Nigeria boasts a resilient tech foundation, so it's no surprise that Sam Altman, creator of OpenAI, said, "Nigeria has been the biggest adopter of Artificial Intelligence in Africa."
Sandra leads the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology practice and co-leads its Employment & Global Mobility practice.
Sandra works primarily in the media, sports, entertainment and technology sectors advising clients on advertising, brand protection, broadcasting, data protection, digital technology, employment and global mobility, estate planning, film and tv, fintech, health, hospitality, intellectual property and music matters.
She has strong expertise in intellectual property rights particularly copyright, including its ownership, protection, enforcement, management, exploitation, valuation and monetization. With data protection legislation rapidly evolving and the emergence and growth of technology driven areas such as fintech, Sandra is actively involved in helping businesses, from start-ups to global enterprises navigate the associated regulatory and compliance issues.
On the employment side, clients rely on Sandra for support in respect of a myriad of matters including labour laws and contracts, global mobility, occupational hazard, reputational damage, employment restructuring and labour related disputes.
Sandra is committed to the creation of structure within Nigeria’s creative and innovation-driven sectors which includes the strengthening of Nigeria’s antipiracy and intellectual property laws and policies. She is regularly sought after to speak on copyright and data protection matters.
Experience has included advising:
- Mavin Records on the intellectual property rights and employment issues arising from an investment by Kupanda Capital
- Warner Music Group on the intellectual property rights issues arising from its investment in Chocolate City
- Kudi AI on the intellectual property rights issues arising from its series A funding
- Rite Foods Ltd in respect of an audit of its numerous brand protection contracts, agreements and licenses with a multitude of 3rd parties in relation to its fast-moving consumer products and goods
- Felabration, the only global festival of its kind, on its range of legal, contractual, regulatory, brand and trademark protection, revenue generation, corporate, tax issues arising in respect of its recently concluded events in the media and entertainment sectors
- A multinational on its trade union and employment issues
- A logistics company in the aviation industry in respect of the applicable laws and regulations for the operation and use of aerial unmanned vehicles (drones) and the processing of the requisite licenses and permits
- One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world on its data privacy issues in Nigeria’s health sector
- One of Nigeria’s largest domain name service providers on data protection, intellectual property rights and employment matters
- One of Nigeria’s largest sporting events promoters on contractual issues pertaining to the organizing of a football tournament, broadcasting and player transfer issues
Professional Qualifications
- Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria admitted to the Nigerian Bar Association (1993)
Education
- Obafemi Awolowo University, LL.B. (1992)
- Nigerian Law School (1993)
Recognition
- "Her work is very meticulous and she ticks all the boxes." - Chambers & Partners Global Guide 2023
- "Sandra Oyewole is an incredibly knowledgeable lawyer about the law with an emphasis on the technology, sports and entertainment industries in both the Nigerian and global context." - Chambers & Partners Global Guide 2023
- "Her advice has always pushed us to make more innovative decisions." - Chambers & Partners Global Guide 2023
- "Excellent professional. Industry savvy. Great engagement." - IFLR1000 (2022)
Prior Experience
- 2001 to present, Partner, Olajide Oyewole LLP, DLA Piper Africa member firm in Nigeria
- 1993 to 2001, Associate, Lagos-based law firm
Memberships
- Nigerian Bar Association
- International Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Lawyers Association of Nigeria
- International Trademark Association of Nigeria