NBA Advocates for Legal Practice Reforms in Nigeria

Afam Osigwe, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), called for fundamental reforms in Nigeria's legal practice during a masterclass held in Abuja on October 26. He urged lawyers to move away from sole proprietorship models and adopt partnership structures that can ensure the longevity and sustainability of law firms.

Osigwe highlighted the concerning trend of law firms collapsing upon the retirement or death of their founders, which limits growth in the face of global competition. He emphasized the importance of institutionalizing partnerships to pool intellectual and financial resources, attract talent, and create synergies that allow firms to endure.

Osigwe noted that a partnership-based model would enable law firms to provide first-class services and continue generating dividends for the families of founders even after their passing. Paul Hari Ogbol, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, echoed these sentiments, stressing that law firms must develop internal structures that transcend generations to ensure their longevity.