 KOLA AWODEIN SAN, FSCIArb, ACTI
Kola Awodein is the Principal Counsel in the firm. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (S.A.N); the equivalent of British Queen's Counsel. He specializes in Civil Litigation and Practice involving, particularly, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, Tax. Constitutional, Real Estate, Telecommunications, Oil & Gas Law, banking law, and maritime law. He also has consideration reputation in criminal law and practice particularly at the appellate level.
He has also worked as Solicitor/Attorney and Company Secretary on the Boards of several companies.
Mr. Awodein is currently listed in Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Litigation Lawyers, 2008 as one of the Eight Leading Litigation Lawyers in Nigeria . He is also listed in the Chambers Globe, 2008 as a leading Dispute Resolution lawyer in Nigeria .
He is a Notary Public and an associate of the Chartered Instituted of Taxation (ACTI) and has been involved in many complex and high profile cases at the High Court, Court of Appeal and in the Supreme Court which is the highest appellate court in Nigeria .
He was successful lead counsel in the Supreme Court cases of NAL Merchant Bank Ltd vs. Adesola Macaulay; Broadline Enterprises Ltd vs. Moneterey Maritime Corporation; and Tabi vs. Ugu which are three landmark and leading cases in Banking, Maritime and Estate Administration respectively.
He was also as member of the 3-man team of legal consultants instructed to advise and act in respect of the series of oil spillages and the fatal fire outbreak that occurred along Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd, 24 inch Ogoda-Brass Pipe Line affecting several communities in the Rivers State of Nigeria.
He is the firm's representative member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group of Globalaw; a network of 100 law firms from 70 countries worldwide.
Mr. Awodein has also participated in the resolution of disputes by arbitration acting either as presiding or a member of arbitration panels and has also, on other occasions, acted as counsel.
He is a fellow of the Society of Construction Industry Arbitrators (SCIArb) and the current President of the Society. He is a distinguished Fellow and scholar of the renowned Centre for International Legal Studies based in Austria and the firm's representative member of the International Business Law Consortium.
Mr. Awodein is also a member of the Federal of India Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as well as the Arbitration and Reconciliation Tribunal (FACT)
Mr. Awodein is the author of the Nigerian Chapter in two reputable international legal publications namely; International Execution against Judgment Debtor; Sweet and Maxwell (London): International Franchising Law; (Matthew Bender & Co. Inc).
He is also the author of leading articles and papers on diverse legal subjects and has engaged in diversified domestic and international business litigation and arbitration. He is a former Senior Deputy Editor of the Nigeria Weekly Law Report (NWLR) and was Editor, for more than 10 years, of the Guardian Newspapers Law reports.
Mr. Awodein is also a faculty member of the Centre for Law and Development Studies, Lagos , Nigeria .
Mr. Awodein has devoted considerable energy to serving his profession. He was the Vice Chairman, 1994 of the dynamic Lagos Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association apart from being a member of the National Executive of the Nigeria Bar Association from 1988 till date.
He is a recipient of the Merit Award for Distinction in Law practice by the Law Society of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos , Nigeria .
He obtained an LL.B (Honours) Degree from the University of Ife , Ile-Ife , Nigeria in 1974 and was called to the Bar in 1978.
BENSON IGBANOI ESQ LL.B (Hons.), B.L
Benson Igbanoi studied Law at the University of Ife , Ile-Ife , Nigeria where he obtained an LL.B (Honours) Degree in 1980. He was called to Bar in 1981.
Mr. Igbanoi is a consummate civil litigation lawyer. He also has considerable experience in criminal law and practice. He is the founder and Principal Counsel in the Jos based firm of Benson & Co (Covenant Chambers) where he practised for over twenty years traversing most States in the Northern part of the country and acquiring a reputation for thoroughness and integrity before joining the firm of Kola Awodein & Co.
He has served the legal profession as a dynamic member of the National Executive of the Nigerian Bar Association and he is the immediate past Chairman of the Jos Branch of the Association.
HELEN OVONLEN LL.B.(Hons.) B.L.
Helen O. Ovonlen (Mrs.) was admitted to the Nigeria Bar in 1989 having obtained her LL.B Degree in 1988 from the University of Benin , Nigeria .
Since then she has been in active legal practice and specializes in commercial litigation as well as corporate and commercial practice. She has appeared as counsel on several occasions at the various High Courts all over the country on a wide range of matters and has conducted and defended appeals on behalf of clients at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Helen Ovonlen also has experience in Insurance practice, probate and family law issues, administration of estates, and election petitions.
She has worked in the reputable law firm of Kehinde Sofola & Co. whose founding Partner was the late formidable and respected advocate, Kehinde Sofola, SAN, from 1990 to 1995. Shortly before joining the firm of Kola Awodein & Co., she was the Managing Counsel in Pyramid Chambers , a law firm based in Port Harcourt .
Mrs. Ovonlen is a member of the International Federation of Female Lawyers and the Nigerian Bar Association where she has served in the Government Legislative Relations and the Public Legal Education Committees of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. Presently, she is a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. She is also a student member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (I.C.S.A.), London .
She is a married with three (3) children and speaks English, Ibo, Yoruba and Urhobo.
ADEREMI ADEKILE LL.B (Hons.), B.L., LL.M, ACTI, Notary Public
Mr. Adekile is a Legal Practitioner of diverse practice backgrounds. He holds an LL.M degree in International Economic Law and achieved a distinction in Company Law and Partnership.
He worked for some years in the highly reputable Law Firm of Messrs. Irving and Bonnar and Bentley, Edu & Co. He was a partner (managing) at the city commercial law firm of Ola Orojo & Co. As counsel in those law firms, he acquired considerable experience in the fields of Oil and Gas, Environmental and Corporate Law, Industrial Property's Registration, Protection and Litigation, Taxation, Equipment Leasing and Asset Financing, Real Estate, Foreign Investment Law as well as Procedure and telecommunication.
He is an Association Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (ACTI), member of the Section on Energy and Natural Resources Law of the International Bar Association in the United Kingdom and member, International Trademark Association (“INTA”) in New York , USA . He has provided in-depth legal services in the sector of Energy Law and Practice, particularly, Petroleum and Natural Gas.
He has advised oil companies on tax matters generally including tax planning, computation and taxation of expatriates and other routine tax matters. Mr. Adekile has assisted with the conduct of Due Diligence Review on several companies, notable among which are: Unipetrol Plc., AP Plc. and National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company Plc.
Mr. Adekile is a member of the firm's team that acts as the Legal Advisers to the Lagos Bar Beach Restoration and Tourism Gateway Development Project being handled by Entech Consultants (PTY) of South Africa.
Mr. Adekile has also been involved in providing comprehensive legal services connected with the purchase, supply and installation of fixed wireless access systems. Mr. Adekile was called to the Bar in 1992.
FEMI AGUNBIADE LL.B (Hons.), B.L., LL.M, MCIArb
Mr. Agunbiade is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales as well as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He obtained his Master of Law in International Comparative Commercial Arbitration, Telecommunication Law, International Law of the Sea and International Economic Law from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. He is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators U.K (MCIArb). He is also FSA certified to advise on some aspects of life insurance matters.
Mr. Agunbiade specializes in corporate and commercial law practice, He has been involved in franchising, corporate structuring and licensing of telecommunication companies in Nigeria . He has also represented Nigeria's interest in international arbitration matters. He has been in commercial law practice in England since 2003. Mr. Agunbiade was called to the Bar in 2002.
ALFRED UWAKALL.B (Hons.), B.L.
Mr. Alfred Uwaka obtained the LL.B (Hons.) Degree from the University of Calabar , Nigeria in the year 1998 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002. Since his call, he has remained in active legal practice and has handled litigation matters in Torts, Corporate and Commercial law matters, Aviation and Telecommunication matters.
Mr. Uwaka is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and also a member of the litigation team.
OLUBUSOLA AWOLAJA PETERS LL.B, B.L.
She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. She is a law graduate of Lagos State University . Busola has vast knowledge in various areas of the law including Maritime Law, Aviation Law, Company Law, Banking Law, Conveyancing, Legal drafting, ADR etc. Busola is a proactive lawyer, result oriented and target driven. Her flair for challenges has made her venture into complicated and strange areas of law where she has been able to match even the players in that field.
NNEKA ABURIME LL.B(Hons), B.L.
Mrs. Aburime obtained the LL.B (Hons) Degree from Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife in 2002 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2004. Mrs. Aburime has handled litigation matters in Corporation and commercial matters.
She has interest in diverse areas of practice including but not limited to Oil and Gas law, Intellectual and Real Property law.
OLISA IFEDIGBO LL.B (Hons), B.L.
Mrs. Olisa Ifedigbo obtained his LL.B (Hons) Degree from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology in 2002 and was called to Bar in 2004. His areas of competence include Negotiations, Arbitration, Mediation, Commercial Law, Maritime Law, Banking and Insurance Law.
KEN CHINEDU KONZE LL.B (Hons), B.L.
Mr. Ken Chinedu Konze obtained an LL.B Degree from the University of Benin , Nigeria in 2003. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2005. Mr. Konze is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association. Mr. Konze's is a member of the Information Technology group of the firm.
Mr. Nyema Dike obtained his LL.B Degree from the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt in 2005. He is a First Class graduate of the Nigerian Law School and he was called to Bar in 2007. He is part of the litigation team of the firm and possesses good analytic and excellent research skill.
Miss Rosemary Mowah obtained her LL.B Degree from Delta State University , Abraka, Delta State in 2005 and was called to Bar in 2007. She is a co-ordinate and highly resourceful individual. Miss Rosemary Mowah is a member of the solicitors' department of the firm.
MUSAH ABDULWASI LL.B(Hons), B.L.
Mr. Musah Abdulwasi obtained his LL.B from Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife in 2007 and was called to Bar in 2007. His areas of core competence include Maritime Law, Oil & Gas Law, Aviation Law, Corporate law as well as Intellectual Property Law.
Mr. Dike Emmanuel obtained his LL.B (Hons) Degree from the University of Lagos in 1995 and was called to Bar in 1996. His area of competence is in dispute resolution, more particularly, in the areas of Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation. He has been involved in various arbitral proceedings acting on behalf of corporate organizations, financial institutions as well as government agencies; both foreign and local.
Mr. Akesode was called to the Canadian Bar in Alberta Canada in 1960. He was later called to the Nigerian bar in 1965. His main areas of practice are in corporate, commercial and industrial laws as well as in litigation. Practised as Barrister and Solicitors in Canada with Messrs Bisset, Matheson, Dickens & Ingram in Edmonton , Canada . Mr. Akesode has worked in Nigeria with Gerald Impey & Co. as well as in the Chambers of Chief FRA Williams, SAN where he has had the distinction, till date, of being regarded as his best junior ever. He later worked as Legal Adviser to Volkswagen of Nigeria. Mr. Akesode obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from University of British Columbia and his Bachelor of Laws degree from Dal housie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada .
Ms Nwokolo obtained the LLB (Hons.) Degree from the University of Nigeria , Nsukka in 1979 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1980.
She had worked as a Legal Officer with Icon Limited (Merchant Bankers) before joining the law firm of Nwokolo & Nzeako as an Associate late in 1982 where she specialised in commercial and corporate law. The Managing Partner of the said firm, Mrs. Nzeako, is presently a Justice of the Court of Appeal. Ms Nwokolo has worked consistently on compliance issues with regulatory authorities where she has achieved outstanding results.
Mr. Okoli was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1989. He has interest in diverse areas of practice including Commercial Litigation, Company and Corporate Law, Sports and Entertainment Law, Insolvency, Environmental Law, Diplomatic and Consular Law, Intellectual and Real Property Law. He has worked with reputable law firms such as T. C. Osanakpo & Co. and was a partner at Okoye, Okoli & Co.
He specializes in Environmental Litigation including advocacy and advises on environmental prosecution and appeals. Mr. Okoli has natural flair for litigation and has appeared before several courts especially the Appellate Courts. Okoli is the author of learned papers and articles on various areas of the Nigerian Law. Mr. Okoli is a Notary Public, member of the International Bar Association and the Constitutional Rights Project.
Mr. Ibeke obtained the LL.B (Hons.) Degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1991 and was called to the Nigeria Bar in 1992. Mr. Ibeke specializes in all areas of property litigation including landlord and tenant litigation such as lease renewals and possession proceedings and other property related litigation including planning related litigation, environmental claims, ADR and professional indemnity. Other areas include general commercial litigation and arbitration.
He has appeared as Counsel on several occasions at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Mr. Ibeke has good communication skills which he uses to develop litigation strategies thereby advancing clients' interests in very practical and effective ways.
***
We also retain from time to time, the services of other consultants, not only in law, but also in other cognate disciplines to facilitate efficient and excellent services. Our team of consultants includes, financial advisers, accountants and other professionals.
|
