Omotayo is a Senior Associate in the Firm’s Finance, Energy and Natural Resources practice.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from the University of Ilorin and qualified to practice law in Nigeria. Prior to joining TEMPLARS, he worked at a boutique technology law firm with operations in Nigeria and the United States.
Omotayo provides strategic legal counsel to a wide range of energy-sector clients and has extensive experience across the oil and gas value chain, including project development, financing, and mergers and acquisitions. He has played key roles on innovative, high-value transactions and works closely with leading international advisory firms, lenders, investors, and project sponsors.
His work involves navigating complex regulatory frameworks, supporting operational efficiency initiatives, managing investment risk, and enabling the successful execution of projects and transactions. He also advises on multi-jurisdictional contracting, procurement and supply chain matters, facilities engineering issues, and major capital projects for energy companies.
Omotayo is an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and currently leads the Oil & Gas Working Group of the Energy and Sustainability Committee of the NBA’s Young Lawyers’ Forum.
A Selection of Relevant Expertise
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Advised ExxonMobil on its full-fledged equity divestment in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energy Plc.
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Advised the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other lenders on a US$1.2 billion financing provided to Indorama Eleme Fertilisers & Chemicals Limited for the 2nd expansion and development of its petrochemical plant.
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Advised on the restructuring of Canadian listed Africa Oil Corp and BTG Pactual’s indirect interests in deep offshore assets in Nigeria through a reverse triangular merger, facilitating a groundbreaking offshore M&A transaction testing Nigeria’s recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act.
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Advising Chevron Nigeria Limited on several legal, operational and commercial issues arising out of the ongoing regulatory developments in Nigeria (post-PIA), including restructuring of operations, segregation of companies, relinquishment, assignment of interests and effect of the change of control provisions, etc.
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Advising TotalEnergies on the ongoing divestment of its participating interest in the unincorporated joint venture with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Agip Energy Nigeria Resources Limited and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
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Advised Sojitz Corporation, a leading conglomerate investment and trading house listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in connection with its acquisition of a 25% interest in the holding company of Axxela, the largest private sector gas distributor in Nigeria.
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Advised Harara Energy Limited, an indigenous oil and gas company on the divestment of part of its participating interest in Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL) No. 234 (Ekepkep Field) a PPL awarded following the 2020 Marginal Field Bid Rounds.
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Advising World Carrier Management Inc., an integrated offshore services provider headquartered in Athens, Greece, in connection with the supply, conversion, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of a floating storage and offloading facility.
Professional Memberships
- Nigerian Bar Association
- Nigerian Gas Association
- Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL)
