Our team
CHARLOTTE KESSON-SMITH
Our team is led by Charlotte Kesson-Smith, who is the Founder and Managing Partner with over 26 years’ experience in the top-level leadership in public and private sectors. She has expertise in corporate governance, board-level leadership coaching, Public Private Partnership contracts, complex transactions, mergers & acquisitions, banking and finance transactions, employment issues, corporate insolvency practice, intellectual property, etc. She holds a Master of Laws degree (LLM) from Queen’s University, Ontario Canada and a Master’s in Business Leadership (MBL) from the University of South Africa, Pretoria; Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons.) degree from the University of Ghana Legon and the Qualifying Certificate of Law (QCL) from the Ghana School of Law.
In 2017, Charlotte was a finalist for the internationally renowned Chatham House Award for her leadership and transparency in respect of Ghana's 2016 elections. She was also awarded the Woman of Courage Award (2017) by the US Government for the same year.
In 2019, Charlotte was appointed by the United Nations and the government of Afghanistan as an International Electoral Commissioner to the Electoral Complaints Commission of Afghanistan. Prior to this, in 2017, Charlotte led the ECOWAS fact finding mission to Sierra Leone ahead of that country’s 2017 elections and was the deputy head of the ECOWAS fact finding mission to Nigeria ahead of the 2019 elections. She also served as a Technical Expert (Legal) to the ECOWAS Long-Term Observer Mission to the Nigerian 2019 general elections. In 2020, she led another ECOWAS Technical Mission to Liberia to clean up the country’s Voters’ Roll ahead of December 2020 Senatorial elections.
In 2020, she started a TV show for coaching and mentoring young entrepreneurs, the Business Compass which she hosts. She is also the Convener of the Thirty Woman Tribe, which supports, encourages and mentors women across the continent.
She is a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana, and member of the Ghana Bar Association.
Charlotte holds many academic awards and distinctions and is a published writer.
Charlotte is blessed with two children.
AKUSHIKA AMU
Akushika Amu, is a consulting Associate, with strong experience in law, finance and non-profit. She acquired a variety of skills and knowledge in the practice of corporate & commercial law, with in-depth experience in advising foreign and local investors in the initial business set up stages. She has significant experience in drafting and reviewing commercial agreements, advising on client regulatory compliance and providing corporate legal advisory services to companies in the Oil and Gas, Insurance, Finance and Hospitality industries.
Aku has in depth experience in providing on-going legal support in maintenance of corporate status, due diligence, corporate governance and compliance, negotiating deals & transactions, legal questions in business operations, and employment issues. She has worked extensively on legal due diligence, private placements of securities; international trade and investment matters, debt financings with banks, insurance companies and other institutional lenders.
Aku holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons.) degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology and she is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana, having obtained the Qualifying Certificate of Law (QCL) from the Ghana School of Law in 2012.
CHUKWUMA OKOROAFOR
Chukwuma Okoroafor is a leading technology and startup lawyer, with experience advising emerging/ high growth companies in Africa and North America on technology transactions, products, and investing (including impact investing).
He has worked on tech ecosystem projects with Mastercard, Cooley LLP, and Gunderson Dettmer. Chukwuma continues to distinguish himself in many ways through his engagement with the tech ecosystem.
When Chukwuma is not talking about corporations/ individuals access to new markets, or how that technology is changing the world, he is busy collecting fridge magnets.
EMMANUEL SOMAWINA OKOCHA
Emmanuel Somawina Okocha is a Consulting Associate and a proficient attorney, with cognate experience and expertise in Corporate law, Development Finance, Government Affairs and Public Policy. With over 12 years post-call experience, 6 of which have been in the financial sector, Emmanuel has worked on several high-profile transactions and advised the Federal Government of Nigeria on key reform initiatives in the Youth and Sports Sectors.
Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (PLSC 33) (Kuru).
GERTRUDE DANQUAH
Gertrude Danquah, the Finance & Administrative Director and Practice Manager of the firm. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Australian Institute of Business and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the same institution. She obtained her first degree in Management with Computing from the Regent Ghana University College of Science & Technology with concentration on Human Resources Management.
Gertrude has experience in law office management, registration of companies with the Registrar General’s Department and other regulatory bodies, compliance procedures, project, event and property management. She is the administrative backbone of our practice, possesses great attention to detail and has a hardworking & flexible approach to work.
NANA YAA BIMPONG
Nana Yaa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana (Legon). She has experience in effective office administration, having gained this from internships with UT Properties and Ghana Revenue Authority as well as from her national service with Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited. Nana Yaa is the Assistant Administrator of the firm.