Chinyere Okorocha

In her current roles as Intellectual Property Partner, Sector Head of Health & Pharmaceuticals, and the overall Head of Sectors at Jackson, Etti & Edu, Chinyere stands out as a consummate legal practitioner with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. Her deep expertise in Intellectual Property Law has positioned her as a respected authority in the field, both within Nigeria and across international jurisdictions.

A pioneer in her field, she was appointed the inaugural Chairperson of the Intellectual Property Committee of the NBA Section on Business Law (2006–2014), where she won numerous awards and led several key reform efforts, legislative reviews and advisory contributions to the then Ministry of Trade & Industry. Her tireless advocacy for modernizing Nigeria’s IP landscape earned her widespread industry respect, with peers affirming that “you can’t speak about IP in Nigeria without mentioning Chinyere.”

When the firm adopted a sector-based legal services approach, Chinyere was entrusted to lead this transformation as the firm’s Head of Sectors. Under her leadership, the firm developed and implemented a forward-thinking strategy that combined legal excellence with deep sector knowledge—enhancing client value across the firm’s five core sectors. She currently oversees strategy alignment, business development, and policy implementation, ensuring the firm remains competitive and responsive to global business trends.

As Sector Head, Health & Pharmaceuticals practice and as a medico-legal practitioner, Chinyere provides legal guidance at the intersection of healthcare and law, advising hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, other medical professionals etc., on healthcare regulation, compliance, medical ethics, and risk management. She supports clients with legal frameworks governing patient care, professional conduct, and institutional operations, and has deep experience in resolving complex disputes related to medical negligence, malpractice, and regulatory infractions. 

She advises multinational and local healthcare companies on navigating Nigeria’s complex regulatory environment and has contributed to industry frameworks aimed at promoting innovation and patient safety. Her regulatory acumen and sector expertise led to her appointment into the Executive Committee, first as Treasurer (2022-2024) and more recently, as Public Relations Secretary of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria; a key coalition of private sector stakeholders advocating for universal healthcare access in Nigeria.

Beyond her legal practice, Chinyere is a recognised leader, mentor, and advocate for female representation and equality. She was appointed into the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum, first as Vice Chairperson (2019-2022) and then as Chairperson (2022-2024), where she led transformative initiatives to advance the careers of female lawyers across Nigeria, expanding the Forum’s footprint and impact nationwide. She has been recognised as a leading female professional and was among Nigeria’s 50 Most Influential Women in the Legal Profession (BusinessDay, 2011) and also named one of Nigeria’s 20 Outstanding Women in Business Law (BusinessDay, 2020). She has also served as Council Member & Treasurer of the NBA Section on Business Law )2017-2018).

Other professional accolades & recognition include: Who’s Who Legal (2017–2024) as an Intellectual Property Expert; Chambers Global (2016–2025) as a Leading Individual in IP Law; World’s Leading Trademark Professionals by WTR 1000 (2016–2024), IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property (2014–2025) & was featured in Trademark Law Practitioners Expert Guides (2012–2023).

Chinyere is passionate about women’s leadership as is the visionary founder of Heels & Ladders Career Mentorship Club, an initiative focused on equipping female professionals with the tools to navigate workplace challenges and achieve sustainable career growth.