Wolemi Esan, Deputy Managing Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi LP

Wolemi Esan (LLM, 2006) is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (Nigeria’s equivalent of King’s Counsel) and the Deputy Managing Partner of Olaniwun Ajayi LP, one of Nigeria’s leading law firms. Chambers Global describes him as “a standout lawyer with a tremendous reputation in the market”, and he is one of the rare Nigerian lawyers seamlessly straddling both disputes and transactional advisory work.

What motivated you to study the LLM at UCL Laws? 

What drew me to UCL was both the international reputation of the Faculty of Laws and the breadth of courses on offer. At the time, I already had a clear vision of the area of law I wanted to build my career around, and UCL stood out as one of the few institutions that offered the precise combination of modules I needed. Beyond the academic attraction, the opportunity to live and study in London, a global hub for legal innovation, was equally compelling.

Can you share a memorable moment from your time at UCL Laws that had a lasting impact on you?

One experience that has stayed with me to this day occurred during a Law of International Finance lecture with Professor Graham Penn. He randomly called on me to answer a question, which fortunately fell within an area I was very comfortable with. In my eagerness to demonstrate my knowledge, I went beyond the scope of the question and began to elaborate further. At that point, Professor Penn interrupted me and remarked: “Irrelevant advice is as bad as bad advice. You have answered the question; everything else you are adding is irrelevant.”

That phrase struck a profound chord with me and has become a guiding principle in my practice. To this day, when advising clients, I consciously remind myself to stay focused, be precise, and avoid straying off point – no matter how tempting it may be to display additional knowledge. The ability to distil complex issues into clear, relevant advice remains one of the most valuable lessons I took away from UCL.

How did the LLM and UCL Laws prepare you for your career? What skills or experiences from have proven most valuable so far?

The LLM at UCL Laws accelerated my professional development and equipped me with both technical expertise and the intellectual confidence to engage with complex legal matters. Without the structure and rigour of the programme, my learning curve in practice would have been significantly longer. 

The most valuable skills I gained were not just in-depth legal knowledge, but a deeper understanding of the why behind the law. The LLM taught me to think both as a legal scholar and as a business strategist. That dual perspective has been critical in my career, allowing me to not only advise on the law, but also to provide commercially sound, forward-thinking solutions. UCL instilled in me the discipline of rigour, the clarity of precision, and the confidence to engage with the most complex of issues.

What would you say has been the highlight of your career?

I have been extremely fortunate to enjoy many career highs, and it is difficult to single out one. What I value most, however, is the opportunity to contribute to shaping the legal and regulatory landscape in Nigeria while mentoring the next generation of lawyers who will carry that work forward.

You now lead one of Nigeria’s most respected law firms, and your LLM classmates are similarly making great strides in this area. How do you reflect on these achievements?

It fills me with immense pride to see my LLM cohort from UCL thriving at such high levels. Several LLM classmates are now either partners in leading firms or heading the legal functions of some of Nigeria’s most respected institutions. It is a testament both to the quality of students that UCL attracts and to the strong foundation it provides. Seeing our paths converge at the top of the profession is deeply gratifying and a constant reminder of the power of a truly world-class education.

Were there any particular professors, modules or extracurricular activities that influenced your personal or professional development?

All my lecturers at UCL Laws were influential, shaping both my technical expertise and my approach to problem-solving. A few, however, stand out:

• I am currently ranked Band 1 in Banking and Finance by Chambers and Partners, and that is in no small measure due to the foundation laid by Professors Graham Penn and Phillip Rawlings, whose lectures in Law of International Finance anchored my early expertise in this field.
• Professor Jan Dalhuisen’s teachings in Financial Regulation proved invaluable years later during the global financial crisis, when I had the privilege of supporting the Central Bank of Nigeria in navigating the crisis locally and contributing to the drafting of new rules to strengthen Nigerian banks.
• Today, I am pursuing a PhD with a research focus on corporate insolvency and secured transactions. This academic pursuit was inspired by the enduring influence of Professor Ian Fletcher, who taught me Corporate Insolvency Law, and Professors Richard Calnan and Michael Bridge, who deepened my understanding of Law of Secured Transactions.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of doing an LLM at UCL Laws?

Think carefully about your course selection. Don’t choose modules simply because they are trendy or sound impressive. Choose courses that you are genuinely passionate about and that align with your career aspirations. Those choices will sustain your interest during the programme and provide a platform for long-term success. The LLM is a rare opportunity to deepen your expertise - make it count.

What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates who are just starting out in their careers?

Trust the process and enjoy the journey. Success in the legal profession is rarely linear - it is a blend of preparation, resilience, adaptability, and serendipity. Be curious, work hard, stay humble, and remain open to learning. Above all, remember that the foundation you are building at UCL will serve you for a lifetime.