The Team

Bringing together the varied skills of lawyers who are Barristers, Solicitors, Chartered Taxation Practitioners and a Notary Public.

The Akin Palmer LLP team

The expertise available within the firm is similarly broad in business and property law, litigation, occupational health and safety law, family and immigration law and practice.

John Palmer

John was admitted as a Solicitor in December 1988 and initially practised in the area of criminal law with a prominent West End firm.

He subsequently moved into the area of general commercial law and commercial litigation and has been involved in a number of landmark cases such as Euro Cellular v H M Customs & Excise, Islam v Ali and Tonge v London Borough of Harrow, to name but a few. These cases have been right across the spectrum from the County Court, the High Court, up to the Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords).

More recently, John has acted successfully in commercial litigation involving financial guarantee bonds across multi jurisdictions, such as the UK, Switzerland, France and Singapore, obtaining Worldwide Freezing Injunctions and Asset tracing including enforcement proceeding. He is regularly instructed by both Private and commercial clients as well as Government organisations.

The following are some of his recent reported cases:

(i) BCS v Terry 2018 [EWHC 2349 QB] – Involving an interim third party debt order where the High Court held that an interim freezing third party debt order had been properly obtained over funds in a solicitors’ client account where the solicitors client was the Judgment debtor.

(ii) Court of Appeal – Terry v BCS and Others [2018] All ER (D) 76 (DEC) [2018] EWCA Civ 2422 – Appellant’s unsuccessful Fairclough v Summers Application, Court of Appeal upheld High Court earlier decision of Laing J. in the Queen’s Bench Division in respect of an unsuccessful attempt to strike out a claim after Judgment had been obtained.

(iii) BCS v Terry and Others 2017 [EWHC 1176 QB], [2017] 6WLUK669 – Unsuccessful attempt by the Defendant to strike out a claim after final judgment in favour of the Claimants. Upheld by C of A above.
(iv) BCS v Terry and Others 2016 [EWHC 533 QB] [2016], 3WLUK334 – Worldwide Freezing Order obtained in relation to financial guarantee bond claim for damages for Fraud and Misrepresentation.

John also specialises in matrimonial work of high to medium value and also practices in the areas of insolvency and personal bankruptcy.

John appears as Solicitor Advocate on a regular basis.

In the commercial sphere, he has acted for and continues to act for a number organisations negotiating, drafting and closing diverse contracts on their behalf.

John’s approach to matters, both commercial and litigious, is to be proactive in identifying the real issues as swiftly as possible and to seek to address these, both from a commercial and client conscious point of view.

Email: jpalmer@akinpalmer.com

Victor Fanawopo

B.A (Hons.), LLM.
Victor Fanawopo has been in practice as a Solicitor since November 1990.

Having studied Law and Economics at the School of Oriental and African studies, University of London, Victor went on to the College of Law to qualify as a solicitor.

Victor later obtained a Masters in Law from the London School of Economics in 1999 and achieved the National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health in 2004, having achieved the NEBOSH Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice.
 

Victor has developed a wide understanding of the legal issues affecting individuals, Local Authorities and Industry, having worked as a solicitor in private practice, within Local Government and for over 10 years as an in- house lawyer for J Sainsbury plc.

His experience covers advising on all aspects of general business law, such as Civil Litigation/Dispute Resolution and Contract law.

Victor specialises in supporting business owners who need legal support and advice on running their business operation, from drawing up terms and conditions, to dealing with business disputes or moving their office location.

He can also help with employment disputes, re-mortgages or with buying or selling your home or investment property, or even drawing up your Will or Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Victor is proud to be a member of the Law Society of England and Wales and BNI.

Mobile: 07816 457 793
victor@akinpalmer.com

Esther Ogun

LL.B (Hons.); B.L. (Lincoln’s Inn); Notary Public

Esther Ogun was called to the Bar in 1990 and has been in practice as a Solicitor since January 2000 and was admitted as a Notary public in January 2012. Her notary practice is separately regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

She attended the University of Nsukka for her LLB, the Inns of Court School of Law for her call to the English Bar and the University of Cambridge for her Post-graduate Diploma in Notarial Practice.

As a Solicitor, she specialises in residential and commercial property transactions, probate and trademarks. As a Notary she offers the following services:
• Notarise, authenticate or legalise documents.
• Assist in obtaining the Apostille stamp and Legalisation for documents from foreign consulates.

Notary Services for Individuals

• Preparation and execution of Powers of Attorney and other documents for use abroad
• Certification of copy documents including passports; academic certificates and for birth and marriage certificates in acceptable form
• Acknowledgements for use in the USA
• Certification of documents to open foreign bank accounts
• International affidavits and Oaths
• Statements of consent and Sponsorship Declarations
• Consent for a child to travel abroad
• Sign documents with regards to the purchase, sale or transaction of foreign property.
• Statutory declarations
• Swear an oath or affidavit
• Notarising foreign wills
• Witness a deed for use overseas

Notary Services for Companies

• Authenticating company and business documents and transactions
• Certification of documents to open foreign bank accounts
• Notarisation of Companies House and commercial documents for use abroad
• Documents to open foreign bank accounts
• International Affidavits, Statutory Declarations, Sworn Statements and Depositions
• Powers of Attorney

She can notarise any other document for use abroad and can assist in obtaining the Apostille from the Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and liaise with foreign consular offices in the UK

Mobile Notary Service

She also offers a mobile service and for an additional fee can visit you at your home or place of business.

Email: esther.ogun@akinpalmer.com

Dele Ogun

LL.M, B.L. (Lincoln’s Inn), ATII, Member of the Society of Authors

Dele Ogun was called to the Bar in 1985 and has been in practice as a Solicitor since 1995.

He obtained his LLB from London Metropolitan University in 1984 and his LL.M in Company and Commercial Law from the London School of Economics in 1987. He attended the Inns of Court School of Law for his call to the Bar in 1985 and the Chartered Institute of Taxation to become a Chartered Taxation Practitioner.

After employment with Price Waterhouse Coopers and practice with Hogan Lovells he founded this firm. He is an expert in company and commercial law in the context of Franchise Agreements and Franchise Disputes; International Arbitration, Commercial Contracts and Commercial Litigation. He acts for Franchisees of leading Franchise brands including Specsavers Opticians and Boots Opticians.

Major Cases:

Swarandeep Birdi v Specsavers Optical Group Ltd & Dartford Specsavers Ltd & Others Mushtaq Rahman v Specsavers Optical Group Ltd & Orpington Specsavers Hearcare Ltd John & Shakila Parham v Specsavers Optical Group Ltd & Uckfield Specsavers Ltd Dr Helle Poulsen & Mr Barry Weller v Specsavers Optical Group Ltd & Bognor Regis Specsavers Ltd & others.

He is an author of several (non-fiction) books.

Email: dele.ogun@akinpalmer.com