Olisa Agbakoba Legal(OAL) announced that Bisi Akodu has been appointed Managing Partner. Bisi succeeds Priscilla Ogwemoh, who stepped down as Managing Partner after serving with distinction in that capacity for over 20 years.
The Firm also elevated Associate Partners, Babatunde Ogungbamila, Victor Akazue Nwakasi and Adebola Sobowale as Substantive Partners with effect from February 1, 2019. They joined the firm in 2013, 2005 and 2008 respectively, and have been instrumental to the Firm’s success over the years.
BISI AKODU, MANAGING PARTNER, OAL
With over 40 years’ experience in Corporate Commercial practice, Bisi is well versed in mergers and acquisitions, share and asset sales, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and private equity transactions. She serves as a Member of Financial System Strategy Vision 20-20, a Central Bank of Nigeria initiative to establish an International Financial Centre in Nigeria, a Fellow and Council member of the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN).
Bisi has acted as legal counsel for numerous companies and corporations, including Westinghouse Corp., Philip Morris Nigeria Limited, Cadbury Nigeria Limited, Dornier GmbH, Thomas Wyatt Limited. She did extensive transactional work for various banks during the Nigerian Banking consolidations of 2005 and has worked on collateral risk assessment audits for Nigerian banks.
As an advocate of change, she has written on new financing models and is currently engaging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on establishing a crowdfunding framework in Nigeria. She provides commercial and solution-oriented advice to a wide range of banking clients on innovative solutions to their insolvency and bankruptcy concerns.
BABATUNDE OGUNGBAMILA – PARTNER; HEAD, DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Tunde has over 18 years post call experience in dispute resolution. His passion for legal practice is evident in his meticulous handling ofcases and complex legal issues and he often enjoins others to imbibe a methodical approach towards proffering solutions for complex issues.
Tunde’s ultimate drive is the enrichment of his knowledge, and he has published several papers in international journals including the Oil, Gas and Energy Law Journal (OGEL) that published his master’s thesis which focused on options in increasing the bankability of project financing transit pipelines in the face of the risk of obsolescing bargain. Tunde is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a capital market consultant.He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Section on Business Law, Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria and Insolvency International.
VICTOR AKAZUE –PARNTER; HEAD, CORPORATE COMMERCIAL
Victor is well versed in Corporate and Commercial law advisory, Administrative law, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and Regulatory Reforms. An extensively trained Arbitrator, Victor has contributed to the development of ADR and its practice in Nigeria and Africa.
Victor combines unique skills from his experience as a Commercial litigator, Trainer, Mediator and Negotiator in handling complex legal issues and is a Euromoney trained professional on the subject of Troubled Assets Resolution and Recovery handling Receiverships on diverse Assets for financial services sector clients. An avid scholar and law reformist, Victor advises private and public sector clients both locally and internationally in relation to regulatory and compliance issues on Nigerian Business environment and has worked on complex assignments and training for multinationals and the Nigerian Federal Judiciary.
He has special interest in Law and Development, Regulatory Impact Advisory and has published several articles and books on the subject. He has initiated, led and coordinated development law assignments for diverse clients and target groups. He is the author of Administrative Legislation: Rule-Making in a Developing Economy, Troubled Assets Resolution.
ADEBOLA SOBOWALE – PARTNER; HEAD, DEBT RECOVERY & INSOLVENCY
Debola is hardworking, a team player and is noted for prompt delivery and solutions to knotty legal issues. He has displayed exceptional leadership skills, founded on his integrity, impeccable communication and negotiation skills. Debola has a strong analytical mind and has brought his experience to bear in the Firm’s litigation, debt recovery and insolvency practice
He is an experienced and astute Litigator and has appeared in all superior courts of record in Nigeria. He has successfully acted as Counsel to the firm’s Clients in several major Commercial Litigation disputes. He also renders advisory services to financial institutions and Government Agencies in resolving Non-Performing Loans (NPLs). Debola is also a member of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Group and has acted as Counsel to both local and transnational parties in Arbitral disputes.
He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Section on Business Law, Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria and Insolvency International.
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