Ukiri & Lijadu (“U&L” or “Firm”) was established in 1993. Following a full merger in 1999 with another law firm and a strategic demerger in 2017, the Firm was reconstituted by Olufemi Lijadu and Ovie Ukiri, and repositioned as a full service commercial law firm offering first-class legal support to foreign and local clients as they navigate the exciting opportunities as well as challenges in Nigeria and Africa’s rapidly emerging marketplaces.
The Firm has offices in Lagos and Abuja and is led by Partners with several decades of experience in corporate and commercial law with experience and expertise in the Firm’s key practice areas. The Partners have a demonstrated record of assisting clients to build strategic relationships within the most effective and suitable legal framework and are supported by a very strong team of Associate Partners, Senior Associates and other levels of Associates with varied experiences and proficiencies in the Firm’s Practice Areas. The Firm also has first-hand experience in providing specialist legal advisory services to local and international organizations and government authorities, including Federal and State Governments in Nigeria and their agencies.
The Firm’s Practice Areas are Banking and Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, Taxation and Foreign Investment, Civil Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation, Corporate and Commercial, Technology and Intellectual Property, Compliance and Corporate Governance, and Company Secretarial Services. We employ innovative thinking to provide the best possible practical solutions to overcome legal or regulatory challenges and assist our clients to achieve their commercial objectives in an effective and efficient manner. Client care is our priority, thus, the Firm’s work is characterized by a solutions-based approach underpinned by thorough research, analytical thinking and attention to detail.
U&L employs expertise in local context and decades-long cross continent relationships to deliver timely and effective results to every situation based on our extensive network.
Our team is made up of the brightest minds who not only understand legal practises across local jurisdiction but also actively use technology and an understanding of business from a businessman’s perspective to simplify the processes of interpreting and applying the law.
We are at the forefront of developing new, intuitive, and simple legal approaches to the challenges of modern economies in areas such as energy and infrastructure, finance and biotechnology, and media and entertainment. We take pride in being able to communicate seamlessly and effectively with clients across the value chain of every sector of the economy.
We believe technology and creativity drive sustainable change and real growth. We are constantly exploring shifts in technology to anticipate potential challenges and opportunities for our clients. Our approach to solving problems revolves around thorough research and innovative thinking — whether drafting agreements, reviewing contracts or providing counsel — we always ask if there’s a better, simpler and more cost-effective solution than the conventional practice.
We embrace diversity as this enables us see the big picture and acquire a nuanced understanding of particular contexts and cultures, organizational and otherwise.. Our people come from different disciplines and specialisations to ensure we have a broad knowledge of what’s shaping businesses today and a keen understanding of ways to help our clients consistently create more value for their business.
There’s always a better solution that comes from developing close relationships and a deep understanding of our client’s needs. We listen and pay special attention to our clients’ requirements, preferences and their business challenges. We believe that the more we know our clients and the context of their respective businesses, the quicker and better we can examine all the possible angles to deliver timely, robust and lasting solutions.
Today’s complex economies need visionary and uncompromising leadership that will consistently take the tough decisions to deliver lasting impact. Africa’s emerging economies especially need high quality standards and value if they are to grow sustainably. We are committed to helping businesses thrive and succeed while maintaining the highest standards of quality, integrity and sustainability.
There’s a reason that our reputation precedes us: our multi-partner practice delivers specialized solutions to the challenges of commercial operations in Nigeria, Africa, and around the world.