AELEX Elevates Two Senior Associates To Partners

ǼLEX, a leading Commercial & Dispute Resolution law firm has elevated two associates of the law firm, Tiwalola Osazuwa and Ugonna Ogbuagu, to partners.

The firm, with offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Accra, Ghana; admitted the new partners into the practice with effect from September 1, 2022.

According to the firm, the appointments reflect its culture of organic growth and further enhancement of the firm’s continuing pursuit to become the foremost legal services solution provider in the West African region.

“Together, the new partners have specialisations across a range of our leading practice areas that are critical to the firm’s clients and their strategic needs. The new partners are members of the firm’s Dispute Resolution, Corporate/Commercial, Taxation, Intellectual Property and Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Groups, where they have been Team Leaders for several years, coordinating some of the firm’s complex and multi-jurisdictional transactions, as well as domestic and cross-border commercial dispute resolution,” it stated.

Tiwalola is a member of the Corporate/Commercial, Intellectual Property and Mergers & Acquisitions practice groups at ÆLEX.

In her years of practice, she has handled matters relating to intellectual property rights, franchising, licensing, technology transfer and product regulation.

She has advised several foreign franchises in Nigeria, including Cold Stone Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Hard Rock Café and Tutor Doctor.

She has also advised local and multinational companies on corporate structure, regulatory compliance and acquisitions. She was part of the team that advised The Coca Cola Company on its acquisition of an initial 40 per cent stake and subsequent 60 per cent stake in C.H.I. Limited, Nigeria’s leading still beverages producer.

She recently closed a transaction for the acquisition of a lubricant blending plant in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

Tiwalola is the General Secretary of IPLAN and a member of the Non-Traditional Marks Committee of the International Trademark Association, Corporate and M&A Law Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA), Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Committee of the IBA, International Franchising Committee of the IBA, Intellectual Property Law Group of the American Bar Association (ABA), ABA Forum on Franchising and Business Law Group of the ABA. She was the winner of the coveted Rising Star Award at the IFLR 2021 Africa Awards.

On the other hand, Ugonna is in the firm’s Dispute Resolution, Corporate/Commercial and Tax Practice Groups. He has represented a broad range of clients in actions arising from commercial transactions, employment and labour disputes, taxation, real estate, criminal law and matrimonial matters.

Currently, he is part of the legal team representing the contractor parties to a production-sharing contract in a dispute on tax over-lifts, as well as in an appeal to the Supreme Court, regarding the applicable fiscal regime to an oil-mining lease.

In addition, he is actively involved in advising an international oil company on an appeal regarding additional tax assessments for tertiary education tax.

Ugonna routinely advises clients on corporate matters, complex commercial transactions as well as employment and labour issues.

Additionally, he provides legal advice and support to clients in the structuring of their investments and participation in construction and other infrastructure projects in Nigeria.

ǼLEX is a leading Commercial & Dispute Resolution law firm. It is one of the largest full-service law firms in West Africa. It won several awards such as Who’s Who Legal Firm of the year, and has been ranked as a Top Tier Firm by IFLR 1000, Chambers Global, Legal 500 and other leading directories.