ADEREMI DUROJAIYE
Legal Practitioner
Lagos
Summary
A business/legal/policy/regulatory/sanctions advisory expert with over 23 years' experience in providing handson strategy and leadership for the delivery of innovative and sustainable solutions both as a private practitioner and as an in-house counsel. Provided advisory services in telecommunications/digital technology, compliance/risk management, litigation, capital market transactions, financing, intellectual property, corporate acquisitions, assets sale, debt recovery, sports, entertainment, real estate, Alternative Dispute Resolution and cross border transactions. I have also played a significant role in developing policy documents for attainment of operational excellence, stakeholder management and risk management in addition to providing mentorship to team members. My persona and work ethics have been consistently described by peers, clients and supervisors in the following context: Efficient, Calm, Ethical, Excellent, Resourceful, Reliable, Professional. Qualified to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor in Nigeria and I have provided legal advisory support within Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. A Global Sanctions Specialist duly certified by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, I am equipped to provide advisory on global sanctions, due diligence as well as risk management. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK, I am also on the Faculty list of accredited tutors of the Institute pursuant to which I have taught and remain qualified to teach on various aspects of arbitration. I am excited about new challenges and the opportunity to add value.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Consultant
Self Employed
10.2019 - 02.2024
- Advising clients, including a telecommunications infrastructure wholesale company based in the Middle East on a series of cross border transaction documents
- These include ensuring the delivery of efficient and sustainable carrier services, infrastructure build/sharing contracts, roaming, peering and other cross-border commercial transactions
- Advised, as legal consultant to a multinational telecommunications company based in Dubai, in multi-party transaction scheduled to deliver a multi-billion dollar sub-sea cable across Africa, Middle East and Europe
- Providing research insight to clients in areas business opportunities and applicable legal framework
- Providing legal and sanctions advisory to various clients.
Partner
Kairos & Saige
09.2022 - Current
- Providing legal consultancy, dispute resolution and corporate commercial advisory to corporate and private clients including a Dubai-based global sourcing company (as a Senior Legal Consultant) involved in sourcing equipment, software and various services for its affiliates in sub Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
- Providing private client advisory services.
- Real estate transactions and investment advisory.
- Providing advisory and solutions on sanctions as well as risk mitigation.
Senior Manager, Commercial Legal
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc
07.2015 - 09.2019
- Served as the General Manager and Head of the Commercial Legal Department, in Acting Capacity, (General Counsel) between July 2016 and May 2017
- Served as a member of the company's panel of Mentors as well as Faculty for mentorship of staff as well as training, respectively
- Developed strategies towards effective management of litigation/ADR portfolio thereby ensuring reduction in contingent liability in excess of N2 Trillion and resolution of over 500 cases
- Effective utilisation and management of an annual litigation budget of circa N300Million per annum with consistent savings of at least 10% from year to year
- Provided effective leadership to members of my team whilst ensuring maintenance of optimal performance levels
- Conceptualised and developed the deployment of an 'In-House Faculty' series for the legal department thereby giving room for research, knowledge share and capacity building for the team
- Negotiated and/or participated in major/complex commercial transactions on behalf of the company including Financing, Managed Services, ICT, Acquisitions, Asset Transfer, Operational and Service contracts
- Achieved effective contract management solutions through the implementation of electronic platforms for various operations within the department such as a Litigation/Document Management software and Electronic Contract Verification/Approval Solution
- Provided guidance as member of disciplinary and interview panels thereby ensuring proper implementation of company policy and values in addition to hiring excellent human resource for the legal department and other divisions
- Participated in cross-functional project teams across various divisions towards implementation of strategic business strategies and regulatory risk management towards driving the company's digital imperatives
- Managed external and internal relationships aimed at ensuring the overall objectives of the legal department and the company, at large, were met
- Generally, my job involved constant engagement with governmental, regulatory agencies and law enforcement agencies and identifying innovative ways to protect the company's operations and assets
- Performance appraisal and provision of support and solutions for developing metrics as well as policies thereby ensuring the improvement of team performance from year to year
- Business/compliance/legal/regulatory advisory to all business units, C-suite/top management inclusive, to mitigate against risk in Licensing, Permits, Right of Way, Tax compliance/resolution, amongst others
- This included reviewing regulatory directives and legislation impacting or likely to impact the company's operations This ensured favourable resolutions of tax disputes, acquisition of suitable licenses/permits to drive the company's business and supporting law enforcement in carrying out their statutory duties
- Served as resource person in delivering papers at professional gatherings such as the Nigerian Bar Association as a form of building partnerships beyond the company whilst also promoting the company's image
- Developed policy and process documents to support operations such as processes within the legal department, human resource disciplinary process/matrix, Value Added Services to guard against intellectual property infringement, property acquisition to aid due diligence and contract management, amongst others
- Provided leadership as the Team Manager of the company's highly successful football team.
Senior Manager, Commercial Legal
MTN GlobalConnect Solutions Limited
12.2018 - 07.2019
- On a Specialist Expert Rotation programme where I provided legal/advisory services as well as strategies which resulted in effective management of contractual/commercial obligations, prompt legal support and protection of critical business interests/assets in areas of Carrier, Roaming, Interconnect and SMS services, amongst others
- Achieved prompt closure of cross border transactions bringing about speed-to-market in addition to generating multi million dollar revenues across various products and services in the telecommunications industry
- Helped develop key templates for bespoke transactions thereby providing excellent management of the company's contractual obligations and effective risk management
- Provided guidance to business owners in driving commercial initiatives along infrastructure, data centre/colocation, amongst others
- Played a key role in the negotiation and documentation required for delivery of a multi-billion dollar major sub-sea multi-jurisdictional cable project in a deal involving some of the biggest brands in the global telecommunications/ICT industry
- The essence of the project was to provide infrastructure for broadband, cabling and connectivity across continents
- Sustainable stakeholder management and built trust across business units to encourage active collaboration in the interest of the company
- Represented the company at high profile negotiations in closing deals.
Commercial Legal Manager
MTN Nigeria Communications Limited
03.2012 - 07.2015
- Participated in the negotiation and documentation of FOREX Swaps transactions amounting to over $800 Million with international finance institutions such as Credit Suisse and AFC to manage liquidity concerns arising from fluctuations in the FOREX market
- Review and advisory in mid-term financing transactions between the company and a consortium of local and foreign financial institutions such as a $3 Billion Mid-Term Financing transaction in 2012
- Reviewed and provided advice in the contractual documentation for the largest tower sale transaction in Nigeria (Project Eagle) comprising the sale of over 8,000 towers in a deal valued at about $2 Billion
- Provided leadership for driving effective litigation management resulting in savings of billions of Naira contingent liability
- Performance appraisal and provision of support and solutions for developing metrics as well as policies for improving team performance from year to year
- Successfully project-managed the company's annual staff-driven corporate social responsibility project tagged, '21 Days of Y'ello Care', in 2012
- Developed bespoke contract templates to support commercial transactions and aid speed-to-market and a more robust contract management portfolio
- Built goodwill across various business units to encourage seamless working relationship between the legal department and the business units for the overall benefit of the company
- Successfully served as Senior Manager, Commercial Legal (in acting capacity) in the first quarter of 2015
- Provided general legal advisory to all business units as well as top management
- Recruitment and retention of excellent talent in the legal department
- Served as Assistant Team Manager of the MTN Football team with resounding success in football competitions from year to year.
Commercial Legal Advisor
MTN Nigeria Communications Limited
08.2008 - 03.2012
- Participated in cross-functional project teams across various divisions towards implementation of strategic business imperatives
- Served as Commercial Legal Manager (in acting capacity) in 2011 wherein I provided leadership and mentorship to team members in driving commercial transactions and processes
- Developed initiatives towards robust management of the litigation portfolio thereby leading to significant savings valued at billions of Naira in contingent liability
- Provided general business and legal advisory to various business units in driving product development and sales
- Negotiated and/or participated in major/complex commercial transactions on behalf of the company including Financing, Managed Services, ICT, Acquisitions, Asset Transfer, Operational and Service contracts
- Served as Assistant Team Manager of the company's football team with resounding success for the team from year on year
- Compiled data and prepared reports on the company's litigation portfolio, trademarks as well as properties for reportage and planning purposes.
Associate
Austen-Peters & Co.
02.2004 - 07.2008
- Responsible for managing the Firm's litigation matters on behalf of clients and appeared before superior courts of record
- Served as counsel and advisor to various companies in real estate acquisition and mortgages as well as obtained certification/licenses from regulators
- Conducted due diligence on behalf of clients in various transactions in addition to participating in Bid exercises conducted by the Federal Government such as the proposed privatisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex
- Developed and implemented the Firm's in-house capacity building initiative which also led to the publication of the Firm's Newsletter publication where I served as as joint editor-in-chief
- Represented the Firm as part of a consortium of lawyers engaged in initiating legal proceedings for the recovery/repatriation of billions of dollars stolen by a former military head of state
- Advised financial institutions in Capital Market transactions
- Co-authored, alongside a colleague in the office, a chapter submitted for the text 'International Litigation', a publication of Aspatore Incorporation, 2005, ISBN 159662034-1
- Actively participated as a member of a consortium of foreign and local solicitors in advising a major foreign bank in the proposed flotation of offshore bonds valued at about $400 Million and the securitization of the bonds through stocks listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2008
- Advised clients on various statutory regimes related to business opportunities in Nigeria.
Associate
Olaotan Ajose-Adeogun & Co.
07.2002 - 01.2004
- Represented clients before superior courts of record in initiating and defending commercial litigation matters
- Advised corporate clients on mortgages and financial transactions
- Deputised as Head of Chambers and managed the office in the absence of the Principal Partner
- Performed due diligence and carried out property-perfection services on behalf of corporate clients.
Counsel
National Youth Service
05.2001 - 05.2002
- Served as Counsel in the Ministry of Justice where I was also seconded to the Legal Aid Council to provide services to indigent persons in the State
- Provided services as sole Defense Counsel in charge of the Council's criminal matters in the Hadejia Emirate in addition to handling a few criminal cases on the Council's behalf in the State Capital, Dutse
- Contributed as a member of the Constitutional Drafting Committee of the NBA Branch of the State towards preparing a Draft Constitution for the Branch.
Associate
Streamsowers & Co.
11.2000 - 05.2001
- Provided legal opinions to clients
- Court appearances
- Conducted due diligence and carried out property perfection on behalf of clients
- Provided support to senior management within the Firm.
Education
Master of Laws (LL.M) -
University of Lagos
Barrister at Law (B.L) - undefined
The Nigerian Law School
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) - undefined
Lagos State University
Skills
Digital technology
Affiliations
- Nigerian Bar Association
- International Bar Association
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK
- Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists
- Nigeria-Britain Association
- IMD, Switzerland
Publicspeakingengagements
- Panelist/Discussant at the Bar Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, to discuss the topic, 'The Judiciary as a Tool of Economic Development-Challenges and Prospects', October 6, 2016
- Panelist/Discussant at the Bar Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, to discuss the topic, 'Mergers, Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances - The Role of a Lawyer', October 6, 2016
- Information technology and the Law - A Complimentary Confluence - Being a paper presented at the Bar Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Uyo (Akwa Ibom State) Branch, June 5, 2017
Soccer, Lawn Tennis, Music, Reading
A huge soccer fan adept at playing and managing teams. I play tennis and also love listening to/making music in addition to reading.
Timeline
Partner
Kairos & Saige
09.2022 - Current
Legal Consultant
Self Employed
10.2019 - 02.2024
Senior Manager, Commercial Legal
MTN GlobalConnect Solutions Limited
12.2018 - 07.2019
Senior Manager, Commercial Legal
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc
07.2015 - 09.2019
Commercial Legal Manager
MTN Nigeria Communications Limited
03.2012 - 07.2015
Commercial Legal Advisor
MTN Nigeria Communications Limited
08.2008 - 03.2012
Associate
Austen-Peters & Co.
02.2004 - 07.2008
Associate
Olaotan Ajose-Adeogun & Co.
07.2002 - 01.2004
Counsel
National Youth Service
05.2001 - 05.2002
Associate
Streamsowers & Co.
11.2000 - 05.2001
Master of Laws (LL.M) -
University of Lagos
Barrister at Law (B.L) - undefined
The Nigerian Law School
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) - undefined
Lagos State University
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