General Counsel · Ducere Construction Services
Solicitor of England and Wales (admitted 2013) and General Counsel at Ducere Construction Services. Previously Vice President, EMEA Legal at MUFG, specialising in derivatives, ISDA, GMRA and GMSLA documentation across London and EMEA.
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Profile
Admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales in 2013, with over a decade of practice in finance and derivatives law.
Experience at MUFG, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Nomura and Liquidnet across derivatives and capital markets.
Deep expertise in ISDA Master Agreements, GMRAs, GMSLAs, CSAs and ancillary derivatives documentation.
Led LIBOR to RFR transition projects including SOFR adoption, advising on regulatory issues and contract remediation.
Managed a 500+ counterparty netting identification project at MUFG, overseeing external counsel and budget allocation.
LLB Hons from the University of Bristol. Legal Practice Course from BPP Law School.
Advising on transactions spanning EMEA, the United States, Middle East and GCC regions.
Proven ability to work independently, focusing on commercial understanding aligned with business needs.
Experience
London, EMEA · Derivatives / Netting
London · Repo Documentation
London · Repo Documentation
EMEA · IBOR Transition
London / EMEA · Custody & Settlement
London / Germany · ISDA Repapering
London · Prime Brokerage
London / Kazakhstan · Asset Finance
Career
Legal Practice Course (Pass)
Completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School, following an LLB Hons (2:2) from the University of Bristol (2002–2005).
Litigation & Costs Paralegal
Built early legal experience as a Costs Paralegal and Litigation Paralegal, developing foundational skills in legal process and documentation.
Trainee Solicitor
Completed training including a corporate secondment at Slater Heelis LLP. Assisted on M&A, property finance and employer liability matters.
Solicitor of England and Wales
Admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales, marking the formal start of a career in commercial and finance law.
Commercial Solicitor
Drafted and negotiated Statements of Work under Global Framework agreements for a FTSE 100 bank.
Finance Associate
Advised banks and institutional lenders on loan agreements, finance leases, and security documents. Notable matters included a £150M term loan for SMS Metering.
Legal Consultant
Assisted on custody agreements at Ruffer, followed by a cash equities role at J.P. Morgan covering brokerage agreements, share buybacks and electronic trading agreements.
Legal Consultant – Prime Brokerage
Drafted and negotiated prime brokerage agreements, ISDA master agreements, CSAs and GMSLA documentation. Led documentation for the Sand Grove Opportunities Master Fund launch.
Legal Consultant – Fixed Income Division
Negotiated ISDA Master Agreements for Commodities, FX and Interest Rates desks. Led Brexit remediation repapering project.
Legal Consultant
Legal support for Prime Brokerage and Proprietary Indices. Delivered LIBOR transition advice and updated governance frameworks.
Senior Legal Counsel (FTC)
Led the transition from Pershing to BNP Paribas as clearing agent, negotiated commission sharing agreements and GMSLA documentation.
Derivatives Legal Consultant
Advised EMEA business on LIBOR to RFR transition. Drafted and negotiated interest rate swap confirmations under aviation, project and structured finance transactions.
Vice President – EMEA Legal Department
Managed a 500+ counterparty close-out netting identification project. Provided BAU support on complex ISDA, GMRA and GMSLA negotiations.
General Counsel
Serving as General Counsel, providing comprehensive legal oversight and strategic guidance across all aspects of the business.
Contact
Interested in connecting with Kolapo? Reach out via LinkedIn.
Location
London, United Kingdom
Connect on LinkedIn
FAQ
Kolapo Akinbami serves as General Counsel at Ducere Construction Services, a construction services company.
General Counsel at Ducere Construction Services (2025-present), based in London.