Ikem Isiekwena
Managing Partner, SimmonsCooper Partners
Ikem is the Managing Partner of the firm and plays a vital role in guiding the firm's strategic direction to ensure its ongoing growth and success. He oversees client management, personnel, and practice areas, steering the firm towards strategic and operational excellence while prioritizing client satisfaction.
Ikem Isiekwena maintains a strong and collaborative relationship with the firm's most prominent clients, leveraging his expertise not only in his personal practice role but also in his capacity as a business leader. His dedication extends to leading and inspiring the firm's team of talented professionals, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
With over 19 years of experience, Ikem's practice areas cover FMCG, telecommunications, project finance, technology, aviation and energy. He has a rich skill set in anti-trust and competition compliance, merger control, joint venture arrangements and regulatory investigations.
Membership of Professional Associations
• Member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
• Member NBA Section on Business Law.
• Former Non-executive Director & Chair of the Investments Committee at the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), shaping the nation's financial future through prudent investments.
Background
Ikem earned his Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Benin, Edo State, in 2001 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2004. He holds an MBA from Robert Kennedy College, Switzerland (2020), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics for Competition Law from King's College London (2012).
He joined SimmonsCooper Partners in 2007 and was appointed as the Managing Partner in 2022. He leads the Strategic Business Units, encompassing Competition Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Media, Technology, Energy, Projects and Transport as well as Legislative Instruments and Policy.
Experience & expertise
Selected Matters
Some of Ikem's key projects and contributions include:
• He joined SimmonsCooper Partners in 2007 and was appointed as the Managing Partner in 2022. He leads the Strategic Business Units, encompassing Competition Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Media, Technology, Energy, Projects and Transport as well as Legislative Instruments and Policy.
• Provided pioneer advisory, consultative and scholarly resources to support the development of various aspects of Consumer Protection and Competition/Anti-trust law in Nigeria.
• Successfully led the FCCPC-mandated competition compliance monitoring program for a multinational company, focusing on a company-wide competition compliance audit and developing a comprehensive competition-sensitive policy framework.
• Effectively guided the team in advising a global private equity firm on the divestiture of its stake in a major oil and gas industry asset.
• Advised an FMCG company on its US$14,000,000 acquisition of a non-alcoholic beverages brand.
• Advised a financial/private equity investor on its minority acquisition in a telecommunications company, resulting in a 40% reduction in completion time.
• Successfully guided and advised a client on a strategic capital reconstruction plan that effectively offset a negative balance of N40,532,239,000, enhancing financial stability and achieving sustained growth.
• Advised a client on its acquisition and joint operation of 57.11% participating interest in a Marginal Field.
Sectors
FMCG
Telecommunications
Energy
Capital Markets
Finance & Private Equity
Media & Technology
Public Sector
Services
Corporate, Commercial & Finance
Anti-trust / Competition Compliance
Energy, Projects & Transport
Renewable Energy
Public Finance
Legislative Instruments & Policy
General Contract, Media and Technology
Labour and Employment
Experience & expertise
Some of Ikem's key projects and contributions include:
Some of Ikem's key projects and contributions include:
• He joined SimmonsCooper Partners in 2007 and was appointed as the Managing Partner in 2022. He leads the Strategic Business Units, encompassing Competition Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Media, Technology, Energy, Projects and Transport as well as Legislative Instruments and Policy.
• Provided pioneer advisory, consultative and scholarly resources to support the development of various aspects of Consumer Protection and Competition/Anti-trust law in Nigeria.
• Successfully led the FCCPC-mandated competition compliance monitoring program for a multinational company, focusing on a company-wide competition compliance audit and developing a comprehensive competition-sensitive policy framework.
• Effectively guided the team in advising a global private equity firm on the divestiture of its stake in a major oil and gas industry asset.
• Advised an FMCG company on its US$14,000,000 acquisition of a non-alcoholic beverages brand.
• Advised a financial/private equity investor on its minority acquisition in a telecommunications company, resulting in a 40% reduction in completion time.
• Successfully guided and advised a client on a strategic capital reconstruction plan that effectively offset a negative balance of N40,532,239,000, enhancing financial stability and achieving sustained growth.
• Advised a client on its acquisition and joint operation of 57.11% participating interest in a Marginal Field.
FMCG
Telecommunications
Energy
Capital Markets
Finance & Private Equity
Media & Technology
Public Sector
Corporate, Commercial & Finance
Anti-trust / Competition Compliance
Energy, Projects & Transport
Renewable Energy
Public Finance
Legislative Instruments & Policy
General Contract, Media and Technology
Labour and Employment
Contact Ikem