Gukongozi Esther Ugwuezi

Gukongozi Esther Ugwuezi is an Associate II in the Governance Advisory and Corporate Commercial Practice Groups at Olisa Agbakoba Legal, specialising in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, company secretarial services, and transactional advisory. She advises clients on corporate restructuring, legal due diligence, data protection compliance, and engagements with regulatory authorities including the SEC, CAC, CBN, and NDPC.

She supports boards and senior management on compliance obligations, governance best practices, and strategic decision‑making, and advises on transactional risk management and structuring, including mergers, acquisitions, and investment transactions from due diligence through to execution. She provides strategic legal guidance to companies across the oil and gas, financial services, technology, maritime, and manufacturing sectors, helping them navigate complex regulatory frameworks and maintain strong corporate governance structures.

Prior to transitioning fully into corporate commercial practice, Esther built a strong foundation in litigation, with experience in civil, criminal, and property law matters, which has significantly shaped her analytical approach and ability to anticipate and mitigate legal risks in corporate transactions. She is passionate about the development of the younger generation of legal practitioners and actively mentors junior lawyers.

Esther holds an LL.B (Hons) from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and a B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the NBA Section on Business Law, the NBA Young Lawyers Forum, the Space Law and Arbitration Association, and the Environmental Law and Advocacy Network.