Nigeria: Banking
After a federal clean up of bank assets, Nigeria’s banking sector is forecast to grow by 15 per cent this year. Following the presidential elections, the financial services legal market is in a transitional period as they await further reforms and programmes to improve the country’s banking sector. Lawyers look forward to an increased demand in compliance and regulatory work, and in time, a more confident and secure sector.
Twelve practitioners feature in this year’s banking chapter with Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie receiving the most nominations overall. The firm boasts three inclusions, all based in Lagos. Aniekan Ukpanah co-heads the firm’s banking and finance team. He has acted as lead adviser on numerous deals in the telecommunications, energy and retail industries. Yinka Edu advises on bonds and compliance issues relating to domestic banking. She successfully combines her banking knowledge with her interest in M&A by advising banks during mergers and consolidations. Dan Agbor leads the firm’s banking, finance power, private equity and taxation teams. He received votes from around Nigeria for his general practice and was lauded for his expertise in corporate financing in connection to the energy industry.
Managing partner of Aluko & Oyebode Gbenga Oyebode MFR is a veteran inclusion in the research and comes highly recommended by both domestic and international peers. He earns nominations for his “impressive” work as head of the firm’s corporate and energy groups, and extensive experience in financing for energy and telecommunications projects. He is joined by Kofo Dosekun, a “talented” banking lawyer.
Banwo & Ighodalo fields two lawyers from Lagos. Femi Olubanwo is a “well respected” banking lawyer. Ayotunde Owoigbe specialises in corporate finance, banking and securitisation and counts Fidelity Bank and Stanbic IBTC Bank as clients.
At Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Konyinsola Ajayi SAN is well known within banking, circles. As a transactions lawyer he has led some of Nigeria’s largest commercial deals. Tominiyi Owolabi has a broad practice in commercial law: he is “very experienced” in banking matters, and is recognised as a leading practitioner in this area.
Ladi Taiwo of Abdulai Taiwo & Co is “a leader in the profession”, according to one interviewee. He earns a mention for his broad knowledge of banking, in particular asset securitisation and bond issuing in the property sector.
Lawrence Fubara Anga is a highly nominated at AELEX, where he acts as head of the banking and financial services group.
At Templars, the “professional” Anthony Ossai concentrates on banking and finance, insolvency and general corporate advisory work.