The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, has called for a major shift in how legal practice is structured in Nigeria, urging lawyers to adopt models that ensure continuity beyond the lifespan of firm founders.
Speaking on Friday in Abuja at the Convergence Africa Masterclass 26 for Law, themed “Beyond the Founder: Designing Multigenerational Law Firms that Endure and Scale,” Osigwe criticised the dominance of sole proprietorship in the profession, describing it as a major barrier to sustainability.
According to him, many law firms in the country are heavily dependent on their founders, making them vulnerable to collapse when those individuals retire, fall ill, or die.
“We have a situation where most practitioners operate as sole proprietors, and the survival of their firms is closely tied to their personal health or existence,” Osigwe said.
“What we need is a new approach, one that builds institutions capable of enduring, where responsibilities are shared and systems are in place for continuity.”
He emphasised the importance of partnership-driven structures, noting that such models allow firms to pool expertise, attract talent, and build stronger, more resilient institutions.
“We must begin to create law firms that draw on collective intellectual strength and business insight, ensuring they can deliver quality services and remain viable even after the founders are gone,” he added.
Osigwe further stressed that Nigerian firms should aspire to global standards, where some legal institutions have thrived for centuries due to strong internal systems and succession planning.
Also speaking at the event, the convener of the masterclass, Patience Olusuyi, said the initiative was designed to encourage lawyers to build firms that can outlive their founders.
“There are law firms globally that have existed for over 200 years, yet in Nigeria, many disappear once the founders step away,” she said.
“A truly successful law firm is one that continues to operate and serve clients long after its founder is no longer active.”
In his keynote address, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Paul-Haris Ogbole, echoed similar sentiments, noting that longevity in legal practice depends more on internal organisation than visibility.
“It is not about publicity; it is about building structures that allow firms to transcend generations,” Ogbole said.
“Lawyers within such firms must feel a sense of belonging and see a future for themselves within the system.”
