Women You Should Know: Seyi Bella

Jeremiah Aluwong

3 years ago

Seyi Bella is a partner at Banwo & Ighodalo, a law firm that is an equal opportunity employer, committed to recognising, recruiting, rewarding and retaining the most talented people regardless of race, gender, disability, or social class.

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At the law firm, Seyi primarily advises on project finance and corporate finance transactions but also participates in M&A and capital markets transactions. She also provides advice on a broad range of transactions including project finance, corporate finance and M&A. Her focus is on banking and secured lending and she advises local and international financial institutions, corporate clients and government agencies on multi-currency, local and cross-border financing transactions. As a graduate of Law from the University of Lagos and also possesses a Master’s degree in Law from Harvard Law School, she advises local and international banks and financial institutions on various types of financing transactions covering several sectors, including real estate, telecoms, power, oil and gas, shipping and trade etc.

A Brief On Banwo And Ighodalo Firm’s Diversity Policy

The diversity policy of the firm demonstrates an unbiased commitment to gender equality. For example, of the eighty (80) lawyers at the Firm, forty-five (45) are female, and of the twelve (12) Partners at the Firm, six (6) are women. Notwithstanding the admission of three new partners (one female and two males) effective May 1, 2021, the leadership structure of the firm still assures that the female gender is ably represented. In this regard, the Chief Operating Officer of the Firm and the Head of Human Resources are females. The Firm thus, provides equal access to opportunities, resources and information to all employees regardless of gender whilst promotion within the Firm is strictly based on merit and performance. To ensure a more inclusive environment for our women, we ensure the following:

Continuous monitoring and evaluation of gender equality in the workplace.
Promote policies on equal treatment.
No discrimination in conditions of employment, work distribution and benefits.
Transparent recruitment practices
Inclusion in key leadership positions in the Firm.
Supporting women with family-friendly workplace practices such as reduction in work hours after maternity leave, flexible work arrangements, etc.
A women-focused employee group to empower our women to reach the highest rank of their careers.

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Educational And Professional Background

Seyi’s education comprises the following institutions in her alma mater:

University of Lagos (LL.B)
Nigerian Law School (B.L)
Harvard Law School (LL.M)

In those institutions, she has carved a niche in the following areas of practice:

Corporate & Commercial Law
Project Finance
Banking & Loan Syndication

Seyi also has membership in the following professional societies:

Nigerian Bar Association
New York Bar Association

A very cheerful disposition, excellent communication skills and positive attitude underscore her great personality. Seyi is a brand in herself and this has enabled her to connect with a wide range of clients especially within the Fintech category. There, she is often saddled with the responsibility of advising them across setting up, regulatory compliance issues, business structuring and M&A. Her emphasis is on secured lending and asset finance and she has advised clients in a number of syndicated lending, refinancing, and debt offering transactions. Sources: Iflr1000 Academy.legallyengaged Featured Image Source: Banwo & Ighodalo

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