Wale Akoni S.A.N

wakoni@babalakinandco.com_____________________________

Educational background

Wale attended the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he obtained a B.Sc (Hons.) in Political Science in 1982 and an LL.B (Hons.) in 1986. He graduated from the Nigerian Law School and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.

Professional Background

Wale is a Notary Public for Nigeria and has been approved by the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission to carry on legal services in the Nigerian Capital Market. He was recently appointed Chairman of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules Review Panel. He was also recently appointed as the Committee Chairman on judicial appointment and bench relations of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Wale was identified by ‘Who’s Who Legal’ Magazine, the official research partner of the International Bar Association, as one of the top business lawyers in Nigeria. He is the Managing Partner of the firm.

Honors

Wale was the recipient of the Prince Bola Ajibola prize for Best Performance in Civil Procedure, the Chief T. O. S. Benson prize for Overall Best Performance and the Sir Adetokunbo Ademola prize for Best Student of the Year at the Nigerian Law School.

He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2006.

Notable Work Undertaken

Wale has represented one of the top IOCs in Nigeria in a N40 billion compensation claim and represented one of the Oil & Gas majors in a regulatory dispute with the Maritime Regulatory Authority through Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Recently, he prepared and reviewed the transaction documents in respect of the development of a USD500 million fertilizer project. He is presently representing Nigeria’s National Oil Corporation (NNPC) in matters relating to several arbitral proceedings involving a total of over US$300 million.

Wale prepared a Bond Issuance and Subscription Agreement in a N55 Billion (US$440 million) Bond Issuance transaction between a consortium of Nigerian banks and Transcorp (Nig) Plc. He acted as Transaction Counsel to the N18.75 billion (US$150 million) Initial Public offer for shares  in respect of Dangote Flour Mills Company and as Transaction Counsel to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Terminal 2 transaction on a Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) basis involving about US$250 million. He has also advised on Project Financing Agreements and documentations on behalf of major international financial institutions in relation to their lending activities in the Nigerian market.

He acted in the negotiations and preparation of a Management and Technical Services Agreement between an international hotel franchise and its local partners. He has prepared, reviewed and advised on various Aircraft Financing, Maintenance and Insurance Agreements on behalf of a number of aviation companies both within and outside Nigeria.

Currently Wale is negotiating a Management Agreement for an upcoming four Star Airport Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

Relevant publications/Conference presentations:

‘Limitation Period in Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in Nigeria’, The Arbitrator, 2008.

‘Local Content Policy Implementation- A Nigerian Perspective’, delivered at the 2009 Global Local Content Summit held in London, 2009.

‘Gas Supply Arrangements in the Nigerian Market: Essential Considerations for the National Oil Company’ presentation at Workshop organized for NNPC by Babalakin & Co. and Linklaters, Abuja, 2009.

‘General Overview of the Lagos State Partnership Bill’ (now Partnership Law), presentation at a Public Hearing organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly, 2008.

‘Appointment and Welfare of Magistrates’ presentation at Lagos State Workshop on Justice Reforms, 2007.

Practice Areas:

Litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Taxation

Corporate Finance, Banking and Securities

Corporate, Commercial and Compliance

Transportation (Maritime and Aviation)

Professional Membership:

Member, Nigerian Bar Association

Member, Chartered Institute of Taxation

Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Member, International Bar Association