on the largest ever debt issuance in Nigeria by BUA Cement Plc to raise capital of up to N200,000,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Billion Naira).

Capital Markets:
Highly regarded for its expertise in capital markets transactions, The firm recently Dangote Cement Plc, in the landmark merger between Dangote Cement Plc and Benue Cement Company Plc. This transaction was unarguably the largest merger in Nigerian history at the time as it facilitated the reshaping of the Nigerian Capital Market as the merged entity not only added 2.1 trillion Naira to the market capitalisation.

Power:
The firm is a leader in the Nigerian power industry, where it is widely recognised as a pioneer, having advised on the Lagos/ Enron IPP and several other pre-reform IPPs. In the wake of the industry reforms and privatisation, the firm advised on 75% of the power assets privatised by the Federal Government of Nigeria. It has also advised on the development of the new wave of IPPs being developed, including the landmark 459MW Azura-Edo IPP and more recently, the 540MW QuaIbue IPP in Akwa-Ibom State, and a proposed gas fired IPP in Abia State, as well as a series of off-grid and renewable projects currently being developed in Northern Nigeria.

Infrastructure & PPPs:
Over the years, the firm has driven various infrastructure and construction projects in Nigeria, acting as legal counsel to project sponsors, as well as lenders and borrowers, on the foremost infrastructure projects in the country. It is currently advising on the proposed concession of the eastern and western railway lines by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the development of a deep seaport in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the proposed concession of four federal airports, and a number of key toll road, bridge projects across the country, Evercare Group, the largest healthcare fund on the development of two hospital projects in Lagos valued at USD600 million, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project.

Oil & Gas:
Having pioneered some of the landmark transactions in the oil and gas space, the firm continues to provide support to different players in the oil and gas sector on all aspects of the oil and gas value chain. The team advised on the provision of up to USD3.15 billion financing for the development of an oil and gas asset in Nigeria held by Nigeria Petroleum Development Company Limited, also advising on the US$3 billion hybrid financing for the development of NLNG’s seventh liquefaction train.

Mergers & Acquisitions:
The firm’s M&A practice is diverse and has proven capabilities to provide first class legal advisory services to clients on transactions spanning various sectors of the economy. In particular, the footprints of the M&A practice in the financial services, healthcare and FMCG sectors run deep. As market leader, the firm advised on all the M&A deals resulting from the Nigerian banking sector reforms, as well as all subsequent bank mergers completed in this market since the banking sector reforms, and it remains trusted advisor to key market regulators. The firm recently advised Alta Semper Capital LLP on its acquisition of HealthPlus Limited.

Dispute Resolution:
The firm is a leading choice in providing representation on complex issues to key private sector participants – a highlight, this year, was the firm’s representation on a dispute regarding the largest FPSO in the World. In like fashion, the firm also represents key public sector agencies and continues to act as a trusted adviser to the Central Bank of Nigeria, AMCON and NDIC in their efforts to stabilise the Nigerian banking sector. The past year has seen the firm litigate novel issues of law before the appellate courts. At this crucial time in the Nigerian economy, the firm remains the top choice for complex debt recovery matters (well exemplified by the firm’s work in the receivership of Arik Air Limited – the largest and most complex receivership in Africa today).

Entertainment, Leisure & Media:
The firm’s entertainment, leisure and media practice advise players in the creative industry, including top Billboard artists and award-winning players on a broad spectrum of offerings in the industry, including distribution agreements, record label agreements, production agreements and licensing agreements. The firm is currently advising a leading Nigerian music record label in relation to a distribution agreement with a major multinational record label. It is also currently advising on the acquisition of intellectual property rights in a foremost Nigerian record label by a leading international investment and advisory firm. The firm also assists clients in the media sector with raising equity from private equity firms and individual investors.

Intellectual Property:
The firm’s intellectual property practice has a wealth of experience in intellectual property portfolio management and enforcement. The team advises local and international clients includingDangote Group, and Premier Lotto Limited,on global brand protection particularly across the African market. The firm has in depth experience in trademark, copyright and patent infringement cases and also routinely provide transaction support on acquisition of IP rights.

Technology, Innovation & FinTech:
The technology, innovation and fintech practice advises emerging growth companies as well as established corporates and financial services firms in the tech space on all transactional, regulatory and legal issues. The firm offers support to top market leadersincluding payment service providers, search engine operators, DFIs, cloud processing companies and retail lenders on interests in Nigerian tech businesses advising international clients such as Facebook, Fox News and Amazon.

Tax:
The firm’s dedicated tax practice is able to combine technical excellence with operational, commercial, and practical approach, to achieve optimal results for its clients. The firm’s in-depth understanding of domestic and cross-border fiscal policies and taxation issues is deployed to support and grow businesses;manage tax compliance and reporting obligations; amicably resolve tax disputes; and plan and structure transactions in the most-efficient tax manner.