Omonefe Irabor-Benson

Omonefe Irabor-Benson is a Senior Associate specializing in Intellectual Property (IP) law. She holds LL.B and B.L degrees from Bowen University and the Nigerian Law School, respectively, and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

Omonefe has extensive experience across the full spectrum of intellectual property law, including the protection, enforcement, commercialization, valuation, and monetization of intellectual property rights. She advises clients on trademarks, copyrights, patents, and related IP matters, providing strategic and commercially focused solutions to local and international clients across diverse industries.

Her practice encompasses significant expertise in the film, television, music, and entertainment sectors. She has advised and represented production companies and content platforms, including Amazon and Netflix, on production agreements, distribution arrangements, licensing, rights management, and regulatory compliance for film productions in Nigeria. In the music industry, she advises renowned artists, including Young Jonn, Reloo, and Blaqbonez, on song clearances, synchronization licensing, and other music-related transactions.

Beyond intellectual property, Omonefe advises on technology, media, data privacy, and regulatory matters. Her experience includes structuring technology and IP licensing arrangements, drafting global terms of service and privacy policies, negotiating digital content licensing agreements, and supporting transactions in the sports and media sectors. She is known for translating complex legal issues into practical, business-oriented solutions.

Omonefe has led and contributed to numerous high-profile intellectual property disputes and enforcement actions, representing multinational corporations in complex litigation and administrative proceedings. She is an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) – Lagos Branch, the NBA Section on Business Law (NBA SBL), the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria (IPLAN), and the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration.

Her professional excellence has earned her several notable recognitions. She is a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Award, was recognized as a Women in IP Rising Star 2025, shortlisted as a Rising Star at the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2026, ranked in the IAM Patent 1000 – Next Generation category, and recognized in the IAM Strategy 300, underscoring her growing influence and reputation as a leading intellectual property practitioner in Africa and beyond.

• I represented Facebook, the world's leading social media platform, in a unique trademark protection matter in Nigeria. A local company, Datavision Limited, had applied to register the
  trademark "POLLBOOK & Device" which bore a striking resemblance to Facebook's trademarks, including its iconic logo, with similar colors and structural elements. Furthermore, media reports indicated that Datavision intended to use its "POLLBOOK" platform as a direct competitor to Facebook in the Nigerian market. This case presented a challenge as the typical opposition period had already elapsed by the time Facebook engaged our services. However, I devised a novel strategy based on a creative interpretation of the Trade Marks Act. I advised Facebook to pursue an application for the withdrawal of acceptance, arguing that the Registrar of Trade Marks had accepted the "POLLBOOK & Device" application in error due to its confusing similarity to Facebook's established marks. This approach, while not explicitly outlined in the Act,
  was grounded in a nuanced understanding of its provisions. We filed the application, and the matter proceeded to an administrative hearing before the Registrar. After hearing our compelling arguments, which the Applicant failed to effectively counter, the Registrar ruled in our favor. The Registrar acknowledged that the "POLLBOOK & Device" application had been accepted in error and proceeded to withdraw the acceptance and nullify the related advertisement.
• In this significant trademark opposition, I served as the lead strategist for Four Cousins Limited, a premier South African wine producer, against an attempt by Evans Industries Limited to misappropriate their flagship brand in Nigeria. The challenge was multifaceted: the Applicant sought to register the identical "FOUR COUSINS" mark in Classes 3 and 5 (Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals). My objective was to demonstrate that despite the difference in product categories, the registration constituted a bad-faith attempt to hijack the global reputation and goodwill our client had painstakingly built since 2000. To secure this victory, I architected a comprehensive evidentiary strategy that moved beyond basic registration data. I meticulously established our client’s long-standing proprietorship and continuous use, proving that the "FOUR COUSINS" brand carries such substantial international prestige that any use by a third party even in unrelated industries would inevitably mislead consumers and dilute the brand’s integrity. I successfully argued that the Applicant’s filings were not coincidental but were calculated, bad-faith maneuvers designed to trade on our client’s established market position. The impact of this intervention was transformative for both the client and the jurisdiction. By securing a decisive ruling from the Nigerian Trade Marks Tribunal, I achieved the formal revocation of the Applicant’s acceptance letters, effectively neutralizing the threat of brand infringement. For Four Cousins Limited, this victory safeguarded their exclusive rights and ensured their brand remained untarnished as they continue to expand within the Nigerian market. Beyond the immediate win, my work in this case has a broader market impact. It reinforces a strict stance against opportunistic filings in Nigeria, providing a powerful precedent that protects global brand owners from "reputation hijacking" across different trademark classes. This outcome underscores my ability to handle high-stakes, cross industry disputes and reaffirms the Tribunal’s commitment to robust enforcement. Ultimately, this case serves as a benchmark for how strategic IP defense can preserve the commercial value and "moat" of an international brand in a complex, evolving emerging market.
• I played a crucial role in the successful release of the highly anticipated album "Jiggy Forever" by Young Jonn. This project involved navigating a complex web of music licensing rights to ensure all samples, collaborations, and underlying works were cleared for use, avoiding potential legal issues and ensuring a smooth launch for the album. My responsibilities included conducting comprehensive music rights research, identifying and contacting copyright holders for all samples and collaborations, negotiating licensing agreements, drafting and reviewing contracts, managing deadlines and budgets, ensuring compliance with copyright law and industry best practices. This process required meticulous attention to detail and a strategic approach to balance creative vision with legal compliance. One particular challenge involved clearing a sample from an older song with multiple rights holders, negotiating with a difficult rights holder, securing clearances within a tight timeframe. To overcome this, I developed a creative licensing strategy, leveraged industry relationships, conducted extensive research to locate elusive rights holders, employed effective negotiation tactics. Ultimately, we successfully cleared all necessary rights for "Jiggy Forever," enabling its release on schedule and without legal complications. The album has since achieved notable achievements, e.g., critical acclaim, commercial success, chart positions. This success is a testament to the importance of meticulous music licensing and its impact on the creative process.
• I played a key role in the successful production of "Breath of Life," a critically acclaimed film that went on to win awards on Amazon and achieve international recognition. As part of the production team, I was responsible for navigating the complex legal and business landscape of filmmaking, ensuring a smooth and compliant production process from development to distribution. My responsibilities included negotiating and drafting talent agreements with actors, directors, and crew, securing location permits and clearances, managing intellectual property rights, advising on production insurance and risk mitigation, ensuring compliance with labor laws and industry regulations, structuring financing agreements, negotiating distribution deals. This required a strategic and proactive approach to manage legal risks, maximize creative opportunities, and ensure the project's financial viability. One specific challenge involved securing rights to a crucial filming location, negotiating a complex distribution agreement, resolving a dispute with a cast member, managing unforeseen production delays. To overcome this, I developed a creative solution that satisfied all parties, leveraged industry relationships to expedite clearances, conducted thorough legal research to support our position, implemented effective communication and conflict resolution strategies. The success
  of "Breath of Life" is a testament to the importance of effective legal and business affairs management in filmmaking. By proactively addressing legal challenges and maximizing opportunities, we contributed to the creation of a high-quality film that resonated with audiences and achieved critical acclaim.

• LLB - Bowen University - 2018
• LLM - Lagos State Univeristy - 2026

• Nigeria Bar Association - 2019