Sanford Mba is a Corporate and Commercial Partner at Dentons ACAS-Law. Known for his ability to navigate complex legal landscapes, Dr. Mba delivers strategic solutions to both local and international clients. His practice spans a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial matters, with a focus on providing high-level counsel in banking, finance, and corporate financing. In his M&A practice, he advises on corporate mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, ensuring that transactions align with clients’ business objectives and regulatory requirements.
Dr Mba regularly advises clients across various industries and sectors. Notably, has acted as lead or key member of the teams that advised: AFC in the US$35 million financing of Waltersmith’s 5,000 barrel per day modular refinery in Ibigwe, Imo State, Nigeria; Standard Chartered Bank in the US$55 million financing of the National Assembly power project; Interswitch’s management in Visa’s US$200 million in Interswitch; Interswitch’s management in Leapfrog’s and TanaAfrica’s investment in Interswitch; Medallion, in its acquisition by Digital Realty; Subsea7 in the divestment of Jagal from Nigerstar7; Verod in its acquisition of 65% stake in iFitness; and Sun International, in its divestment from Tourist Company of Nigeria Plc.
Driven by a passion for solving intricate legal challenges and facilitating successful business transactions, Sanford combines rigorous academic insight with practical experience. He is dedicated to providing clients with innovative solutions and strategic advice. He is recognized by international legal directories such as IFLR (Rising Star Partner in Banking and Finance), Legal 500 (Banking, Finance and Capital Markets) and Who’s Who Legal (M&A). Reviews published by Legal 500 include: “Sanford Mba is a great team player, with fantastic communication skills, with attention to detail. He makes great professional input to work and delivers with speed.”
Experience
- Sterling Bank Plc: Advising a syndicate comprising of Sterling Bank Plc (as lender and facility agent), First City Monument Bank Limited, Wema Bank Plc, African Export-Import Bank, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria in respect of the syndicated facility in the sum of US$403 million granted to Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited (as borrower – Pan Ocean) by the syndicate lenders for the construction of a 70-km liquid hydrocarbon transportation pipeline and for the exploration, development, production and management of OML 147. Advising on the restructuring of the syndicated facility, including drafting of the finance and security documents as well as providing transaction structuring advise.
- Confidential Client: Advising the Borrower, which is equally owned by the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated and Federal Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated, and the Co-Obligors, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Borrower on the rehabilitation of the refinery plants (the “Refineries”) together with the rehabilitation of certain ancillary infrastructure directly associated with the Refineries, The financing will be advanced in as a Naira-denominated Commercial Term Loan Facility extended by the Lenders to the Borrowers.
- Africa Finance Corporation: Representing this multilateral development financial institution in a US$35 million secured term loan facility for the construction of the Ibigwe 5,000 barrel per day modular refinery.
- Confidential Client: Advising an international bank in connection with the up to US$55 million term loan facility (backed by an export credit institution) to the Federal Government of Nigeria in relation to the construction and implementation of a 17MW Hybrid Solar Power Project in Abuja.
- Confidential Client: Advised the client on the obtention of a multi-billion Naira facility from a syndicate of lenders for the construction of rail line and related infrastructure.
- Travelex: Advising Travelex as Nigerian counsel in the GBP60,000,000 restructuring facility and facilitating security documentation.
- FBNQuest Trustees: advising on the N18 facility to a fast-moving goods company in Nigeria and facilitating the security documentation.
- Unity Bank Plc: advising Unity Bank Plc in its proposed merger with Providus Bank Ltd.
- Mota-Engil: advising the borrower in a N10 billion bridge facility for its operating expenses.
- Gateway Real Estate Africa (GREA): Advised the GREA and related parties in connection with the review and negotiation of the finance documents in connection with a US$13 million term loan facility from Stanbic IBTC for the development of a data centre in Eko Atlantic City.
- Confidential Client: advising a fintech client in a US$100 million facility including reviewing the Facility Agreement from a Nigerian law perspective and negotiating the security documents comprising of a guarantee provided by a related entity. We have also advised on the registration of the security documents, provided legal opinion and gave general legal support.
- Interswitch: advising its management in the US$200 investment by Visa in the company.
- Subsea7: advising on the divestment of Jagal FZE and the acquisition of shares by the client in Nigerstar7.
- Confidential Client: advising the lender in the provision of trade loans to a multilateral financial institution.
- Confidential Client: Advising a leading fabrication and construction company on the sale of its assets (on an “as is basis”) to a buyer specializing in fabrication, construction, and project execution across multiple sectors of the Nigerian market.
Recognition
- Listed as a Recommended Practitioner in the 2025 Lexology Index (formerly called Who’s Who Legal)
- Recognised as “Rising Star”, IFLR 1000 2022
- Academic Visitor, Commercial Law Center, Harris Manchester College, Oxford University, 2018
- Central European University Global Teaching Fellow, 2017
- Visiting Scholar, Cornel Law School, Myron Taylor Hall, 2017
- University of Benin Scholar Award, Faculty of Law, 2007
In the Media
- “Recession, Preventive Rehabilitation, and the Nigerian Draft Insolvency Bill: Lessons from the EU?” Thisday, September 6, 2016
- “‘Etisalat and The Illogic of CBN and NCC’s Intervention’: A Rejoinder, Reflection and Call to Action,” Stephen Legal, August 9, 2017
Insights
- Co-author, “Comprehending and resolving the challenges of the Nigerian insolvency law in practice: the performance improvement approach,” Journal of Corporate Law Studies, 2025, 1-39.
- Co-author, “Coping with the Covid-19 pandemic: A comparative study of the capabilities of the Kenyan and Nigerian insolvency frameworks,” Journal of Corporate and Commercial Law and Practice, 2020
- “Preventive Debt Restructuring and the Nigerian Draft Insolvency Legislation: Lessons from a Comparatist Perspective,” African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 2020
- “New Financing for Distressed Businesses in the Context of Business Restructuring Law,” book published by Springer, 2019
- “’Africa for the Chinese’? Rethinking Sino-African BITs,” Hungarian Journal of Legal Studies 58, No 4, pp. 434–448, 2017
- Co-author, “Towards Reforming Nigeria’s Secured Transactions Law: The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Attempt through the Back Door,” Journal of African Law, 2017
Activities and Affiliations
Presentations
- Presenter, “A Critical Assessment of the Moratorium Provisions in CAMA 2020,” “CAMA 2020: From Liquidation to Rescue; A Critical Review of The Nigerian Insolvency Law Reforms,” Webinar, September 30, 2020.
- Presenter, “’Africa for the Chinese’? Reflecting on Sino-African BITs,” “China and World Trade,” Szeged, Hungary, April 12, 2017. Organized by the Federal Markets Momentum Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the University of Szeged.
Memberships
- Member, Nigeria Bar Association
- Member, INSOL International
- Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigerian branch
- Member, Young Academics Network in Insolvency Law (YANIL)
Prior and Present Employment
- Partner, Dentons ACAS-Law, 2023-date
- Senior Counsel, Dentons ACAS-Law (formerly ACAS-Law) (2019 to 2021)
- Associate, Layonu & Co (2012 – 2014)
