Glamour, grandeur and music lift BusinessDay legal awards 2025

L-R: Kemi Ajayi, chief operating officer, Olaniwun Ajayi LP; Omoh Anita, associate, Perchstone and Graeys; Iheoma Njoku, associate, Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie (UUBO); Ozofu Ojiemudia, partner, UUBO; Frank Aigbogun, publisher, BusinessDay Media Limited; Femi Oyewole, partner, Templars; Atinuke Odofin, partner, ALPNG and Co.; Omo Omorodion, general counsel, ND Western Limited; and Chioma Nwaugo, business development executive, Stren and Blan Partners, at the BusinessDay Legal dinner and awards gala, in Lagos on Thursday. Pic by Olawale Amoo

Under glittering lights and a soundtrack that stirred deep emotion, Nigeria’s most influential legal and business leaders gathered at The WheatBaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, for the BusinessDay Legal Dinner & Awards 2025, an evening where art met intellect and the glamour of the city’s finest met the gravitas of the nation’s legal vanguard.

The Bluenotes Music Band filled the night with timeless classics, from jazz standards to golden-era ballads. Their rendition of “Climb Every Mountain” from The Sound of Music became the emotional heartbeat of the evening, a symbolic tribute to the legal profession’s role in helping businesses navigate obstacles, rise above uncertainty, and ascend to new heights of growth and competitiveness.

Now in its second edition, and for the first time expanded to include a full Awards programme, the Dinner celebrated the practitioners, firms, general counsel, innovators, and institutions whose work forms the legal backbone of Nigeria’s economy. With its fusion of elegance, music, strategic reflections, and industry-defining recognition, the 2025 edition delivered an unforgettable night of brilliance, setting the stage for an even more ambitious 2026.

Winner: Banwo & Ighodalo

Banwo & Ighodalo reaffirmed its status as Nigeria’s leading M&A practice. The firm advised on the landmark US$2.4bn acquisition of SPDC, the largest onshore upstream acquisition in Nigeria’s history, representing Renaissance Africa Energy Holding Limited (RAEH) and its shareholders. Its role in HIP Glover S.C.S.’s sale of a 75% stake in Glover G&P and Axxela Limited further illustrates its mastery of multi-layered M&A execution.

Winner: Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (UUBO)

UUBO’s leadership in capital markets was evident in its advisory role to Citigroup Global Markets Limited on GTCO’s 2.28 billion share offering and London Stock Exchange listing. Its counsel to Seplat Energy Plc on its US$650m Eurobond issuance reinforces UUBO’s credentials as the reference firm for high-value capital markets transactions.

Winner: Templars

Templars’ Finance & Projects practice delivered exceptional results, including advising FinDev Canada on a USD100m facility to the Africa Finance Corporation and structuring a US$150m financing package for a major oil and gas deal. Its depth in structured finance and high-value bank-side advisory sets it apart.

Winner: ǼLEX

ǼLEX distinguished itself with cross-border fluency, advising Air Liquide Afrique S.A. on its divestment of majority interest in Air Liquide Nigeria PLC,  a transaction requiring coordination across French and Nigerian regulators. The firm continues to serve global corporations and private equity houses, reinforcing its pan-African leadership.

Winner: Stren & Blan Partners

Stren & Blan’s infrastructure and energy practice has shaped several high-value mandates exceeding US$5bn, with standout leadership from executives including Ozioma Agu. Its full-spectrum support across regulatory, financing, and structural issues positions the firm as a transformative force in Nigeria’s infrastructure ecosystem.

Winner: Olaniwun Ajayi LP

With its adoption of Harvey AI for advanced research, drafting, and analysis, Olaniwun Ajayi has become one of the continent’s true pioneers in legal innovation. The firm’s blend of tech-enabled workflows and complex transaction architecture sets new standards for future-ready legal practice in Africa.

Winner: Omo Omorodion – General Manager, Legal & Compliance / General Counsel, ND Western Limited

A seasoned upstream-sector strategist, Omo Omorodion played a critical role in ND Western’s participation in the Renaissance consortium’s acquisition of Shell’s SPDC onshore assets, a US$1.3bn core consideration and US$2.4bn headline-value landmark. He oversees OML 34, gas-to-power frameworks, pipeline arrangements, equity restructurings, and multi-agency regulatory engagements,  making him a standout general counsel in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Winner: Hairat Balogun, SAN

A trailblazer with over four decades at the pinnacle of commercial law, Hairat Balogun, SAN, is celebrated for her institutional reforms as the first female Attorney-General of Lagos State, her transactional achievements across banking and energy, and her lifelong commitment to mentorship and nation-building.

Winner: Perchstone & Graeys

Perchstone & Graeys was honoured for its distinctive role in empowering SMEs, startups, and growth-stage companies. Through the Annual Law Series, Regulatory Breakfast Meetings, and the India–Africa Business Series, the firm has shaped policy, deepened cross-border collaboration, and guided enterprises through evolving regulatory landscapes.

Winner: ALP NG & Co.

ALP NG & Co.’s deep expertise, cross-border capability, and institutional commitment to AfCFTA-driven growth have positioned it among Africa’s most forward-looking firms, with more than a century of combined partner experience driving its advisory excellence.

As Bluenotes Band closed the night with a reprise of “Climb Every Mountain”, guests reflected on the symbolism: the legal profession continues to help businesses rise, navigate uncertainty, and pursue possibility, one transaction, one decision, one reform at a time.

With the successful introduction of the Awards component, this year’s edition has cemented its place as Nigeria’s flagship legal excellence event. And as anticipation builds for the 2026 edition, bigger, broader, and even more glamorous, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s legal community is ascending new heights, and BusinessDay is proud to light the way.

Stephen Onyekwelu is BusinessDay’s Strategy & Enterprise Delivery Executive, specialising in turning editorial vision into enterprise outcomes. A former Online News Editor and lead of the Go Local initiative (print, podcast & BDTV in partnership with Providus Bank), he blends investigative storytelling with platform strategy, conference design, and cross-functional delivery.

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