TAYO OYETIBO, SAN

Chief Counsel

Tayo Oyetibo is the Chief Counsel and Founding Partner of the Firm and has been in legal practice in Nigeria for 40 years. A consummate advocate, reputed for his integrity and professional skills in the area of dispute resolution, particularly litigation and arbitration, Tayo Oyetibo was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2003. Tayo has a wealth of experience in dealing with complex litigations, and most of the cases handled by him are regularly reported in notable law reports in Nigeria. His counsel is sought after for the most complex and high-profile litigations in Nigeria.

He regularly advises on a broad range of high-profile commercial transactions. His expertise and skill in the area of dispute resolution has been widely recognized. He is an experienced arbitrator in both domestic and international arbitrations and is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Institute of Construction Industry Arbitrator.

In the area of constitutional law, he was a member of a team of consultants to the National Assembly of Nigeria, appointed by the United Nations Development Programme. He is a prolific writer and a highly sought-after speaker. He has written many articles on diverse subjects of law and presented papers at various international and local law conferences, seminars and workshops.

Since 1995, he has been a guest lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, where he delivers a lecture on a topic in practice and procedure once a year. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. He is also a Patron and Life Member of the International Law Association (Nigerian Branch), Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Quiver School in Lagos and a member of the Body of Benchers.

Over the years he has been recognized by several international legal guides and rankings as a leading disputes resolution lawyer in Nigeria, including as follows:

• “A highly experienced practitioner with very good advocacy skills and a strong work ethic” - Chambers and Partners (2015)
• "Very intelligent and his knowledge base is vast – he works through complicated cases, making them look quite simple" - The Legal 500 (2015)
• “Peers highlight Tayo Oyetibo as a "Well-rounded" and "Good litigator." He possesses long standing experience representing clients in myriad complex litigation and arbitration cases. His knowledge extends beyond commercial disputes, with distinct capabilities representing clients in constitutional contentious issues.”- Chambers and Partners (2019)
• “Tayo Oyetibo is heralded by sources as "A very brilliant and experienced advocate" and "An outstanding performer in terms of litigation experts in Nigeria." He is noted for his experience in precedential cases in the Supreme Court, and his clients include oil and gas companies and governmental figures.” - Chambers and Partners (2021)
• “Tayo Oyetibo SAN is one of the foremost litigation lawyers in Nigeria, noted for his experience in precedential cases in the Supreme Court. His clients include banks, oil and gas companies and government entities. Strengths: "Tayo Oyetibo is a solid and brilliant lawyer."- Chambers and Partners (2023)
• “Tayo Oyetibo SAN is someone you go to at the first smell of trouble. You will receive quality advice and his attention to detail and personal touch on every case he handles is excellent.”- The Legal 500 (2023)

ABIOLA TAYO-OYETIBO

Partner

Abiola Tayo-Oyetibo is the Partner (General Management) of the Firm and heads the Firm's Corporate and Commercial Practice Group. She possesses over thirty-five years' experience in the area of corporate law. Prior to joining the Firm in 2010 as a Partner, she worked in-house at one of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks. Her areas of expertise and experience include debt recovery, immigration, secured credit, real estate and regulatory compliance.

Mrs. Tayo-Oyetibo regularly advises local and international clients on investments in several areas of the Nigerian economy. Her practice includes advising high net worth individuals with respect to the Citizenship by Investment programme run by the government of Antigua and Barbuda. She has been recognised by The Legal 500 as a 'Recommended Lawyer' in Nigeria. Mrs. Tayo-Oyetibo is a Certified Trainer in Elocution, Public Speaking, Grammar, Communication and Soft skills.

MOFESOMO TAYO-OYETIBO

Partner

Mofesomo is a Partner at the Firm and heads the Commercial Law and Arbitration Practice. He is a graduate of the University of Leeds and holds a Master's Degree in Commercial Law from the University of Bristol.

Mofesomo's core area of practice is commercial disputes resolution and he has invaluable experience in the arbitration and litigation of a wide range of domestic and international disputes covering the areas of banking, commercial crime, contracts, corporate insolvency, oil & gas, marine and general insurance, securities, shipping and international trade and oil and gas. His work also includes providing advisory services to clients on the legal aspects of their entry into the Nigerian market or ongoing operations in the country.

Mofesomo has written on arbitration, commercial law and public interest matters and his writing is regularly published. He is an alumnus of the Leading Professional Service Firms course at the Harvard Business School and the Institute of Maritime Law at the University of Southampton. Mofesomo is a member of several professional bodies, such as the Institute of Directors, International Council for Commercial Arbitration, Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Lagos Court of Arbitration and the International Law Association, where he Chairs the Committee on International Law and New Technologies.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and Prime Disputes and is on the Panel of Neutrals of the Nigerian Communications Commission and World Intellectual Property Organization. Mofesomo sits on the Board of Governors of Dowen College Lagos, a renowned secondary school in Nigeria, the Advisory Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitrators-Young Arbitrators Network and Management Board of the Pistis Life and Leadership Institute. In 2023 Mofesomo was recognized by The Legal 500, an international legal research and ranking body, as a Next Generation Partner in the area of dispute resolution and received the following testimonial:

• ‘Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo is already carving out a name for himself. He is very intelligent and perceptive, and he will definitely be a shining light in the years to come.’- The Legal 500 (2023)

PAUL MGBEOMA

Managing Associate

Paul Mgbeoma is a result-oriented and seasoned lawyer with over a decade’s practice experience in various areas of law. He is a Managing Associate and Head of Associates and also heads the Public Law Litigation Practice Unit at Tayo Oyetibo LP.

He has successfully represented a diverse range of clients on significant matters, including high-net-worth individuals, multinational corporations and governments. His experience includes advising and representing clients such as high net-worth individuals, large corporations and governments on complex legal issues concerning administrative law, constitutional law, medical law, environmental law and criminal law. In the area of electoral litigation, he has represented clients in relation to challenges to elections in respect of States Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and Governorship.

Paul is a Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators of Nigeria.

OLUBUKOLA OJURI

Senior Associate

Olubukola is a Senior Associate at Tayo Oyetibo LP. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Law (LLM) Degrees from the University of Kent.

Her practice areas span across intellectual property, corporate and commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. She regularly represents clients before several trial and appellate courts in Nigeria. Her recent experience includes representing a state governor in post-election litigation challenging his election to office as governor of the state. Olubukola’s work includes advising clients on the identification, protection, exploitation, management and enforcement of their intellectual property rights in Nigeria. She is passionate about professional development and has attended several trainings and conferences on Intellectual Property, including at the International Intellectual Property Law Association and Intellectual Property Institute of Nigeria, where she completed the Chartered Trademark, Copyright, and Patent Attorney Programs.

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria and a Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) Accredited Mediator.

Her hobbies include music, traveling and swimming.

ANTHONY EJERE

Senior Associate

Anthony is a senior associate in the Firm’s dispute resolution practice. He is an experienced litigation Lawyer with a very good understanding of Nigerian Law and the practice and procedures of superior courts and tribunals in Nigeria. Anthony has represented a wide range of clients, including multinational corporations, banks, and other financial institutions in matters concerning commercial law, corporate insolvency, company and partnership disputes, chieftaincy, criminal law and constitutional law.

JOHNSON SAMUEL

Associate

Johnson Samuel is an Associate in the Firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice and has gathered significant experience in litigation and arbitration by representing the Firm’s clients in different Courts and Arbitral Panels. Johnson’s practice experience cuts across diverse areas of law such as corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration, contract, insurance, tax, employment, oil and gas, banking, aviation, maritime, energy, and criminal law.

JESSICA ABISOYE ADEOLA AJAYI

Associate

Jessica Abisoye Adeola-Ajayi attended the University of Ilorin and graduated in the year 2013, she was called to the Nigerian bar in the year 2014 and has been in active practice ever since. Her core areas of practice include General Litigation, Dispute-Resolution, Property Transaction and Family Law. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), The Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum, and The International Federation of Women Lawyers.

DANIELLA AJAYI

Associate

Daniella is an associate in TOLP’s corporate and commercial law practice. She provides advisory services to clients on corporate, entertainment and commercial law matters, including drafting of various forms of documentation.

Daniella is a Chartered Secretary and Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria and Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators. She is a member of the International Law Association (Nigerian Branch)

Daniella is a prolific writer, an entertainment Lawyer, and a broadcast journalist at LAW FM 103.9, where she hosts programs and enlightens the public on several areas of law.

She is the Editor of the Firm’s Newsletter – THE TOKEN.