Samuel Okoronkwo

Head of Chambers

Call Date: 2002

His expertise is particularly strong in:

To contact or instruct Samuel Okoronkwo, please call 020 3034 0077 and ask for his clerk or e-mail enquiries@mercantilebarristers.com

Background

Samuel Okoronkwo is a barrister with over 30 years of commercial, professional and legal practice experience. Quite apart from being an excellent lawyer, he has specific industry expertise, having primarily had a hands-on professional career as an entrepreneur and a Quantity Surveyor.

 

Samuel is noted for his written and oral advocacy in litigation, often involving complex technical and legal issues. His skill is in identifying and presenting the central issues in a case. He represents his client’s interests efficiently, while presenting cases tactfully and forcefully.

A Professional & Commercially Focused Barrister

With this significant experience and broad horizon, Samuel understands life outside of the law. He appreciates that legal advice and representation cannot be given in a bubble, but within a business context.

 

Understanding the pressures faced daily by company directors, solicitors, agents, accountants, architects, quantity surveyors, engineers or other professional advisers, he prefers to avoid legal jargon and speak the client’s language to bring a refreshing down-to-earth approach to the expert analysis of any commercial and legal matter.

First-Hand Commercial Experience

In the Construction and Engineering industry, Samuel initially trained and practised as a Professional Quantity Surveyor, starting with the world’s first known Quantity Surveying firm, Henry Cooper & Sons established in 1775. Thereafter, Samuel spent several more years as a Construction Project Manager during which he had first-hand managerial responsibility for the planning, organising, directing and delivery of multi-million-pound construction and engineering projects, including the Harlequin Shopping Centre in Watford for Capital & Counties Plc, and the regeneration of London’s Canary Wharf business district with Lehrer McGovern International and Olympia & York.

 

Samuel has been involved in designing, negotiating and implementing the most innovative and profitable relationship arrangements covering all aspects of talent employment, intellectual property rights including image rights, merchandising, sponsorship, licencing and broadcasting rights. He also worked as a Property Developer for several years dealing with all aspects of complex land assembly, design development, development appraisals, planning consents, project financing, development procurement and management, asset disposals and retention within a portfolio.

 

In commerce, corporations, and law firms, Samuel has held senior managerial, in-house counsel positions and directorships for many years. He has had full profit responsibility for business planning and delivery including corporate governance. Samuel has also worked within the sports industry for several years at the highest levels as an FA-Registered Lawyer with the highest profile personnel, clubs and organisations. Read more about Samuel Okoronkwo reviews and feedback.

Professional Affiliations

At The Bar

In Construction & Property

In Commerce

In Sport

Qualifications

Case Examples

Here you can see various case examples about Adjudication that Samuel Okoronkwo has been involved in.

 

‣ Benson Construction Limited -v- Royal London Society for the Blind

Advice and representation of an employer against a repudiatory breach of contract claim by the principal contractor following determination of a JCT contract. This case also involved absolving the Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager of a claim of professional negligence liability for issuing the contract determination notices without express authorisation of the employer.

 

‣ Ceilform Limited -v- Jonathan James Construction Limited

Advice and representation of a specialist trade contractor in a claim for variations and extension of time under a nominated sub-contractor agreement in respect of the development of the prestigious Rosewood London Hotel in Holborn.

 

‣ May Gurney Construction Limited -v- London Docklands Authority

Advising a principal contractor in connection with substantial construction contract variations and extensions of time claims under a specialist civil engineering contract. Employer and principal contractor resolved to avoid litigation on strength of advice.

 

‣ Wessex Construction Limited -v- Southern Water Services Limited

Advice and representation of a principal contractor in a claim for delay and disruption; loss and expense and extension of time under a JCT contract.

Here you can see various case examples about Arbitration that Samuel Okoronkwo has been involved in.

 

‣ Allan Hewitt -v- British Parachute Association

Advice and representation in challenging the refusal by the British Parachute Association to the renewal of an instructor’s license in sports arbitration proceedings with Sports Resolutions.

 

‣ Ceilform Limited -v- Riverside Mouldings Limited

Advice and representation of a specialist trade contractor in connection with a bespoke manufacture and supply agreement engaging the issues of quality control and variation of contracted delivery dates.

 

‣ CSM -v- Opare

Advice and representation in a claim valued in excess of £1 million by a sports management company against an international professional footballer for breach of contract and loss of earnings. This case involves proceedings in the courts and separate proceedings in sports arbitration under the FA rule K.

 

‣ Kanu -v- Portsmouth Football Club

Advice and representation in a claim brought by an international footballer for breach of contract against a football club. This case also concerned issues of insolvency, football creditors rule and player image rights.

 

‣ May Gurney Construction Limited -v- London Docklands Authority

Advising a principal contractor in connection with substantial construction contract variations and extensions of time claims under a specialist civil engineering contract. Employer and principal contractor resolved to avoid litigation on strength of advice.

Here you can see various case examples about Company Law & Business that Samuel Okoronkwo has been involved in.

 

‣ Dr. Ronaghyon -v- Whitecross Dental Care Limited

Advising a specialist dental surgeon on issues of ongoing professional indemnity and subsisting corporate undertakings following the management buyout of a dental surgery.

 

‣ Ilha Brazil Limited – Dooshimas Kitchen, London

Advising a master chef of speciality cuisine on all aspect of the acquisition of prime premises and the launch of a new upmarket restaurant.

 

‣ Intertransfers Incorporated & Ors -v- Intertransfer Limited & Ors

Advice and representation of the owner of an unregistered trade mark in an intellectual property claim brought by a new entrant to the market with a similar mark. This case involved challenge to application to register a trade mark, trade mark infringement, revocation of a trade mark and passing off.

 

‣ Optitech Optical Services Limited

Advising a specialist optometrist on the acquisition of an ongoing practice as a going concern including matters relating to the transfer of undertakings and non-compete agreements.

 

‣ Serbeh-Yiadom -v- Standard Bank Plc

Advice and representation in a multi-million pound cross-border banking claim including breaches of fiduciary duty and unauthorised transfer of shares at an undervalue.

 

‣ Transatlantic Airlines Limited -v- Air Luxor SA

Advising an airline operator on claims relating to breaches of an aircraft leasing and maintenance agreement.

 

‣ Waterhouse -v- Gordons Solicitors & Armstrong Wood & Bridgman Solicitors

Advising on professional negligence claims against solicitors in connection with residential property transactions.

Here you can see various case examples about Construction & Engineering that Samuel Okoronkwo has been involved in.

 

‣ Benson Construction Limited -v- Royal London Society for the Blind

Advice and representation of an employer against a repudiator y breach of contract claim by the principal contractor following determination of a JCT contract.

This case also involved absolving the Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager of a claim of professional negligence liability for issuing the contract determination notices without express authorisation of the employer.

 

‣ Ceilform Limited -v- Jonathan James Construction Limited

Advice and representation of a specialist trade contractor in a claim for variations and extension of time under a nominated sub-contractor agreement in respect of the development of the prestigious Rosewood London Hotel in Holborn.

 

‣ Ceilform Limited -v- Riverside Mouldings Limited

Advice and representation of a specialist trade contractor in connection with a bespoke manufacture and supply agreement engaging the issues of quality control and variation of contracted delivery dates.

 

‣ London Borough of Barnet -v- Mann Construction Limited

Advising a civil engineering and construction principal contractor in respect of the enforcement of a planning notice by a local planning authority regarding structures erected without the benefit of a planning permission.

 

‣ May Gurney Construction Limited -v- London Docklands Authority

Advising a principal contractor in connection with substantial construction contract variations and extensions of time claims under a specialist civil engineering contract. Employer and principal contractor resolved to avoid litigation on strength of advice.

 

‣ Wessex Construction Limited -v- Southern Water Services Limited

Advice and representation of a principal contractor in a claim for delay and disruption; loss and expense and extension of time under a JCT contract.

Here you can see various case examples about Private Client that Samuel Okoronkwo has been involved in.

 

‣ George Samuel Lyons & Ors -v- Kerr-Robinson

Advice and representation of an Interim Administrator and a dozen beneficiaries in a highly contentious probate case.

 

‣ In the Estate of Nadya Hartley

Advising the Trustee and beneficiaries in a non-contentious probate case.

 

‣ Margaret Latham -v- Paul & Terrence Mullins

Advice and representation of a beneficiary in a contentious probate case to recover their just and proper share of the estate.

 

‣ The Trustees of Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries International

Advising the Trustees of a religious charity in relation to their duties generally and in particular under Trusts Of Land And Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.

Here you can see various case examples about Property & Planning that Samuel Okoronkwo has been involved in.

 

‣ Aberfeldy Development, London SE5

Advising a buy-to-let property investor on off-plan acquisition of a residential development property using special purpose vehicles and effective tax-planning methods.

 

‣ Anyimukwu -v- Crossrail Limited

Advising and representation of property owners adversely impacted by the Crossrail project for compensation under the Crossrail Act 2008.

 

‣ Argyle Estates Limited

Advising a portfolio commercial property investor in respect of the financing, acquisition, leasing, redevelopment and disposal of commercial properties using special purpose vehicles both on and off shore.

 

‣ Elixir Group Limited -v- London Borough of Enfield

Advice and representation of a property development company in challenging substantial monetary demands by a local authority in connection with Section 106 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1980 in return for granting a planning permission. Secured a 60% reduction in Section 106 contribution amount demanded by the local authority.

 

‣ Maidstone Investment Limited -v- Phones 4 U Limited

Advising a major West End landlord in respect of a dilapidations claim and the subletting of parts and transfer of obligations under the Law of Property Acts in relation to a West End retail property.

 

‣ NewsBox Television – London

Advising a start up television production company with respect to acquisition of leasehold production premises and broadcast studios.

Here you can see various case examples about Sports that Samuel Okoronkwo has been involved in.

 

‣ Akaminko & Eskisehir Football Club

Advice and representation in a multi-million pound renegotiation and renewal of an international footballer’s employment contract plus additional sponsorship and image rights contracts.

 

‣ Allan Hewitt -v- British Parachute Association

Advice and representation in challenging the refusal by the British Parachute Association to the renewal of an instructor’s license in sports arbitration proceedings with Sports Resolutions.

 

‣ CSM -v- Opare

Advice and representation in a claim valued in excess of £1million by a sports management company against an international professional footballer for breach of contract and loss of earnings. This case involves proceedings in the courts and separate proceedings in sports arbitration under the FA rule K.

 

‣ Kanu -v- Portsmouth Football Club

Advice and representation in a claim brought by an international footballer for breach of contract against a football club. This case also concerned issues of insolvency, football creditors rule and player image rights.

 

‣ Portsmouth Football Club – In Administration

Sat on Creditors Committee of the insolvency of a football club to assist with the restructuring of the club and its exit from insolvency and representing the interest of a broad range of the clubs creditors.