Omeka Lucky Chukudi

Commercially driven Legal Counsel with over 10 years' post-call experience advising on complex transactions, regulatory compliance, and dispute management across oil & gas, engineering, maritime, and infrastructure-linked operations.

Currently Legal

Counsel at John Holt Plc, supporting business units on high-value commercial contracts, operational risk, and regulatory engagement within an industrial services environment. Demonstrated ability to structure legally sound and commercially viable transactions, manage multi-jurisdictional disputes, and embed legal risk controls into business operations. Track record of reducing legal exposure, improving contract efficiency, and delivering practical, business-aligned legal solutions in fast-paced, regulated environments.

Legal Counsel - John Holt Plc - Lagos

(2024-03)

Lead legal support for commercial and operational contracts across engineering services, logistics, supply chain, and infrastructure support functions, ensuring enforceability, risk balance, and regulatory compliance.

• Drafted and negotiated key agreements including: Engineering service contracts for industrial equipment deployment and maintenance; Vendor and supply agreements for downstream product and equipment sourcing; Logistics and transportation agreements supporting nationwide distribution operations; Service Level Agreements (SLAs) tied to performance metrics and operational uptime
• Embedded legal advisory into project execution lifecycle, aligning contract obligations with operational deliverables, reducing execution disputes and contractor claims exposure
• Identified and mitigated contractual and regulatory risks across transactions, preserving commercial value and avoiding adverse liabilities
• Managed legal issues arising from operational incidents (equipment failure, service disruption, and loss events), structuring response strategy and liability containment
• Oversaw litigation and dispute portfolio, including: Commercial contract disputes; Vendor/service performance claims; Regulatory compliance issues; Employment and operational liability matters
• Coordinated external counsel, improving output quality and achieving: ~15% reduction in legal spend; Improved turnaround on dispute handling and advisory
• Designed and implemented a Contract Lifecycle Management system, achieving: 30% reduction in contract turnaround time; Centralised contract repository and renewal tracking; Improved compliance with internal approval processes
• Provided advisory to Commercial, Procurement, HR, and Operations teams, translating legal risk into clear business decisions

Senior Associate Counsel - Mohammed Moshood Edewor & Co. - Lagos

(2018-02 - 2024-02)

Led advisory and execution on a diverse portfolio of commercial, corporate, and dispute-related mandates for corporate clients operating across logistics, real estate, financial services, and trading environments.

• Acted as primary interface for key clients on high-value matters, translating legal complexities into clear, commercially actionable guidance to support business decision-making
• Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated a wide range of commercial agreements, including: Service and outsourcing agreements; Vendor and supply contracts; Joint venture and partnership arrangements; Lease, tenancy, and property development agreements
• Structured contractual frameworks to ensure balanced risk allocation, enforceability, and alignment with clients' commercial objectives
• Advised on pre-transaction risk assessment, identifying legal, regulatory, and operational exposures and recommending mitigation strategies prior to deal execution
• Supported clients on contract performance and enforcement issues, including variation management, termination strategy, and claims positioning
• Managed a multi-matter dispute portfolio involving commercial contract breaches, debt recovery, property disputes, and regulatory enforcement actions
• Designed and executed dispute resolution strategies aimed at: Minimising financial exposure; Preserving commercial relationships; Avoiding prolonged litigation where commercially imprudent
• Led negotiations and settlement engagements, achieving resolution in a significant number of matters at pre-trial or early litigation stages
• Reviewed and refined litigation processes prepared by junior counsel, ensuring technical accuracy, strategic alignment, and consistency of legal position across matters
• Advised clients on compliance with applicable corporate, commercial, and sector-specific regulatory frameworks, including engagement with relevant government agencies where required
• Provided guidance on regulatory risk exposure, enforcement actions, and response strategies to mitigate operational disruption
• Supported corporate clients in navigating licensing, approvals, and statutory compliance obligations tied to their business operations
• Conducted legal due diligence for commercial and property transactions, identifying title, contractual, and regulatory risks
• Advised on transaction structuring and documentation to safeguard client interests and prevent post-completion disputes
• Reviewed transactional documentation to ensure consistency with negotiated commercial terms and legal protections
• Supervised junior associates and trainees, providing guidance on drafting, research, and case strategy, improving overall team output quality
• Managed matter timelines, filings, and client deliverables, ensuring adherence to deadlines and maintaining high professional standards
• Contributed to internal knowledge development through legal research, precedent development, and process refinement

Senior Counsel - I.I Evans & Co. (Morita Chambers) - Port Harcourt

(2017-01 - 2018-01)

Provided end-to-end legal advisory to corporate and individual clients across commercial, corporate, and dispute-related matters, developing strong foundational expertise in litigation strategy, contract drafting, and regulatory compliance.

• Represented clients in civil and commercial litigation before State High Courts and Magistrate Courts, managing proceedings from case inception through interlocutory applications, trial, and post-judgment enforcement
• Drafted and settled a wide range of legal processes including: Statements of Claim and Defence; Motions and interlocutory applications; Written Addresses and appellate briefs; Enforcement and execution processes
• Supported development of litigation strategy through: Legal research and case law analysis; Jurisdictional and procedural positioning; Evidence structuring and witness preparation
• Advised clients on litigation risk exposure and dispute resolution options, enabling informed decisions on settlement versus full litigation
• Drafted and reviewed commercial agreements and legal instruments, including: Service agreements; Lease and tenancy agreements; Partnership and joint venture arrangements; Corporate documentation for business operations
• Provided legal support on company formation, business registration, and regulatory filings, ensuring compliance with applicable corporate and commercial laws
• Conducted legal due diligence and documentation review for property and commercial transactions, identifying risks and advising on mitigation measures
• Acted as first point of contact for client instructions on assigned matters, managing timelines, filings, and client communication to ensure efficient service delivery
• Built early exposure to oil & gas-adjacent legal issues within the Port Harcourt commercial environment, including contract disputes, property interests, and service-related claims

Masters of Law - Law - University of Lagos (2024)

Barrister-at-Law - Law - Nigerian Law School (2015)

Bachelor of Laws - Law - Rivers State University (2014)