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Francis took an Honours degree in Law from the Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port Harcourt, and a Master of Laws degree, (with specialization in Corporate and Commercial Law) from the University of London.He has over 28years cognate experience in Corporate and Commercial law practice. He cut his teeth in a strong litigation firm in the city following which he headed the Port Harcourt branch of a commercial law firm. He was Company Secretary of Aker Nigeria Limited, a multinational oil field supply base management company; Bonny Allied Industries Limited (which later metamorphosed into Dangote Bail Limited) a multi-national company (makers of Rock and Dangote cement brands) and Epic Leasing and HP Company Ltd.
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Francis has over 20 years’ experience as Company Secretary. He has attended legal and investment training programs in Nigeria and overseas. He is a seasoned negotiator and to build further capacity in the practice of negotiation, he attended and completed the 2013 Oxford Progamme on Negotiation at the prestigious Said Business School, University of Oxford. He advised on and handled the buy-out of Nigerian shareholders in Bonny Allied Industries by Scancem International of Norway. He was also involved in the share purchase by Dangote Group of the Scancem International Stake in the company.
As Company Secretary, he was pivotal in resolving host community claims against Aker Nigeria Limited (now Aker Maritime Nigeria Limited) and Bonny Allied Industries Limited (now Dangote Cement Company).
He is the lead partner driving the firm’s effort, in executing its instructions from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, as Resolution Solicitors to resolve legacy issues in respect of an oil servicing company. He has been involved in meeting with the Paramount Ruler of Choba Community in Port Harcourt, the respective Chiefs of families that are landlords to the company, and the local Youth organizations addressing community issues between it and them.
Francis is also a Notary Public, a member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators & Conciliators (ICMC) of Nigeria and of the International Bar Association (IBA). Until recently, he was a member of Rivers State Economic Advisory Council and Chairman Planning Committee, Rivers State Quarterly Business Roundtable, and an honorary member of the Board of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHACCIMA) and was also, until recently, a director of Port Harcourt Flour Mills Ltd.
In December 2014, Francis expanded his horizon, successfully completing a training on “Private Equity and Corporate Finance” organized by the Genesis Institute, Dubai.
He also in June, 2015, attended the Law Society organized International Marketplace Conference, 2015: Going Global
WLA Nigeria co-practice.
Every WLA co-practice matter involving Nigeria law is handled by a named member of the team — jointly holding the matter alongside WLA partner firms in other jurisdictions.
Sterling Law Alliance co-practices alongside WLA partner firms in any other jurisdiction — jointly holding the matter under one Institutional framework.