What Olaniwun Ajayi does

Olaniwun Ajayi LP is a leading Tier 1 corporate law firm headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, with a 60+ year operating history and approximately 200 lawyers distributed across four offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and London. The firm provides a full-service legal practice across 15 core areas — including Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Finance, Arbitration, Litigation, Tax, and Intellectual Property — and 14 sector specializations spanning Oil & Gas, Power & Renewable Energy, Banking & Financial Services, Fintech, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Mining, Telecommunications, and more. Marquee mandates include the $3 billion NLNG Train 7 financing, Seplat Energy's $650 million Senior Notes issuance, the Bank of Industry's EUR 2 billion syndicated facility, and the MOFI NGN 1 trillion Real Estate Investment Fund, underpinning a claimed $500 billion in aggregate deal value over the firm's history.

The firm operates a hybrid professional services model in which revenue is generated through hourly fees, fixed fees for defined engagements, and transaction-based arrangements, with pricing tailored to matter complexity and transaction value rather than publicly disclosed rates. Go-to-market is sales-led and partner-driven, anchored on the firm's reputation and recognition by Chambers Global, IFLR 1000, and Legal 500, complemented by thought leadership through OA Insights publications, industry events (notably African Energy Week and the OA Energy Leadership Forum), and a network of over 300 relationship firms across Africa enabling cross-border service delivery. The firm has also adopted a Responsible AI Use Framework that governs its use of AI technologies with explicit human oversight, aligning with the firm's positioning as a traditional legal services provider augmented rather than transformed by AI.

Ownership is structured as a Nigerian limited partnership (Olaniwun Ajayi LP) with a parallel UK entity (Olaniwun Ajayi (UK) LLP) under common branding. Leadership is led by Managing Partner Dr. Tominiyi Owolabi (Nigeria) and Managing Partner Chuks Ibechukwu (UK), with senior partners including Konyin Ajayi (SAN), Ibi Ogunbiyi, and Damilola Salawu. As a private partnership, the firm does not disclose financial results and has no identified external parent or private equity backing.

Name

Olaniwun Ajayi

Legal name

Olaniwun Ajayi LP

Website

https://olaniwunajayi.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Olaniwun Ajayi LP is a Tier 1 Nigerian corporate law firm with ~200 lawyers across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and London, advising on complex cross-border M&A, capital markets, project finance, and arbitration across 14 sectors for enterprises, financial institutions, and governments in Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAH)

Keywords

• Corporate legal services
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Capital markets advisory
• Arbitration and litigation
• Project finance legal

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory Services: Professional legal services for complex transactions including M&A, capital markets, project financing, dispute resolution, and regulatory advisory. Revenue generated through hourly fees, fixed fees for defined services, and transaction-based arrangements for significant deals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Olaniwun Ajayi LP is a leading Tier 1 corporate law firm providing expert legal counsel and dispute resolution services for complex, high-stakes transactions. The firm advises large corporates, multinationals, governments, and financial institutions across 15 practice areas (including M&A, Capital Markets, Arbitration, Litigation, Finance, Tax, and IP) and 14+ industry sectors (including Oil & Gas, Power & Renewable Energy, Banking, Fintech, Healthcare, and Infrastructure). With nearly 200 lawyers across Nigeria and London, the firm delivers integrated legal solutions locally and across Africa through a network of 300+ relationship firms.

Product overview

Olaniwun Ajayi LP is a leading Tier 1 corporate law firm in Africa offering a comprehensive suite of legal services. The firm provides legal counsel across 15 core practice areas including Corporate & Commercial Law, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Arbitration, Litigation, Finance, Tax, Intellectual Property, and Employment. The firm also specializes across 14 industry sectors including Oil & Gas, Power & Renewable Energy, Technology Innovation & Fintech, Healthcare, Banking & Financial Services, and Infrastructure. With nearly 200 lawyers and offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and London, the firm delivers integrated legal solutions across Nigeria and the broader African continent through a network of over 300 relationship firms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate & Commercial Law Comprehensive corporate legal services including contract drafting, negotiation, joint ventures, and commercial transactions for businesses and corporate clients.
• Mergers & Acquisitions M&A transaction support including due diligence, deal structuring, regulatory approvals, and post-merger integration for corporate clients.
• Capital Markets Advisory Counsel on equity and debt capital markets transactions, listings, and regulatory compliance with securities regulators.
• Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Expert dispute resolution through domestic and international arbitration, mediation, and litigation across multiple jurisdictions.
• Litigation Services Commercial litigation representation in Nigerian courts and appellate tribunals.
• Finance Legal Services Banking and finance transactions, loan structures, project financing, and financial regulatory matters.
• Tax Advisory Tax planning, controversy resolution, transfer pricing, and compliance with Nigerian tax laws.
• Intellectual Property IP protection, registration, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio management for patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
• Antitrust & Competition Legal Services Legal counsel on competition law compliance, merger control, antitrust investigations, and regulatory enforcement matters.
• Corporate Governance & Compliance Advisory on corporate governance frameworks, board practices, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Employment Law Employment-related legal services including labor disputes, workforce compliance, and employment contracts.
• Corporate Investigations Internal investigations, due diligence reviews, and compliance audits for corporate clients.
• International Trade Law Cross-border trade compliance, sanctions, export controls, and international commercial transactions.
• Public Policy & Regulation Regulatory advisory, policy engagement, and government relations counsel.
• Media & Entertainment Law Legal services for media companies, entertainment industry transactions, and content licensing.
• Oil & Gas Sector Practice Comprehensive legal services for upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas operations including project financing.
• Power & Renewable Energy Sector Practice Power sector investments, renewable energy projects, and electricity regulatory matters.
• Technology, Innovation & Fintech Legal services for technology companies, fintech regulations, digital payments, and innovation-driven businesses.
• Healthcare Sector Practice Legal services for healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and medical facilities.
• Infrastructure & Utilities Sector Practice Infrastructure project development, PPP transactions, and utilities regulatory matters.
• Telecommunications Sector Practice Telecom regulatory compliance, spectrum licensing, and telecommunications sector transactions.
• Banking & Financial Services Sector Practice Legal services for banks, financial institutions, and capital markets participants.
• Construction & Real Estate Sector Practice Real estate transactions, construction contracts, property development, and land matters.
• Aviation Sector Practice Aviation regulatory compliance, aircraft transactions, and aviation industry transactions.
• Agribusiness Sector Practice Legal services tailored to agricultural business operations, land transactions, and agribusiness investments.
• Industry & Manufacturing Sector Practice Legal counsel for manufacturing operations, industrial investments, and supply chain matters.
• Insurance Sector Practice Insurance regulatory compliance, policy review, and insurance sector transactions.
• Maritime Sector Practice Maritime law, shipping transactions, port operations, and admiralty matters.
• Mining & Metals Sector Practice Mining licenses, mineral transactions, and extractive industry regulatory compliance.
• Retail & Consumer Products Sector Practice Consumer goods regulations, retail operations, and distribution agreements.

Quantifiable outcome

• US$500 billion aggregate deal value
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Africa LegalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2025Strategic partnership with Africa Legal to host the inaugural OA Energy Leadership Forum during African Energy Week 2025 in Cape Town. Collaboration focused on driving indigenous capacity development and fostering meaningful collaboration across Africa's energy ecosystem.
• Africa LegalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 October 2025Ongoing partnership with Africa Legal for industry events and thought leadership initiatives supporting Africa's energy transformation and legal excellence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie: Tier 1 Nigerian law firm with a comparable full-service corporate practice, particularly strong in M&A, capital markets, and energy. Competes directly with Olaniwun Ajayi for marquee Nigerian deals.
• Aluko & Oyebode: Leading Nigerian full-service commercial law firm with comparable Tier 1 rankings and a similar practice mix spanning M&A, energy, banking, and dispute resolution. Direct head-to-head competitor for premium Nigerian mandates.
• Templars: Nigerian Tier 1 law firm specializing in corporate, finance, and energy transactions with a similar client base of multinationals and financial institutions. Direct competitor in the premium end of the Nigerian legal market.
• ÆLEX: Pan-African law firm with offices across Nigeria and other African jurisdictions, offering comparable full-service corporate and energy practices. Directly competes for cross-border African mandates.
• Banwo & Ighodalo: Leading Nigerian law firm with comparable practice areas across corporate, M&A, capital markets, and energy. Competes for high-stakes Nigerian and cross-border mandates.

Regional players

• ENSafrica: Africa's largest law firm by headcount with similar full-service capabilities across corporate, finance, and energy. Comparable in scale but rooted in South Africa rather than West Africa.
• Webber Wentzel: Top South African law firm with similar full-service corporate and energy practices. Comparable in scale and quality but primarily focused on the Southern African market rather than West Africa.

Broad incumbents

• Dentons: Global law firm with an active Africa practice, offering broader international resources and competing for cross-border mandates involving African clients. A global incumbent rather than a regional specialist.
• Bowmans: Leading African law firm with extensive presence across multiple African countries, offering similar corporate, energy, and finance practices. Pan-African incumbent competing for the same cross-border African deal flow.
• DLA Piper Africa: Global law firm with an established African alliance network. Competes for cross-border M&A, capital markets, and project finance mandates in which Olaniwun Ajayi is also engaged.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OlaniwunAjayiLP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHK7qlPGAqJDlxfgTpDDD5g
• Facebookfacebook.com/OlaniwunAjayiLP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/olaniwun-ajayi-lp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Olaniwun Ajayi