Benita David-Akoro
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Benita David-Akoro

BENITA DAVID-AKORO
11 South Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 |------------ | ------------

BAR ADMISSION
Admitted to practice in the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2016).
EDUCATION

University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law Baltimore, Maryland
LL.M., Master of Laws, May 2020
Academic area of focus: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy and Crisis Management.
CGPA: 3.52
Activities Cyber Law and Data Privacy Association, Member; LLM Class Honor Board Representative, Vice President, International Students Association.
Certificates: FEMA IS-00700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System; IS-0100.c: An Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100.

Nigerian Law School. Abuja, Nigeria
Post Graduate Qualifying Certificate
B.L., November 2016
University of Lagos Lagos, Nigeria
LLB., (Honors), September 2015
(Juris Doctor Equivalent)
CGPA: 3.35
Honors and Awards: The Oil and Gas Students Bar Service Award (2015)
EXPERIENCE

University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security Baltimore, Maryland
Externship, January 2020 - April 2020
• Conducted research and produced briefs on proposed cybersecurity and data privacy related bills in Maryland; obtained information on relevant issues such as company liability in Information Sharing Analysis Centers (ISAC).
• Part of a team that helped to moderate a tabletop exercise for a county in Maryland, in order to prepare the county for a possible public health emergency.

Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore LP Lagos, Nigeria
Associate Counsel, April 2017 – July 2019
• Interviewed potential clients, assessed merits of potential cases, signed up relevant cases, and sent out Retainer Agreements to new clients.
• Prepared legal memoranda and researched substantive legal issues in corporate, commercial, banking, property and criminal law. Drafted pleadings, briefs, motions and correspondence; and assisted in trial preparation before federal, state and magistrate courts, mostly leading to successful litigation.
• Provided strategic advice in the area of business development, estates and trusts, employment issues, and property law
• Reviewed, negotiated and drafted contracts, including tenancy, employment, joint venture, and partnership agreements.
• Delivered company secretarial services to various organizations by active interaction with senior management as to providing solutions to issues in corporate governance; ensuring company secretarial matters are properly managed, including making the necessary regulatory filings at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
• Prepared and provided Legal Audit reports for clients to various audit companies.

Akinwunmi & Busari LP Lagos, Nigeria
Trainee Associate, December 2016 – March 2017
• Prepared and drafted petitions and motions; and provided strategic advice and counsel in insolvency litigation and commercial arbitration. Assisted in creating organizational plans for clients before, during, and after insolvency.
• Writing status updates and weekly correspondence for Client Companies.
• Maintained a database of all Court Proceedings being handled by the firm
• Provided company secretarial services such as filling forms for registration of companies, preparing memorandum and articles of association, attending board meetings and taking down minutes of meetings.