At Kola Awodein & Co., we pride ourselves on the expertise of our exceptional team. Fulfilling the needs of our clients is paramount to our success story.

Our lawyers are active members of professional bodies such as the;

• Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
• International Bar Association (IBA)
• Society of Construction Industry Arbitrators (SCIArb)
• Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators,(UK) (Nigeria)
• Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN)
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK
• Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM)
• Energy Institute, UK
• Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)
• Capital Market Solicitors Association
• Financial Services Lawyers Association,UK
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Mr. Awodein is the Founding Partner of the Firm. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 and conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1999, a rank equivalent to Queen’s Counsel in England. He attended the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and King’s College, Lagos. He is also an Alumnus of Harvard Business School (Executive Programme).

Mr. Awodein is an astute and consummate advocate who specializes in Litigation and Commercial Law. He is widely respected for his thorough understanding of the law and his compelling arguments in the presentation of cases. He also renders consulting and business advisory services especially in Banking and Finance, Taxation, Power and Oil and Gas Transactions.

He is well-acknowledged for his legal publications and editorials and has delivered lectures and papers on a wide range of legal issues. He is also listed in the Euromoney Guide to World’s Leading Litigation Lawyers in Nigeria (2008, 2010 & 2013); The Chambers Global Guide 2010 - 2015, International Referral Global Network of Business Lawyers; International Law Office 2013; IFLR 1000 (2014); Who’s Who Legal (2015) Legal Media Group’s Expert Guide on Leading Emerging Markets Practitioners.

• Litigation
• Commercial & Civil Dispute Resolution
• Arbitration
• Banking & Finance
• Business Advisory
• Foreign Investments
• Tax & Financial Advisory

Mr. Lardner is a seasoned lawyer and pragmatic business manager who worked actively in the Banking sector for nearly 25 years. He is an ambitious and resourceful leader with proven business acumen, exceptional analytical skills and an outstanding track record of delivering cross sector business performance improvements and brings to the firm a wealth of experience of the Nigerian banking and corporate markets.

He worked at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. for 10 years and was at various times Head of Treasury, Head Consumer Banking and CEO, UBA Capital & Trust. Whilst heading the Treasury Group, he rebuilt the trading floor from scratch and exercised some operational oversight over the New York Office with particular reference to FDIC and Reserve Bank of New York compliance. As CEO of the bank’s then only subsidiary, UBA Capital and Trust he built a private equity portfolio. He previously worked as Treasury Head & Head Risk Management of Meridian Equity Bank; Treasury Head and Unit Head, Corporate Banking of Nigerian American Merchant Bank (NAMBL).

He is a graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Law and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. He has attended several executive training programs, including the Bank of Boston (London) Credit Officer Training and the London Business School Accelerated Management Programme.

His career history speaks much to his level of experience and commitment towards ensuring clients satisfaction.

• Asset Management
• Banking & Finance
• Project Management
• Project Finance
• Private Equity
• Securities Compliance

• Over the course of the corporate banking element of his career was responsible as Primary Manager for many of the the quoted corporates and middle tier names amongst the Conglomerates, Beverage, Food products, Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical, Packaging and Petroleum Sectors providing a wide range of financing tools to meet their requirements either alone or in syndication.
• As treasury head he was responsible for meeting all liquidity and statutory compliance requirements, manage all correspondent banking relationships, locally and internationally, as well as develop and manage profitable foreign exchange and local currency trading platforms.
• As an asset manager at UBA Plc, managed the ( then ) largest private sector portfolio with responsibility for managing the back office requirements of the various defined benefit and defined contribution schemes and optimizing their profitability. Also had the added responsibility of developing and managing the banks private equity investments in telecoms, insurance and the first Protea Group hotel in Nigeria.

Mrs. Ovonlen was admitted to the Nigeria Bar in 1989 having obtained her Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1988 from the University of Benin, Nigeria. Before joining the Firm, she worked in the very reputable and renowned Kehinde Sofola SAN & Co. and was the Managing Counsel at Pyramid Chambers, a law firm based in Port Harcourt. She is a resident partner at the Port Harcourt office.

Mrs. Ovonlen is a member of the International Federation of Female Lawyers and the Nigerian Bar Association where she has served in the Government Legislative Relations, Human Rights, Public Legal Education and the Disciplinary Committees. She is also a member of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Chima okereke has been in legal practice for 20 years. He was called to bar in 1992, worked as the legal advisor/business manager at Venus investments limited between 1993 and 1994.

Chima had previously been a Counsel with Kola Awodein & Co. from 1994 to 2000, where he garnered further experience before he joined the law firm of George & George in 2001. He was a Partner in Prima Ballium Chambers between 2003 and 2012.

He is a partner at our Abuja office and currently manages the Disputes Resolution. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and a Council Member/Fellow of the Society of Construction Industry Arbitrators (FSCIArb.).