Apart from being a seasoned debater and public speaker, Fisayo Esan started his legal career (as a law school pupil) at the prestigious law firm of Bayo Ojo (SAN) & Co in the year 2001. While at the firm, he worked closely with Mr. Adeyele who couple of years later was elevated to the position of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He particularly built his notorious trial Court and appeal skills through exposure to several trial and appellate matters in the firm.
Upon his call to the bar in 2002, He proceeded to work in the highly reckoned law firm of Olawoyin & Olawoyin (Legal Practitioners & Consultants) where he worked closely with Professor G. A. Olawoyin (on Company Law, Tax, Banking, Securitization, Commercial Litigation, intricate drafting and other corporate law matters), Mr. Ayo Olawoyin (on Litigation, financial markets and drafting) and Dr. Wale Olawoyin (on Admiralty Matters,
Complex corporate Law, arbitration and related Credit Finance documentation). Whilst being afforded quality opportunity to nurture the foundation he had built from the firm of Bayo Ojo SAN & Co, he received many commendations for his utter commitment to law practice and for his tireless research skills. The profound tutorship he received at Olawoyin and Olawoyin attributed for his trenchant knowledge of most aspects of law practice in Nigeria.
In 2003, He joined the International firm of Perchstone & Graeys (Solicitors, Advocates and Arbitrators) where he worked as a senior Solicitor, Arbitrator and Advocate under Messrs Remi Okunlola and Osaro Eghobamien SAN. Whilst in the firm, He worked on several International Transactions and was part of the Oil & Gas team who worked with Remi Okunlola on upstream and downstream petroleum activity, and on the related areas of tax, finance, banking and investment. Fisayo is particularly proud to have been exposed to the firm’s legacies arising from big ticket Oil & Gas transactions especially the proud success associated with the multi-billion dollar oil asset acquisitions by CNOOC and ONGC in Nigeria, and the award winning $1.06B third party financing of the 4th and 5th NLNG trains, in respect of which the firm acted as advisers to the lenders.
Fisayo was equally part of the team that strategized and pitched for the second LNG project, Brass LNG, account. Fisayo was an anchor member of the team that advised and acted as collateral agents to Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij Voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V (FMO) in USD 10,000,000.00 loan facility to a club of Nigerian banks. Fisayo had also handled a cross section of high profile banking, finance, Company law and Commercial law transactions. Some of the banks represented included UBA, Citi Bank, FCMB amongst others.
Whilst at the firm, Fisayo was also a senior member of the firm’s litigation team and he worked closely with Osaro Eghobamien (SAN) who had particular affinity for advancing legal thought and practice. During 2003 and 2004, Fisayo working with Osaro Eghobamien (SAN) was involved in Nigeria’s most celebrated political trial, and probably the nation’s most protracted election petition ever. Led by Sofunde (SAN), Fisayo working with Osaro Eghobamien (SAN) joined dozens of lawyers, and for over a year participated in the most complex, documented, and protracted litigation in the history of Nigerian court system. Former President and presidential aspirant, Muhammad Buhari, had challenged the 2003 re-election of President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Fisayo working with Osaro Eghobamien (SAN) was part of the team that successfully defended the Independent National Electoral Commission against the vehement allegations of fraud and impropriety.
Upon referral and in recognition of his in-depth understanding of complex company, corporate and commercial law issues (especially relating to shareholding matters and intricate restructuring), Fisayo was appointed as the pioneer Company Secretary and Legal Adviser of Leadway Pensure PFA Limited, a foremost Pension Fund Administration Company under the growing Leadway Assurance group. As Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Fisayo has had cause to handle and advise on several complex Finance, Investment and Corporate Law issues. He continues to apply his extensive experience in drafting and review of complex finance, investment and commercial documentation.
Current-Role
Fisayo is a co-founding partner of Ivy Practice, spending the majority of his time advising international and domestic commercial clients who require Nigerian legal advice particularly in the areas of Nigerian Investment, Banking, Tax, Pensions, Company Law and related matters. He is a member of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria.
Fisayo is very happily married with a son
