ESQ Legal Practice Magazine JUNE 2014 EDITION | Page 9

editorial

ESQ LEGAL PRACTICE MAGAZINE
RESTRUCTURES ITS LEGAL AWARDS, APPOINTS
TOP GENERAL COUNSELS AS JUDGES

A

s globalization of legal services
reinforce the need for standardisation of practices and
systems, the

Director/General Counsel of the Africa
Finance Corporation, who won the
General Counsel of the year category at
the maiden edition of the award. Other
confirmed judges include, Mrs Toyin
Sanni, CEO of UBA Capital and
legal profession in Nigeria continues to
witness greater changes and innovative Chairperson of the Capital Market
Operators, Mrs Nike Laoye, Chief Legal
achievements far higher than
Officer at Eco Bank Plc and Head of the
many other sectors in the economy.
Legal Team (Financial Services) at the
There is therefore the need to celebrate
maiden edition, Mrs Olatowun Candidethe unique contributions that lawyers
Johnson, General Counsel, Total
make to the growth of businesses in
Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Ms
Nigeria. To this end, ESQ Legal Practice Nike Olafimihan, General Counsel, Shell
Magazine, the number one legal practice E&P Nigeria, Dr Mark Ighiehon, General
magazine in sub Saharan Africa has
Counsel Shell UK, Mrs Mirian Kene
reorganised its Legal Awards to a higher Kachikwu, General Counsel ABB Group
standard by restructuring its judging
(West and Central Africa) Mrs Helen
process and criteria for the various
Anatogu, Corporate Attorney, West and
categories of awards.
Central Africa, Microsoft Inc., Mrs Fola
Following the various feedbacks from
Akande, Chief Legal Counsel, (West
the last award in 2010 and in order to
Africa) Cadbury Nigeria Plc., Mr Dapo
shore up the credibility of this first and
Otunla, General Counsel NOTORE, Prof
highly reputable legal industry award,
Mrs Yinka Omorogbe, Former General
we have carefully selected a panel of
Counsel of NNPC, Mr Michael Otu,
judges made up of respectable general
General Counsel, Zenith Bank Plc., Mr
counsel and notable busi