Gbola Akinola graduated Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with honours from the University of Lagos in 1986 after obtaining a B.Sc. with honours in Political Science from the University of Ibadan in 1982. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987 and admitted to practice as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2021.
He was a State Counsel in the Civil Litigation Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, that is, in the Attorney general’s Chambers and later became the Special Assistant to the Solicitor General of the Federation of Nigeria between 1987 and 1988.

He joined the Corporate and Commercial law practice of George Etomi & Partners in January 1989 and became the Head, Litigation Department of the firm (1989-1992), where after he established his private practice Gbola Akinola & Co, in 1992. Prior to Gbola Akinola & Go’s merger with four other practices forming THE LAW UNION in May 1998, he developed a specialty in Corporate and Commercial law litigation, Arbitration, Oil and Gas Law, general Maritime and Aviation practice and Environmental issues.

He is a Legal Practitioner with cognate experience in Corporate and Commercial Law practice and a highly skilled advocate with extensive commercial legal advisory experience. He has acted on several occasions for Oil and Gas Companies, ship owners, charterers, shippers and marine insurers including P&I Clubs. Provided advice on several aspects of shipping law including ship arrests cargo loss and damage,’ ship sale and purchase, disputes arising out of bills of lading, charter parties, collisions, insurance and other marine related matters.