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Leading African firm Olaniwun Ajayi adds emerging markets finance expert Edward Baring as a partner
Established in 1962, Olaniwun Ajayi has grown from a sole practice in Nigeria to the largest firm in West Africa, with a pan-African focus, pioneering international outlook, and commitment to innovation and the future of law. Today is has announced emerging markets finance expert Edward Baring has joined its international practice
The extensive experience and market-leading finance expertise of new partner Edward Baring will further strengthen Olaniwun Ajayi’s international practice, said the leading African law firm today. “We look forward to the valuable contribution he will make to our clients and the continued growth of our finance practice.”
A leading finance lawyer with a broad practice covering real estate finance, leverage and acquisition finance, investment grade loans, commodity finance, sovereign loans, and restructurings, Baring has spent 25 years in international law firms, including 15 as a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills. He led that firm’s Banking & Finance practice in Russia for several years, and opened the firm’s first African office, serving for six years as Managing Partner of the Johannesburg office and a member of the EMEA Executive, which helped to guide the firm's global strategic direction.
Most recently, Baring was an interim Legal Director at Bevan Brittan LLP, a UK commercial law firm. “I am now heading back to my roots as an emerging markets finance lawyer but it was a privilege to be able to help out in the BB finance team during a busy period,” he shared as he farewelled the British firm earlier this week.
Earlier in his career, Baring worked at ‘Magic Circle’ firm Slaughter and May, and global firm Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman). He was ranked by Chambers, Legal 500, and IFLR 1000 as a leading individual in the Russian banking & finance market for over a decade. More recently, in 2024 he and his team in Johannesburg were ranked by Chambers Global for Africa-Wide Banking & Finance categories.
Olaniwun Ajayi broke new ground for African law firms by opening its own London office in late 2021. An innovative, monumental move; the Lagos-headquartered international law firm occupies a unique position in the global legal market, combining over six decades of unrivalled African legal expertise with the English law capability demanded by today's most complex cross-border transactions.
Now emerging markets expert Edward Baring has added his 25 years of experience and high-level financing expertise to the Olaniwun Ajayi international practice, which last October was shortlisted for three key categories of the 2025 British Legal Awards: Energy Team of the Year, UK Growth Leader of the Year; and Partner of the Year for Chuks Ibechukwu, Managing Partner of the Olaniwun Ajayi London office.
The story of an African law firm developing the capabilities to support clients not only on local law aspects of Africa-based projects but with English law capability and multi-jurisdictional support was “an incredibly compelling story” he wanted to be part of, Ibechukwu told Business Day Nigeria during the London office’s first year.