The National Company Law Tribunal has created history under the new Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code it last week ordered winding up of two companies – VNR Infrastructures and Bhupen Electronic – after the borrowers and lenders failed to come up with a plan to revive operations. These companies, though small, set a precedent that the new law is living up to its promise of delivering justice in a time-bound manner.
The Hyderabad bench of the tribunal orally pronounced a liquidation order for VNR while a judgement on liquidation of Bhupen Electronic was passed by Mumbai bench. ET considers antecedents in both cases.
VNR Infrastructures
Promoted by Andhra MLC Vakati Narayan Reddy, the company approached the NCLT in February for initiating corporate insolvency. Its petition showed net worth completely eroded and a loss of Rs 125 crore. The State Bank of India and others had a joint exposure of Rs 1,102 crore in the company as loans and guarantees.
An inde pendent valuation report valued VNR at Rs 80 crore. The company pro posed a resolu tion plan in volving Rs 850 crore, wherein 50% of the loan would be con verted into eq uity and the bal ance into debt payable over 15 years.
A second resolution plan proposed cash payment of Rs 300 crore over a single year. Senior bank officials said the lenders rejected both plans on grounds that VNR did not have the necessary cash flow to support payments.
“Also, when a company has a loan of over Rs 1,000 crore and is valued at Rs 80 crore, why would it want to make a one-time cash settlement of Rs 300 crore, a huge markup over the value of assets?” said a banker.
A person with direct knowledge of the development said, “Lenders conveyed to the company that they would accept a one-time settlement of Rs 300 crore provided part of the cash was paid up front, which was not accepted by the debtor.”, VNR told NCLT that a techno economic viability study by Itcot Consultancy and Services showed technical and feasible viability.
A senior company official said, “Creditors have looked at the proposal with prejudice and thus the whole purpose of the Code is defeated.”
Bhupen Electronic
Bhupen’s committee of creditors proposed liquidation on grounds that it had not been operational for almost a decade and did not have anyone on its payroll.
VIP Finvest Consultancy initiated insolvency proceedings against Bhupen Electronic. The committee of creditors did not come up with any resolution plan nor receive one from any of the parties involved.
Since land and its building were the sole fixed assets of the company, lenders suggested liquidation rather than another 90-day extension for working out a resolution plan.
The growing Central Square district helped Cardiff top the UK charts for property deals involving law firms in 2016.
Blake Morgan moved into a 28,077 sq ft (2,608 sq m) office, while Hugh James will take up a 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) site when it is completed in 2018.
Knight Frank’s research showed 19.2% of property deals in Cardiff in 2016 involved law firms.
BBC Wales will also move into its new headquarters at Central Square in 2019.
And it was announced last week that HM Revenue and Customs will move 4,000 staff from Llanishen to a 266,000 sq ft (24,712 sq m) site there.
When it is fully developed, the former bus station area will include up to one million sq ft (92,903 sq m) of new office, residential and retail space.
Chairman of Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone, Chris Sutton, said the decisions of Hugh James and Blake Morgan to move into top quality accommodation at the site was “reflective of their growth into national UK players”.
Knight Frank’s Matt Phillips said the rise of Central Square and the presence of such companies could help turn the city into a hub for the legal profession.
He said with London-based firms looking to outsource because of the costs there, Cardiff could become “extremely attractive”.
NEW DELHI: The income tax department is “aggressively” pursuing names that emerged in the Panama Papers, including Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, and has dispatched a top-level officer to the British Virgin Islands to access information, a senior official has said.
The British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean is considered to be among several tax havens. The tax department has launched 33 prosecutions linked to the names revealed in the Panama Papers and is probing others.
“There is no let-up in investigations. We are aggressively seeking information from other countries,” the official, who did not wish to be identified, told TOI. After Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif was removed by the country’s top court in connection with the Panama Papers case, there has been criticism that tax authorities in India are dragging their feet.
Asked whether information linked to the allegations against Bachchan was being pursued, the official said: “Mr Bachchan has said he does not own any of the firms named in the documents. So we just can’t launch a probe. We have to seek information.”
“We have sent a senior CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) officer to the British Virgin Islands to gather information and we are also seeking information from various other countries and then we will have to analyse and see if there are any violations,” the official said.
Names of several film stars, politicians and businessmen figured in the so-called Panama Papers. Bachchan has denied any wrongdoing, and has said that his remittances overseas were in line with Indian regulations. He has also denied any links with the firms named in the Panama Papers. “Some of the accounts which were revealed are also genuine and those named have come forward to give details. It is a long-drawn process of seeking information,” said the official.
Panama Papers are leaked documents from a Panama-based law firm – Mossack Fonseca, which has offices in 35 countries. It has 11.5 million documents, involving 2,14,000 offshore entities covering a time period between 1977 and 2015. The Panama Papers reveal names of 140 political figures from 50 countries with links to offshore accounts. These include 12 current or former heads of state as well as sportspersons, administrators and 29 billionaires from the Forbes rich list.
India has joined a global task-force on shared intelligence and collaboration to pursue progress on the Panama Papers investigations.
NEW DELHI: The income tax department is “aggressively” pursuing names that emerged in the Panama Papers, including Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, and has dispatched a top-level officer to the British Virgin Islands to access information, a senior official has said.
The British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean is considered to be among several tax havens. The tax department has launched 33 prosecutions linked to the names revealed in the Panama Papers and is probing others.
“There is no let-up in investigations. We are aggressively seeking information from other countries,” the official, who did not wish to be identified, told TOI. After Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif was removed by the country’s top court in connection with the Panama Papers case, there has been criticism that tax authorities in India are dragging their feet.
Asked whether information linked to the allegations against Bachchan was being pursued, the official said: “Mr Bachchan has said he does not own any of the firms named in the documents. So we just can’t launch a probe. We have to seek information.”
“We have sent a senior CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) officer to the British Virgin Islands to gather information and we are also seeking information from various other countries and then we will have to analyse and see if there are any violations,” the official said.
Names of several film stars, politicians and businessmen figured in the so-called Panama Papers. Bachchan has denied any wrongdoing, and has said that his remittances overseas were in line with Indian regulations. He has also denied any links with the firms named in the Panama Papers. “Some of the accounts which were revealed are also genuine and those named have come forward to give details. It is a long-drawn process of seeking information,” said the official.
Panama Papers are leaked documents from a Panama-based law firm – Mossack Fonseca, which has offices in 35 countries. It has 11.5 million documents, involving 2,14,000 offshore entities covering a time period between 1977 and 2015. The Panama Papers reveal names of 140 political figures from 50 countries with links to offshore accounts. These include 12 current or former heads of state as well as sportspersons, administrators and 29 billionaires from the Forbes rich list.
India has joined a global task-force on shared intelligence and collaboration to pursue progress on the Panama Papers investigations.
NEW DELHI: The income tax department is “aggressively” pursuing names that emerged in the Panama Papers, including Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, and has dispatched a top-level officer to the British Virgin Islands to access information, a senior official has said.
The British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean is considered to be among several tax havens. The tax department has launched 33 prosecutions linked to the names revealed in the Panama Papers and is probing others.
“There is no let-up in investigations. We are aggressively seeking information from other countries,” the official, who did not wish to be identified, told TOI. After Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif was removed by the country’s top court in connection with the Panama Papers case, there has been criticism that tax authorities in India are dragging their feet.
Asked whether information linked to the allegations against Bachchan was being pursued, the official said: “Mr Bachchan has said he does not own any of the firms named in the documents. So we just can’t launch a probe. We have to seek information.”
“We have sent a senior CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) officer to the British Virgin Islands to gather information and we are also seeking information from various other countries and then we will have to analyse and see if there are any violations,” the official said.
Names of several film stars, politicians and businessmen figured in the so-called Panama Papers. Bachchan has denied any wrongdoing, and has said that his remittances overseas were in line with Indian regulations. He has also denied any links with the firms named in the Panama Papers. “Some of the accounts which were revealed are also genuine and those named have come forward to give details. It is a long-drawn process of seeking information,” said the official.
Panama Papers are leaked documents from a Panama-based law firm – Mossack Fonseca, which has offices in 35 countries. It has 11.5 million documents, involving 2,14,000 offshore entities covering a time period between 1977 and 2015. The Panama Papers reveal names of 140 political figures from 50 countries with links to offshore accounts. These include 12 current or former heads of state as well as sportspersons, administrators and 29 billionaires from the Forbes rich list.
India has joined a global task-force on shared intelligence and collaboration to pursue progress on the Panama Papers investigations.
About Forty-four thousand (44,000) companies have so far been delisted from the database of the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) while 1.5 million companies have been registered, the Economic Confidential has learnt on good authority.
The Registrar General of the CAC, Barrister Bello Mahmud disclosed this in an interview with the Economic Confidential in Abuja. He said the development was sequel to several breaches of the Companies and other Matters Act(CAMA) and other extant regulations of the commission, notably, late and outright refusal to file returns.
“So far there is an improvement and a current ratio of 45 percent. We are still checking on company records especially in terms of compliance for those who have not been filing. If we discover you are not a going concern, the law establishing us gives us the power to delist from our database.” he said.
“If we discover and write you first, second and third letter without reply, we now deem it that you are not a going concern and we delist you from our database. So far, the first batch we delisted were about nine thousand (9000) And in the second batch about thirty-five (35,000) totalling 44,000 firms delisted from our database and is still ongoing”, he said.
Barrister Mahmud noted that “unfortunately, these companies are “briefcase” companies because when you check on the addresses given, you won’t find them. We are still compiling the list and before the end of this year you will see more delisted companies”, he said.
He also stated that about 1.5 million firms have so far been registered by the commission.
Speaking on the clampdown on touts and illegal use of business names, the CAC boss said touts are no more in the premises of the commission “because if you can do it yourself you don’t even need to hire a lawyer and that is part of what the government has told us to do. If you want to register your company now, you can do it yourself”, he said.
“Just go to our portal and create an account for yourself. If you cannot do it on your own, then contact a lawyer, chartered Secretary or an Accountant. And these people can file documents on your behalf. Only these categories can access our portal and your very self. Touts have been completely eliminated”, he disclosed.
He said as part of efforts by the government in instituting the Ease of Doing Business, the commission has reduced filing fees to make it easier for people.
“For anybody registering a company of one million to half a million, we have reduced such fees by fifty percent. And from five million to any amount we have reduced them by 25 percent to encourage Ease of Doing Business”, he said.
He told the Economic Intelligence Magazine that the development had resulted in the loss of revenue to the commission, adding that ” you know we don’t receive any allocation from the government. What we generate here is what we use for our operations”
On the Commission’s feat in information technology to drive the registration process, Mr. Mahmud said the “trend now is information technology(IT). You can’t do any online registration now as I told you without the use of IT. Our operations are ICT-based”.
“As we speak anybody can register in both United States and United Kingdom without necessarily coming to Nigeria. You can file from anywhere in the world and you cannot do that if we are not ICT-based.”
He disclosed that the only challenge the commission has now has to do with old records that have not been captured.
“If you want to make a search on old records, you have to come to us physically. But we are doing all we can to upload them so that you can search without coming to us, and that would be done gradually in the coming months.”
“If you ask us online, a Certified True Copy(CTC) would be made available to you and payment online.
He added that there are ongoing projects to make the operations run smoothly and that has to do with the online registration.
“We now have regulations and requirements which were not there before. The regulations are now online and anybody can go there and see our requirements. And by the presidential order, our fees and procedures are all online. If you go to our website you will know how long it will take you to register and get CTC when you apply for them. That is where we are heading to. And even if we are not able to get you at the stipulated time frame, we will equally let you know”, he said.
… to hit a backlash. Meanwhile, lawfirms, ever slow to change, have … of a sea change in lawfirms‘ attitudes toward working at … lawfirms besides increased retention, Menon says. If enough attorneys embrace telecommuting, lawfirms … working remotely, lawfirms risk losing lawyers not only to other firms, but … Go to Source
San Jose, CA (Law Firm Newswire) August 12, 2017 – Amy Carlson, Employment Rights Attorneys, LLP, acting as lead litigation and trial counsel, and Sanjiv N. Singh, APLC, as co-counsel, secured a zero dollar settlement for claims filed against a local rehabilitation center.
The matter arose from an alleged discrimination claim by a former employee. The rehabilitation center denied any discrimination had occurred and cross-complained against the former employee for improperly receiving health insurance benefits for the employee’s dependents.
ERA’s defense strategy included aggressive factual investigation—including requests for admissions in which the employee admitted most of her claims were without basis. Plaintiff ultimately agreed to a zero dollar settlement after ERA’s filed a motion for summary judgment to dismiss the entire case which was set to be heard on August 17, 2017.
ERA’s client commented, “We are very happy with this outcome. We have the utmost respect for our employees, and took the plaintiff’s claims seriously. But the reality was they did not have factual basis and we are happy plaintiff’s realized this and agreed to this resolution.”
Ms. Carlson also noted that, “considering the intensity with which the employee’s attorney litigated the case and came within weeks of trial, it is satisfying to achieve this outcome for a small business unjustly accused of wrongdoing.” Mr. Singh noted, “Cases like this protect plaintiffs who have real claims. It is extremely important for an employer to not just settle, even for convenience, if there is really no basis to a claim.”
See other news sources publishing this article. BETA | Tags: employment defense, Employment Law
Law office of Olaniwun Ajayi in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.
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Considering that quite a number of lawyers at any given time in Nigeria are qualified for elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) but only a few make the list each year, when therefore a Law firm could boast of Two or More SANs in its fold, the impression is that such a Firm must be a redoubt of excellence and uncommon competence. STEPHEN UBIMAGO, in this piece, lists a number of such Firms and their SANS.
ADBULLAHI IBRAHIM & CO
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Brief Profile
Established in 1973 as a fully fledged Commercial law firm, Abdullahi Ibrahim & Co. has since diversified and built a robust general legal practice for which it has become recognised as one of Nigeria’s pre-eminent law firms.
The Firm boasts a whooping Four SANs and they are:
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, CON, FCIArb, FINALS, LLD, SAN.: Alhaji Ibrahim, who is the Firm’s founding Partner, was called to the English Bar in 1963. He was later called to the Nigerian Bar in 1964. He was admitted into the Inner Bar as SAN in 1982. He is a Notary Public, a Life member of the Body of Benchers. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria (FCIArb) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) (MCIArb), and also a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Nigeria (FINALS). He was conferred with an honorary Doctorate in Law (LLD, Honoris Causa) by the University of Kogi in 2008.
Adetunji A. Oyeyipo, Esq, SAN.: Oyeyipo, a Partner in the Firm, earned his BA and LLB with honours from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife, Osun State in 1982 and the University of Ibadan 1986 respectively. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in1987 and has been in active practice with the Firm since 1987 to date. He was admitted into the Inner Bar as SAN in 2004.
Olabisi O. Soyebo, SAN.: Olabisi Soyebo, a Partner in the Firm, heads its Abuja office. She obtained her BA in Sociology from the College of St. Elizabeth New Jersey USA and her LLB from the University of Buckingham, England in 1987. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She has ever since been in active legal practice with the Firm. She was appointed a Notary Public in 1998 and was admitted to the Inner Bar as SAN in 2008.
Rotimi Oluseyi Oguneso, Esq. SAN.: Rotimi Oguneso, a Partner in the Firm, earned his LLB from the University of Ife in 1990. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 and the iner Bar as SAN in 2012. He joined Abdullahi Ibrahim & Co in 1995 and has since remained in active legal practice with the firm.
AFE BABALOLA & CO (EMMANUEL CHAMBERS)
Brief Profile
Founded by Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) in 1965, the firm prides itself in its rich alumni that include several judges and 14 SANs, said to be the largest number produced by any law firm in the country.
Emmanuel Chambers is a composite firm of legal practitioners engaged in providing a wide range of legal services to persons and corporate bodies. With its head office in Ibadan, the firm maintains branches in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt with two correspondence offices in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and the city of London, UK.
The Firm’s SANs are:
Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, FNIALS, FCIArb, FFPA, LL.D, D.Litts, SAN.: Aare Babalola, the Firm’s Founder and Principal Partner, earned his B.Sc and LLB from London. He holds an honourary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the University of Lagos. He is also the founder and proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ekiti State.
Adebayo E. Adenipekun, FCIArb, SAN: Adenipekun, the Managing Partner of the Firm, earned his B.Ed, LLB and LLM with honours from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Ogun State. He is a Fellow, Institute of Abitrator, Nigeria. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991.
Olu Daramola, MCIArb, SAN: Daramola, who is the Deputy Managing Partner of the Firm, earned his BSc, LLB, LLM and another LLM from the Universities of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of London respectively. He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1993 and elevated to the rank of SAN in 2008.
WALE BABALAKIN & CO
Brief Profile
The Firm is a leading Commercial law firm in Nigeria with nearly three decades of experience in various aspects of Commercial law practice and dispute resolution. Founded by Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), the firm is headquartered in Lagos with branches in Abuja and Port Harcourt.
The Firm is reputed for its extensive competence in Energy, Oil and Gas, Corporate Restructuring, Venture Capital and Project Finance, Banking and Securities, Company Secretarial Services, Corporate Governance, Joint Ventures and Taxation, Foreign Investments, Intellectual Property Protection, as well as Litigation/Dispute Resolution.
The firm boasts of three SANs. They are:
Dr. Wale Babalakin SAN, OFR.: Dr. Babalakin, who is the Firm’s Senior Partner earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with honours from University of Lagos; an LL.M and Ph.D from the University of Cambridge, UK, and admitted to the Nigerian Bar with a BL. Dr. Babalakin was conferred with the rank of SAN in 2002 and has served as a member of the Body of Benchers, and former Chairman of both the Committee on Construction and Real Estate under the Section on Business Law.
Wale Akoni (SAN) is the Firms Managing Partner. He bagged his B.Sc in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with honours from the University of Ibadan; and admitted to the Nigerian Bar with B.L. Akoni was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2006.
Tola Oshobi (SAN) is a Partner in the Firm and head of Firm’s Litigation and Taxation Groups. He recently made the list of lawyers to be sworn in as SANs in September this year. He earned his LL.B with honours from the University of Ibadan; and BL from the Nigerian Law School.
FRA LAW (CHIEF ROTIMI WILLIAMS CHAMBERS)
Brief Profile
Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers, is one of Nigeria’s oldest law firms, having been in steady service for over 70 years.
It was established by late Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, CFR, QC, SAN, one of Nigeria’s most prominent lawyers of all time. Chief Williams was the first Nigerian to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He was the president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 1959.
The firm boasts Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and they are:
Abimbola Williams (Chief Mrs.) SAN, Partner: Chief (Mrs.) Williams was admitted to the Gray’s Inn London, United Kingdom and the Nigerian Bar in 1964. She bagged M. Comp-Jur from Howard University.
Tokunboh Williams (SAN) Partner
Mr. Williams earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Buckingham, UK. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, and elevated to the rank of SAN in 2003.
WOLE OLANIPEKUN & CO
Brief Profile
The Firm was established in 1980 by Chief Wole Olanipekun. It is a fully serviced legal practice that has earned a reputation for exceptional competence in litigation and commercial practice.
The Firm, which is headquartered in its Ikoyi office in Lagos, has branches Abuja, Ilorin and Akure.
The Firm boasts Two SANs, and they are:
Chief Wole Olanipekun, OFR, LLD, SAN: Chief Olanipekun, who earned his LLB from the University of Lagos; and his BL from the Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School, is the Principal Partner and Founder of the Firm. He attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1991 at the age of 39 years. He is a Life Bencher and was 20th President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He was also a former Attorney General of old Ondo State from 1992 to 1993. Chief Olanipekun was the immediate past Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Ibadan. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the University of Ibadan.
Dr. Oladapo Olanipekun, FCIArb, SAN: Dr. Olanipekun bagged his LLB, LLM and PhD from the University of Lagos and Queen Mary and Westfield College of the University of London respectively; and his BL from the Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria. Dr. Dapo Olanipekun was elevated to the rank of SAN, being the youngest person ever to be conferred with the rank since inception.
OLANIWUN AJAYI
Brief Profile
Olaniwun Ajayi was founded as a sole practitioner-ship on November 2nd, 1962 by late Sir Olaniwun Ajayi in November 2nd, 1962. The Firm is one of the largest and open partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Over the last five decades, Olaniwun Ajayi has established a sterling go-to reputation for a wide range of corporate, commercial and contentious work.
The Firm boasts Two SANs, and they are:
Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN: Professor Ajayi is the Managing Partner of the Firm. He earned his LLB from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolo University) Ile Ife, Osun State, and his LLM and PhD from Harvard and Cambridge Universities respectively. With over 35 years in practice, his expertise spans litigation and transactional work in banking, project finance, capital markets, power, infrastructure, M&A, energy and natural resources, privatisation and dispute resolution.
Oluseye Opasanya, SAN: Opasanya, the Deputy Managing Partner of the Firm, earned his LLB from the University of Lagos; and an LLM from the University of London; and BL from the Council of Legal Education, Nigeria Law School, Lagos. Oluseye, who doubles as Head of the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets group, advises on corporate finance, trade finance, insolvency, receivership and capital markets.
SOFUNDE, OSAKWE, BELGORE AND OGUNDIPE
Brief Profile
Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore is a full-service firm. The firm was established in May 1989 by Ebun O Sofunde SAN, Gabby N. O. Osakwe, Babajide O. Ogundipe & Mohammed D. Belgore SAN.
The founding partners have together been engaged in legal practice for a total of over 100 years. Both Messrs Sofunde and Osakwe were called to the bar in 1972, whilst Ogundipe was called in 1979 and Belgore in 1985.
The Lagos-based firm also works with leading law firms in various parts of the world especially in Europe and in the United States of America on a wide range of matters.
The firm boasts two SANs, and they are:
Ebun Olusegun Sofunde (SAN): Ebun Olusegun Sofunde, founding Partner of the Firm, was elevated to the rank of SAN at the age of 38. He bagged his LL.B with honours from University of Lagos in 1971. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1972.
Mohammed Dele Belgore FCIArb, SAN: Dele Belgore earned his LL.B with honours from Hull University, England in 1983; and his LL.M from Bristol University, England in 1984. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. He was elevated to the rank of SAN in 2001 at the age of 40. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and became a Notary Public in 1997.
IDOWU SOFOLA & CO (EREKE CHAMBERS)
Brief Profile
The Firm was registered under the Registration of Business Names Act, 1961 on November 24th, 1975. The Firm has its principal place of business on 4th and 5th Floors, Ereke House, Plot 15, CIPM Road, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria with presence in all States of the Federation.
The Firm is a full-service litigation and commercial law firm noted for its professionalism that spans Four decades.
The Firm boasts Two SANs, and they are:
Chief Idowu Sofola, MON, SAN.: Chief Sofola is the principal partner of the Firm. He was called to the English Bar at Middle Temple Inn of Court, London on July 17, 1962 and enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria on July 30, 1962. He was elevated to the rank of SAN in 1989.
Olusina R. Sofola, SAN.: Olusina Sofola, Esq. earned his LLB and LLM with honors from the University of Buckingham, England and the University of Lagos respectively. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 and the inner Bar as SAN in 2010.
OLAWOYIN & OLAWOYIN
Brief Profile
The firm was established in 1976. It offers a full range of legal services, with principal focus on all facets of corporate, securities, maritime, foreign investment, litigation and arbitration matters. It also offer advice in the areas of real estate, international banking, insurance and international commercial transactions generally.
The Firm boasts Two SANs, and they are:
Professor G.A. Olawoyin, SAN: Professor Olawoyin (SAN), the Founder and Principal Partner of the Firm, obtained his LLB and LLM in 1965 and 1966 respectively from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He went on to obtain his Ph.D in Company Law from the University of Bristol in 1970. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1975, and elevated to the rank of SAN in 2000.
Dr. Adewale Adedamola Olawoyin, SAN: Dr. Olawoyin (SAN), the firm’s Managing Partner, obtained his LLB with honours in 1987 from the then University of Ile-Ife. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. He obtained his LLM and Ph.D from LSE in 1990 and the University of Bristol in 1991 respectively. He was admitted to the inner Bar as SAN in 2014.
