Folasade Olusanya

Folasade Olusanya is the Managing Partner at Jackson, Etti & Edu, focusing on Banking and Finance Law. She is a highly respected expert in project and transactional finance in Nigeria, with over 30 years of experience, including 20 years specialising in infrastructure finance, public-private partnerships, and capital markets.

Fola has played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s most significant transactions, including major sovereign loan agreements, telecom restructurings, and landmark infrastructure and privatisation projects. Clients she advises include global companies such as Schlumberger and Baker Hughes, as well as governments, development finance institutions and private investors. Her strength lies in simplifying complex legal issues into practical, strategic solutions, making her a go-to advisor for complex M&A, real estate finance and capital market transactions.

She is a highly sought-after advisor for cross-border transactions and infrastructure development. She has played a pivotal role in notable deals such as the EMTS (Etisalat) debt restructuring, which was shortlisted for IFLR’s inaugural Sub-Saharan Africa Award, and the Lagos State Government’s bond issuance programme. Chambers Global describes her as “a very hands-on lawyer” with extensive experience.

Fola has shaped Nigeria’s legal framework, contributing to landmark laws such as the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 and the Business Facilitation Act 2023, and has worked with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council to drive business-friendly reforms. A registered Sponsored Individual with the SEC, she has served on key committees and is a respected member of several professional bodies.

Recognised by leading directories including Chambers and IFLR1000, she was named an IFLR1000 Women Leader in 2022 and won the International Law Office Client Choice Award for M&A in Nigeria in 2017. She holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Lagos and a BL from the Nigerian Law School, and has completed Diplomas in Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Organizations and Joint Ventures at the College of Law of England & Wales, as well as the Advanced Management Programme at Lagos Business School. She is a Fellow of the International Bar Association and the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Nigeria, and a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators and the Institute of Directors.