Chukwuemeka Ahunanya Ezeogu (Lyon) is an experienced law and policy professional whose resume demonstrate a dense exposure in litigation and cross-boarder lawyering, using innovative legal strategies and effective approaches to provide smarter legal solutions, while always applying best practices. He is also well grounded in Regulation Law, Specialty Contracts, Commercial disputes, and Legislative Policy, helping clients navigate complex regulatory frameworks in an ever-evolving business world of Labour, Business, Immigration, Energy, and Infrastructure. Lyon also practices complex family litigation involving estate and mobility tussles.
In Nigeria, Lyon practiced law and was also a university law teacher. He holds a master’s degree (LL.M) in Commercial and Industrial Law; and practiced in areas of corporate commercial litigation, human rights litigation, banking law, employment law and general civil law and human rights litigation.
As a law teacher, he taught business law, legal method, interviewing and counseling etc.; co-ordinated the Law Faculty’s law clinic programs which included street law advocacy, jail delivery and international client counselling competitions around the world. Among other responsibilities, Lyon had represented the law faculty at the University Senate’s Examination Reconciliation Council.
Lyon also practiced in Specialty Contracts, Human Rights, and cross-boarder Immigration. He successfully prosecuted appeals to the Immigration court in England, closed complex business transactions, perfected securities for Banks, conducted Divorce proceedings etc., and was appointed External Solicitor to Corporate Institutions in Nigeria. He was an Executive member, Nigerian Bar Association, Aba Branch, and a former member of its Law Reform and Human Rights Committees. He has successfully appeared, prosecuted, and defended cases before Nigerian courts and tribunals in many high-profile cases.
Lyon is a certified Mediator with the Nigerian Institute of Chattered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC); the first set of trained African Law Clinicians (an Open Society Justice Initiative, OSJI) by the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban, South Africa; and was member, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions, and was an active participant with many projects of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Nigeria. Lyon is also among the few lawyers appointed as Notary Public by the Chief Justice of the Federation of Nigeria. Due to compelling circumstances, Lyon relocated his family to Canada, but continues to maintain good standing with the Nigerian Bar Association to date.
Lyon has continued to update his law practice skills, experience, and education since coming to Canada. He completed the Government of Canada’s Internationally Trained Lawyer’s Program (ITLP) from the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto; completed the Law Practice Program (LPP) from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson); completed a certificated Negotiation training from the Faculty of Law, University of Windsor; and has obtained a second master’s degree in Energy and Infrastructure Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, where he volunteered Mentorship to new law students.
Lyon had a mix of law and policy work experience in Canada. He served internship with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General as a law researcher in the legal services department (LSD) for the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Infrastructure, where he assisted in the celebrated NAFTA challenge case against the Government of Canada. Canada won. He worked as a Policy Advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure, on contract, for the development of the first legal framework for the current Forfeited Corporate Property legislation in Ontario.
Lyon is also a Document Review Specialist and worked on projects as an Independent Contractor with Deloitte Canada. While on LPP placement, Lyon worked on various projects that involved provincial and federal laws, in the Office of the General Counsel, Loblaws. Lyon had volunteered with Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women, Canada, a non-legal organization whose activities help vulnerable persons navigate the legal system.
Since joining Osuji & Smith Lawyers as a Senior Associate / Counsel, Lyon has won cases of significance. Lyon is the Director of Talent and Professional Development; and is the Editor-in-Chief, Blogs / Articles at OSL.
Lyon is a very jovial but private person, with very little social media footprint. He loves motoring sport, racket games and traveling.
You may contact Lyon at 403-283-8018 or email at [email protected]