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Franca Ciambella (B.Com., LLL (Canada), LLM (New York), LLM (Singapore))

Franca is a highly qualified lawyer, negotiator, and advisor with an excellent business background and acumen, and a solid track record at top levels in large global firms and MNC’s. She has held prestigious board and other leadership positions in business, social, educational and private institutions. Able to easily navigate between sophisticated and developing economic ecosystems globally. A personable, passionate, and effective individual who is driven by values, contribution, innovation, entrepreneurship and a sense of duty.

Based in Lagos, Nigeria, Franca currently works as a Senior Consulting Counsel at Dentons Law Office and as an Independent Business Advisor & Consultant. She is an Executive in Residence at the Lagos Business School, where she teaches MBA students, and participates in training projects. At ɬÀï·¬, she is an Executive in Residence at the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity, and holds a seat on the Faculty of Management Advisory Board.

Her legal and business professional career spans over 30 years in Canada, Singapore and Nigeria, initially specializing in areas of foreign direct investments, cross border M & A, joint ventures, corporate and commercial law, corporate governance and compliance, and contracts. Since 2016, her practice includes fintech and blockchain (cryptocurrency), notably consulting on the Africa Fintech Passport initiative. She has further expanded her consultancy services into the mining sector. Franca has worked in top tier firms such as Dentons, Norton Rose and Stikeman Elliott, as well as her own boutique firm of Consilium Law Corporation. In her role as Tyco International Ltd.’s (a Fortune 500 US company) General Counsel for Asia, she had responsibility for 257 business entities and oversaw corporate compliance.

In the past, Franca has held prestigious board, committee and other leadership positions with MNC’s, SME’s and as well as in social, educational and government institutions. She is currently a Board Director at the Nigerian-Canadian Business Association, and is the Head of its Trade & Investment Committee.

Franca was recently awarded the Sovereign Medal by Canada’s Governor General and has in the past been the recipient of many other awards for her professional excellence and personal contributions to society. She is fluent in English, French and Italian, and is a Naija wife with three adult sons.