40u40 Winners

Rita Anwiri Chindah, ACIArb, AIDR

Rita is knowledgeable and skilled in Intellectual Property, Information Technology, and Alternative Dispute Resolution & Arbitration. With these combined skills, coupled with skills in corporate law, She helps client navigate today's dynamic legal and business environment.

An Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigerian branch and a Masters Holder in IP & IT Law from the University of Derby, UK,

She is a podcaster host and blogger #IPSERIES and Speaker. She is the chief Convener the Intellectual Property Society of Nigeria.

She is the current PRO of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Port Harcourt Chapter, Pro-Term Secretary Young Members Group of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Port Harcourt Chapter.

Current PRO Young Lawyers Forum Nigerian Bar Association Port Harcourt Branch.

She was listed in the inaugural edition of ESQ Legal Practice Magazine as one of the leading Nigerian Women in Business Law.

Featured in the inaugural edition of the AllThingsIP Africa #Magazine

2021 Young Legal Professional recipient "Award of Excellence"

2020 WIPR Influential Women in IP Trailblazer!
https://bit.ly/WomenIP2020

Legal adviser for the Rivers State Musician Guild

Part of the committee that drafted the Rivers State ICT Policy

Spoken at various intellectual property events both physically and virtually

#intellectualpropertylawyer #Arbitrator #IPWomen2020 #Podcaster host and blogger #IPSERIES #creativeentrepreneur

AYOYINKA OLAJIDE-AWOSEDO, MCIArb

Ayoyinka is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK and the International Bar Association. She has served as the Publicity Secretary for the Capital Markets Solicitors Association and is an active member of the Section on Business Law of the Nigerian Bar Association serving on the Conference Planning Committee of the Section.

Ayoyinka’s main practice areas are corporate/commercial law and corporate finance. She advises clients both local and international regularly on multi-billion Naira transactions. She represents AARNDALE as company secretary and legal advisor on the Boards of various companies both private and public and regularly advises on the incorporation of companies, regulatory compliance, corporate governance and corporate restructuring with regard to shareholding and Board membership.

She is currently advising one of the largest prominent media and entertainment groups in Nigeria on obtaining debt and equity financing from a private equity firm and the corporate restructuring of its various entities. She acts as legal advisor to a corporate real estate development company with respect to the divestment of its US$100 million asset. She is company secretary and legal adviser to an international fintech company – assisting in the incorporation of its Nigerian entity and advising on running its operations in the Nigerian market.  She advised and assisted a foreign mobile communications company in acquiring its communications licence. She was part of a team that advised a foreign online retail store on its direct investment and entry into Nigeria.

Prior to joining AARNDALE, Ayoyinka worked at a leading law firm in Nigeria in the Corporate and Commercial and Banking and Finance departments and at Linklaters LLP in London with the Project Finance and Capital Market teams.

Ayoyinka led a due diligence team and advised a Nordic bank with respect to its acquisition of a local microfinance bank. She has also advised a European development bank (as lender) on a 7-year US$20 million Unsecured Subordinated Convertible Facility to a Nigerian Bank. She was an active member of a team that advised on the acquisition of a US$120million majority stake in Nigeria’s largest switching company.

Akorede Habeeb Lawal

Akorede is the Assistant National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Principal Counsel of A.H. Lawal & Co (Habibi Chambers), a thriving law firm in Asaba, Delta State.

Mr. Akorode Habeeb Lawal has prosecuted several cases of note at the various superior courts of records and he has taken special interest in brief-writing, election petition (particularly its procedures) and matters that border on the interpretation of the Constitution and other statutes.

He graduated from University of Ilorin in 2009 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2010. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants-Nigeria and an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered).

Tomilola Tobun

Tomilola is an experienced legal practitioner with over 9 years’ experience in the legal sector. Currently, she is a Senior Associate at Perchstone & Graeys and she leads the Corporate Practice Group of the firm. Tomilola offers practical and ingenious solutions to businesses with a view to helping them identify the inefficiencies in their corporate, employment & tax structures as well as guiding them through growth and sustainability.

Prior to joining Perchstone & Graeys, she was a Senior Legal Associate at WFO Roedl & Partner and an Associate at Funmi Roberts and Co. Her transactional experience cuts across Corporate Restructuring, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Governance, Finance & fundraising (for Startups) and Employment advisory.

Tomilola has vast commercial experience and her excellent analytical skills are a value add to any client. She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from University of Pretoria and she was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2010. She is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).

Walter Rugbere

Walter Rugbere is a legal practitioner with over 12 years’ experience in advising and handling corporate transactions, corporate governance issues, regulatory compliance, and complex commercial litigation.

He is currently the Head, Legal & Integrity – Nigeria & Ghana and serves as a Director on the Board of ABB Nigeria, a multinational Power and Automation Company. Before he joining ABB Nigeria, he served as the Legal Counsel of Northwest Petroleum & Gas Co. Ltd and an Associate at Banwo & Ighodalo where he was a member of the Corporate/ Commercial team responsible for providing legal advisory services on a wide range of issues such as project financing, corporate restructuring, corporate financing and perfection of titles.

Walter has advised several international and local clients on cross-border transactions covering project financing, regulatory and compliance issues, corporate governance, copyright and trademark laws.

He holds an LL. B from the University of Benin, Edo State and LL.M (Masters in Law) in Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Houston, Texas, USA. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2009.

VICTOR SAMUEL

Victor Samuel is an experienced Legal Professional with over 8 years’ experience within the Legal profession. He is currently a Senior Associate at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie Law Firm and a member of the firm’s banking and finance, energy, projects and infrastructure teams.  He advises international and local clients on structuring and financing diverse infrastructure projects; syndicated lending transactions; and debt restructuring.

At Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Victor was a crucial part of the team that advised Daystar Power Group in connection with a multimillion-dollar debt financing from Sunfunder Inc. for the expansion of its solar power projects for commercial and industrial energy users.  He also recently advised the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on its Nigerian Energy Support Programme, which involves providing legal advisory services regarding the Nigerian electricity supply industry, as well as fostering investments in the renewable energy, energy-efficiency and rural electrification sectors in Nigeria.

Prior to joining Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie Law Firm, he was an Associate at Detail Commercial Solicitors and Animashaun, Animashaun & Associates. He also had a brief stint in public service as a state counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Nasarawa State.

He got his LLB degree in 2012 from Enugu State University of Science and Technology and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2013.

Tumi Bello

Tumi is an experienced Legal professional who has extensive experience in the Banking Sector as a Legal Officer. She is currently a Legal Officer at Sterling Bank, a post she has held since 2013.

Prior to joining Sterling Bank, she was also a Legal Officer at the now defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc. Tumi is highly skilled in Legal activities related to the Banking sector, Legal Advice, Risk Management and International Law.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Lagos and she was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2006.

Tomisin Ojuawo

Tomisin Lagundoye is an experienced legal professional who is highly skilled in Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Corporate and Commercial Law. She is the current Head of Legal at Renaissance Capital, a leading emerging and frontier markets investment bank, providing access to over 50 markets across the globe with operations in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Prior to joining Renaissance Capital, she was an Associate and Senior Associate at Banwo & Ighodalo. She also spent some time at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie as an Associate.

She is also skilled in Legal Advice, Legal Advice, Legal Writing and International Law. She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from The University of Texas School of Law and she got her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from The University of Ibadan.

Solomon Ugochukwu Ezike

Solomon is a Legal Consultant at World Bank, Washington D.C, USA, a position he recently assumed in July 2021. Prior to joining the World Bank, he was a Senior Associate at G. Elias & Co., one of the foremost and leading law firms in Nigeria where he was involved with different practice areas of the legal profession such as Corporate Law, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, Civil Litigation, Mergers & Acquisition, etc.

He cut his professional teeth in the Legal profession at Messrs Hali Chambers where he excelled in Litigation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution.

Solomon Ezike is a proud Alumni of University of Calabar where he got his Bachelor of Laws (LLB), he holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from American University Washington College of Law and he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2011.

Osinachi Nwandem LLM, MICIArb

Osinachi is a certified construction industry expert with over 7 years’ experience in the Legal Profession and vast expertise in Construction law and Arbitration at Aelex Legal Practitioners & Arbitrators, one of Africa's leading law firms.

He has had prior exposure to litigation and arbitration in a range of commercial disputes ranging from contracts, labour and employment, debt recovery, telecommunications, maritime and taxation.

He is constantly driven by the desire to effectively resolve construction disputes and develop construction law and practice in Nigeria, he established two construction law blogs, where he regularly proffers viewpoints on recent developments in construction disputes and contracts. He is also a regular contributor to several peer-review journals, texts and publication platforms including the Gravitas Law Review, AELEX Article Series and Mondaq.

As a litigator and arbitrator, his core ability lies in breaking down and resolving complex legal problems quickly and satisfactorily.

Osinachi Nwandem is a member of the Institute of Construction Industry Arbitrators (ICIArb), the International Bar Association and the Nigerian Bar Association – Section on Business Law.