Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore (SAN), has lamented the inadequate infrastructure that hinders the efficient functioning of the legal system and deter potential arbitration.
Shasore, a recipient of the ESQ Nigerian Legal Award (NLA), emphasised that implementing proper infrastructural development would lead to substantial growth in the field of arbitration in Lagos and Nigeria. He said this in Lagos during the NLA presentation to deserving lawyers and law firms at the weekend.
“Of course, if we set up the support infrastructure properly, we will be the citadel of justice,” Shasore assured. Co-founder, ESQ Training Limited, the organisers of the NLA, Temitayo Samuel, stated that the NLA serves as the catalyst for promoting excellence and professionalism within the profession.
“By recognising and celebrating outstanding achievements, these awards inspire legal practitioners to continually strive for greatness and uphold the highest standards of integrity.
They provide a patent for law firms and legal departments to show their expertise and leadership in various practice areas, fostering healthy competition and driving innovation across the industry.
“The Nigerian Legal Award 2024 is a beacon of excellence, driving positive change, and fostering a culture, observation and integrity in the legal profession,” she said.
On how the nominees were selected, Samuel explained that the ESQ team conducted an in-depth analysis of in-house lawyers and legal departments in Nigeria, receiving more than 1,000 individual nominations from over 360 organisations.
“Respondents focus on criteria such as effective communication, legal understanding, commercial awareness, innovation in pricing, teamwork, debt and strength of the team, and management skills.
“Awards are presented to both individuals and entities working in areas such as corporate law, labour and employment, matters of acquisition, fintech, banking and finance, intellectual property and real estate,” she explained.
The Chief Executive Officer of ESQ Legal Practice Magazine, the organisers of the NLA, Lere Fashola added that the award looks at the impacts lawyers are making, especially the major commercial law firms in Nigeria.
His words: “We want to look at their contributions beyond just being enablers of business or courtroom practitioners to supporting and strengthening businesses in Nigeria and that is why we are looking at the impacts and not the history of the firms.
We are not interested in the size of a firm or its history, but the impacts that they are making in the industry. Whether in the oil and gas sector, project finance, real estate, or in intellectual property. Gone are the days when lawyers were regarded as call centres.”
He stressed that lawyers are now enablers of businesses. According to him, they are partners to businesses, and it is to their credit that a lot of businesses are still staying afloat in this period of hyperinflation.
Fashola added that it is on account of that that they celebrate them, noting that seeing the law firms and their contributions to nation-building inspires him a lot.
“I’m excited about the 40 Under 40 Award, which recognises young lawyers who are regarded as the future of the profession.
“The award recognises exceptional young people who contribute exceptionally, and are seen as talents who, if well nurtured, will end up being some of the best Nigeria can offer the world,” he declared.
Former Attorney General of the Federation, Bayo Ojo (SAN), who won the Lifetime Achievement Award, encouraged young lawyers to be hardworking as the future is bright for them.
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