M&A lawyer and ESG specialist, Bola Tinubu, has been named the new managing partner for Olajide Oyewole, a DLA Piper member-firm in Nigeria.

Tinubu, who succeeds the former managing partner and new board chair, Tunde Oyewole, has over 30 years experience in assisting companies and investors with mergers and acquisitions, the firm said in a statement.

The firm added that the new leader has a particular focus on ESG and sustainability governance.

Commenting on the appointment, the chairman of DLA Piper Africa, James Kamau, said: "I have every confidence in her ability to deliver on our growth ambitions both in Nigeria and as an integral part of DLA Piper Africa."

Tinubu said she looks forward to contributing to "Africa's broader economic development" and helping clients succeed in her new role.

Tinubu made the BBC list of 100 inspiring and influential women in 2018 and was recently appointed to the Advisory Board of the Cambridge University Institute of Sustainability Leadership.

DLA Piper added Olajide Oyewole to its African alliance network in 2017 under its Swiss Verein structure.

In a separate development, another commercial law firm in Africa—Jackson, Etti & Edu—announced the head of its corporate practice as co-managing partner, in a broader shake-up.

Folasade Olusanya, who now chairs both the leadership and partnership teams, will be working alongside founding partner Koye Edu to manage the firm's offices in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Cameroon.