HENRY SANYAOLU (Head, Commercial Division)

Henry began his legal career as an associate in the oil & gas and corporate & commercial groups of the leading Lagos law firm of Templars Barristers & Solicitors and had brief stint in the Legal department of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretariat in Vienna, Austria

Henry’s experience spans various sectors including project finance, oil & gas – upstream and downstream, international law, general corporate advisory, privatization, Engineering and Technology and Mergers and Acquisition.

Henry served as the Legal Advisor of Oando Gas and Power (“OG&P”), the subsidiary of Oando PLC engaged in natural gas distribution, gas distribution infrastructure development, power generation and distribution in Nigeria. As the Legal Adviser of OG&P, he oversaw and co-ordinated all legal, contracting, regulatory and statutory activities of OG&P. He also ensured that the company complied with all statutory laws guiding its businesses and supervised the defence of litigations and Arbitration cases that the company was involved in, including Community Relations and dispute resolution.

His notable achievements include the negotiation and development of Power Purchase Agreements for various Independent Power Plants in Nigeria; Gas distribution and transmission Agreements; Engineering Procurement and Construction Agreements for the construction of various pipelines and gas & power facilities; Sale and Acquisition of assets and companies; Right of Way “ROW” acquisition and negotiation of compensation with the various communities along the ROW for a 128km pipeline from Akwa Ibom to Cross Rivers States, amongst others.

Henry also served as a Delegate to the 2011; Nigeria Gas Storage and Processing Reverse Trade Mission held in Houston Texas, US, organized by the United States Trade and Development Agency and has attended several courses and seminars on energy and finance.

EDUCATION

•    University of Lagos (B.Sc.)
•    University of Wolverhampton (LL.B.)
•    University of Dundee (LL.M.)

PRACTICE AREAS

•    Commercial & Business Law
•    Energy Law
•    Oil & Gas
•    Mergers & Acquisitions

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

•    Nigerian Bar Association
•    International Bar Association