Mr Wale Akoni, SAN is the managing partner, Babalakin & Co. He is a notary public for Nigeria and has been approved by the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission to carry on legal services in the Nigerian Capital Market. Previously, Wale was appointed chairman of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules review panel. He was also appointed as the committee chairman on judicial appointment and bench relations of the Nigerian Bar Association. Wale was the recipient of the Prince Bola Ajibola prize for Best Performance in Civil Procedure, the Chief TOS Benson prize for Overall Best Performance and the Sir Adetokunbo Ademola prize for Best Student of the Year at the Nigerian Law School. He was conferred with the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria in 2006.

Wale has represented one of the top IOCs in Nigeria in a N40 billion compensation claim and represented one of the oil & gas majors in a regulatory dispute with the Maritime Regulatory Authority through Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). He has also prepared and reviewed the transaction documents in respect of the development of a US$500 million fertilizer project. He has also represented Nigeria’s National Oil Corporation (NNPC) in matters relating to several arbitral proceedings involving a total of over US$300 million. 

Wale prepared a bond issuance and subscription agreement in a N55 billion (US$440 million) bond issuance transaction between a consortium of Nigerian banks and Transcorp (Nig) Plc. He acted as transaction counsel to the N18.75 billion (US$150 million) initial public offer for shares in respect of Dangote Flour Mills Company and as Transaction Counsel to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Terminal 2 transaction on a build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis involving about US$250 million. He has also advised on project financing agreements and documentations on behalf of major international financial institutions in relation to their lending activities in the Nigerian market. 

He acted in negotiations and preparation of a management and technical services agreement between an international hotel franchise and its local partners. He has prepared, reviewed and advised on various aircraft financing, maintenance and insurance agreements on behalf of a number of aviation companies both within and outside Nigeria. He has also negotiated a management agreement for an upcoming four star airport hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.