Ayobamidele Akande is the Managing Partner of the firm and heads the Banking and Finance Unit. He has extensive experience advising local and International clients operating within the Nigerian market on banking and financial regulatory compliance, syndicated lending, private equity investments, mergers & acquisition, securities, and dispute resolution arising from banking and finance related specifics. Prior to joining Starklegal, Ayobamidele worked with the legal unit of the Massachusetts Division of Banks, United States and advised the State of Massachusetts on bank capital structure, consumer finance, payday lending practices and merger approvals.

Ayobamidele holds a Bachelors of Law degree (LLB) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and a Masters Degree (LLM) in Banking and Financial Law from Boston University, Massachusetts, United States. He is a licensed counsel in Nigeria and the State of New York, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK. He has authored legal papers in the areas of hedge fund regulation, international capital flows and shadow banking published in international journals.