Biography: Capital Markets

Seye Opasanya, the deputy managing partner of the firm, has over 20 years' experience in business transactions and commercial disputes. He is the partner in charge of the firm's banking and finance practice and has advised on a significant amount of big-ticket deals during the past two decades. Seye is presently at the cutting edge of revolutionary and unprecedented reforms in the financial sector, advising the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the prevention of systemic risk and maintaining financial stability. An astute advocate, Seye is representing the apex bank in the prosecution of ex-bank chiefs, cross-border asset recovery, and defending the CBN in ensuing civil matters. Other related work includes advising on legislative changes, drafting of new legislation in the financial sector and acting in an advisory capacity on the recapitalisation of several Nigerian banks that were found by the CBN to be in a 'grave situation'.

Some of Seye's notable transactions include: LNG US$4.5 billion project, Nigeria; LNG US$1.8 billion expansion project; ExxonMobil US$1.2 billion OSO NGL II expansion project financing; Negotiation and documentation of FGN $7 billion foreign exchange reserve portfolio; US$331 million Lakatubu expansion project for Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria plc; US$50 million note issuance facility for a leading multinational oil company; the Tinapa 20 billion naira series II bond; advising a multinational corporate in a reorganisation of its share capital by way of a scheme of arrangement resulting in a delisting from the Nigerian Stock Exchange; and the equity participation by IFC and debt financing of Guaranty Trust Bank plc.