For the legal profession in Nigeria and Africa to develop and meet up with international standards it has to take steps to build big law firms.
This was the unanimity of views expressed at the 9th Annual Business Lecture Series of the law firm of SPA Ajibade & Co. which held at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos last Thursday.
This year’s lecture was chaired by Honourable Justice Chima Cletus Nweze of the Supreme Court, while the Keynote Speaker was Mr. Rob Millard, the co-chair of the International Bar Association’s International Law Practice Management Forum.
Discussants included Ms. Noella Lubano, a Partner in Kenya’s biggest law firm, Oraro & Co Advocates, Mr. Dan Agbor, Managing Partner in Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie and Korieh Duodu, Senior Counsel in Ghana’s biggest law firm, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomab. The theme of the 2016 lecture was ‘The Future of Legal Practice in Africa – An African Model for Big Law.’ In his opening remarks, Nweze JSC noted that “Law scholars in Nigeria should re- imagine the intellectual content and breath of their fields of study”.
“They should now be thinking of moulding and shaping future advocates who would have audience not only in Nigerian courts, but also in the global community of courts.” In his lead presentation, Rob Millard explained the concept of ‘Big Law’ and what it should mean in Africa, stating that the scale and sophistication of law firms in a given market, are a function of the complexity of the work that clients need done and hence the level of specialisation required to service their needs.
Millard said ‘Law firms will always play a vital role in unlocking Africa’s future. ‘The ‘Big Law’ model is something that evolved during the course of the twentieth century, though, in other parts of the world.’
He itemised 10 attributes which successful big law firms in Africa must have:
1. A strong disputes practice and a suite of corporate and commercial practices. 2. A primarily local law focus. 3. Strong practice groups. 4. A market that is competitive with the ‘Big 4’ advisory firms.
5. Close relationships with one or more international law firms.
6. An inclusive, collegial governance system.
7. Appropriate technology, including for knowledge management.
8. Key client accounts (and perhaps a strong client industry sector focus.)
9. A clearly articulated, competitive market position.
10. Thoughtful approaches to delivering efficiency.
In his discussion of the lead paper, Mr. Dan Agbor pointed out what he identified as the major constraints of Nigerian law firms in attaining the Big Law status, noting that the biggest five law firms in Nigeria have a total of not more than 350 lawyers.
This is in sharp contrast to what obtains in the United Kingdom where a single law firm has as many as 3,000 partners or more.
He observed however, that, Nigeria is actually transiting into a Big Law country.
By: Jude Igbanoi
Thisday News
