Gbenga has over 2 decades of legal practice in corporate / commercial law predominantly in the Oil and Gas Industry. Previously at Jackson, Etti & Edu, where he was the head of the energy & corporate department for over 5 years, Gbenga's areas of expertise include foreign investments, joint ventures, acquisitions and disposals, corporate restructuring and project development & finance. Prior to joining Jackson, Etti & Edu, Gbenga was a member of the energy and corporate/commercial practice group at Irving and Bonnar, Nigeria's oldest (and at one time most prestigious law firm). Whilst at Irving & Bonnar, Gbenga worked on a variety of energy, corporate and commercial transactions for both domestic and international clients.

Gbenga has been involved in the negotiation of several Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Norwegian Exploration & Production Company, Statoil. He was part of the team of lawyers that advised Mobil on the Oso-NGL Field Development Project and the principal Solicitor that acted for Mobil in the Oso-NGL I Project, which at that time, was the largest privately funded project finance arrangement in West Africa. He also acted in collaboration with lawyers in a U.K. law firm, for a group of International Banks on aspects of the financing of the Eleme Petrochemical Plant.

Gbenga also advised on the unitisation of one of the biggest oil fields in West Africa and is currently advising on the development of a liquefied natural gas project in offshore Nigeria. Gbenga obtained his LLB in 1986 from the University of Ife, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Energy & Natural Resources Section ('SERL') of the International Bar Association. Gbenga is also a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators ('AIPN').

• Currently advising a multinational exploration and production company in relation to a proposed LNG Project in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

• Advising on the $785 Million Oso Field Development Project jointly owned by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and partly financed by equity from the sponsors, and debt capital from international institutions, such as, the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), US Export Import Bank, Japan Export Import Bank and the European Investment Bank.

• Advising and negotiating the project financing, documentation and designing of the investment vehicle of the US$810million Oso-NGL Project, a gas utilisation project, which was sequel to the Oso-Field Development Project, and partly financed by equity from the sponsors and debt capital by a number of institutional investors in the United States and Europe.

• Advising the Norwegian Exploration & Production Company, Statoil, in respect of several Production Sharing Contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and assisting with the negotiation.

• Advising an international oil company in its bid for an oil block in the Nigeria/Sao Tome and Principe JDZ 2003 Licensing Round and conducting a detailed analysis of the Treaty and the petroleum, fiscal and contractual regime.

• Advising Sonatrach, the Algerian state oil company in connection with its bid for an oil block in the 2005 Licensing Round and providing advice on the bidding regulations as well as detailed analysis of the petroleum, fiscal and contractual regime.

• In collaboration with lawyers in a UK law firm, acting for and advising a group of International Banks on aspects of the financing of the Eleme Petrochemical Plant.

• Advising Statoil on the establishment of several subsidiary companies in Nigeria, including processing and obtaining of all pre-investment and regulatory approvals.

• Advising and assisting Consolidated Petroleum PTY, a South African Company on the farm-in arrangements into a marginal field including the drafting and review of the transaction documents including the Purchase Agreement, Farm-in Agreement, Joint Operating Agreement and the Deed of Assignment.

• Advising Hudson Petroleum in connection with its bid for an oil block in the 2005 Licensing Round and assisting with the drafting and negotiation of the preliminary agreements including MOUs and Heads of Agreement.

• Advising on several acquisitions and mergers, involving oil service companies, including the acquisition by Baker Hughes of a minority interest in a Nigerian Oil Service Company.

• Advising Baker Hughes on all legal aspects of the construction and development of a major facility in Port Harcourt, from negotiation of the long lease for the property to negotiating and rendering advise on the construction contract, advising on Town Planning regulatory issues as well as Environmental issues, and undertaking the registration and perfection of the long lease.

• Advising Skye Bank Plc in relation to a USD75million syndicated petroleum products receivables pre-financing facility.

• Advising TABA Nigeria Limited in respect of an Engineering Procurement and Construction (âEPCâ) contract with NNPC relating to a power plant and advising and assisting with the structuring and documentation of the various subcontracting and the financing arrangements.

• Advising and assisting a private investor in connection with a joint venture arrangement with the Government of Ondo State of Nigeria, involving the privatization of the Ondo State Afforestation Project which was initially funded by the African Development Bank.

• Advising and assisting oil and gas operators and contractors on various procurement contracts such as drilling contracts, drilling services contracts, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, vessel charterparties, helicopter service contracts and several other procurement contracts.

• Analysing and providing legal opinions on various issues arising in the course of Petroleum Operations

• Analysing and providing legal opinions in respect of matters relating to Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs).

• Analysing and providing legal opinions in respect of matters relating to Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs).

• Analysing and providing legal opinions in respect of tax issues and fiscal matters relating to oil and gas projects and petroleum operations.