Kazeem is a Senior Associate in the firm’s Dispute Resolution, Tax and Investigation, Investigation, White Collar and Compliance (IWC) practice groups. He holds a Master of Law degree from the University of Oxford where he studied as a David Daube Scholar. He graduated with first-class from both Adekunle Ajasin University and the Nigerian Law School and won academic prizes at both institutions. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Association of Young Arbitrators, Chartered Institutes of Arbitration (UK), and Young International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Kazeem regularly advise and represent multinational and domestic companies on high-stake commercial and non-commercial, as well as tax disputes which cut across different subjects, including oil and gas, banking, taxation, insurance, tortious claims, information and communication technology-related claims, and general commercial law issues. He also provided advice to companies on corporate compliance and assisted in conducting corporate internal investigations.
A Selection Of Relevant Experience
Dispute resolution
- A leading member of the team that successfully obtained a US$444,225.50 (Four Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-Five United States Dollars, Fifty Cent) summary judgment at the High Court of Lagos State in favour of an international steel company based in Belgium, being the sum owed it under a contract for the supply of Aluminium Billet to a Lagos-based Nigerian company.
- Advised JP Morgan Chase in a claim of c. US$800 million for breach of contract in relation to the operation of a depository account for the Nigerian Government in the English High Court.
- A key of the team that advised an international oil company in relation to a potential BIT claim against an African country arising from its business in the country’s oil and gas sector.
- A key member of the team that successfully defended Google Inc. in a first- of-its kind online defamation suit brought against it by Nicholas Okoye at the High Court of Lagos State.
- A key member of the team representing Google Inc. in a multimillion-naira suit of Apostle Ikenna Okafor v. Google Inc. before the High Court of Edo State, in respect of claims for damages for alleged publication of alleged defamatory contents through Google’s web search facility.
- A key member of the team representing Google Inc, in Mr. Hillary Ogom Nwadie v. Google Nigeria & Two Ors. before the High Court of Lagos State in respect of a first of kind claim in Nigeria to enforce the right to be forgotten.
Tax Disputes and IWC
- A key member of the team currently representing an indigenous oil and gas company in three multimillion dollars tax appeals at the Tax Appeal bordering on the tax issues arising from the implementation of a Modify Carry Agreement.
- Currently representing and foremost Nigerian company and a major player in the global LNG business in a multimillion dollars tax appeal bordering on the tax issues arising from Time Charter Party Agreements.
- Currently representing a foremost consulting, outsourcing and technology company in three different appeals concerning its companies income tax, withholding tax, and value added tax liabilities.
- Acted as an external investigator to a foremost indigenous oil and gas company to investigate the breach of its internal policies procedure by an employee and counter-allegation by the same employee.
- Currently assisting an indigenous oil and gas company to put together a corporate governance and compliance document to guide the relationship between it and its employees’ corporative societies.
Expertise
Dispute Resolution, Tax, Investigation, White Collar and Compliance
