ALN – Africa’s leading alliance of law firms – announces the joining of a new member firm, ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode, the largest full-service law firm in Nigeria, making a bold statement about its modern strategic vision and its role in the transformational shifts happening in the way excellent legal services are delivered in Africa.
Africa is becoming a bigger player in the global economy, where a surplus of workers, increased stability and technology are transforming the Continent’s economies. Notably, Nigeria is the largest economy, and the most populous, not only in West Africa but across the wider Continent, accounting for 18.4% of total African GDP in 2021 – the largest share in Africa. As rising investment into sectors outside the traditional extractive industries in Africa creates more sustainable long-term growth, the African Continental Free Trade Area, which has a combined GDP of USD 2.7 trillion, has the potential to create the biggest free trade area in the world – cutting red tape and boosting intra-African trade. At ALN, we believe that investment into the Continent over the coming years will focus on the key sectors and opportunities that will define the Continent’s growth in the short and long term.
Aluko & Oyebode’s decision to join the ALN alliance reaffirms the alliance’s approach to how it sees new opportunities, in the bid to help unlock value for our clients who are doing business and investing across Africa. This development is a crucial turning point for ALN. It significantly increases the alliance’s response to clients’ needs and will enhance ALN’s capabilities and standing in the market. It also builds on the solid foundation that ALN has developed over the years for its pan-African offering. The alliance continues to offer a unique blend of global skills and expertise and local know-how, based on collaboration between leading African law firms, including Aluko & Oyebode.
“The firm’s in-depth knowledge of the legal and economic environment, in Africa and internationally, allows us to advise our clients on the most complex transactions and meet their needs with excellence. We believe that our firm joining ALN will greatly strengthen our ability to service our clients wherever they are operating on the Continent. We completely share the vision of ALN to become the leading legal service provider in Africa.” – Gbenga Oyebode, Co-founder and Of Counsel, ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode.
Aluko & Oyebode is widely regarded as the leading full-service law firm in Nigeria, with over 120 lawyers in the major commercial centres of Nigeria – Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. It is the most highly ranked firm across all the key practice areas in the Nigerian market and has been one of the firms that have pioneered the development of legal services to international standards in Nigeria. The firm was co-founded and led for several years by Gbenga Oyebode, one of Nigeria’s most prominent corporate lawyers. Gbenga’s vision, dynamism and legal intellect have driven the firm’s development to its position today. The firm has extensive capabilities and in-depth expertise across key practice areas as well as specialist and technical skills in new and innovative areas.
“We are delighted to welcome on board the leading law firm in Nigeria. The addition of Aluko & Oyebode’s expertise and extensive experience into our fold means that clients can trust that we are an alliance that spans Africa and connects her to the world, that they can thrive in this evolving market and achieve their commercial objectives with ALN’s unique combination of local and international expertise, intellectual rigour, and agility on their side.” – Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra, Chairman, ALN.
Aluko & Oyebode is motivated by a vision to complement its robust domestic practice with the capability to service clients regionally. As such, and in recognition of the value that clients have gained as a result of the firm’s deep knowledge of Nigerian law and its breadth of international expertise, Aluko & Oyebode strengthens ALN’s regional offering by providing greater access to a broader pool of specialist teams and resources. The pursuit of excellence by both ALN and Aluko & Oyebode is captured by the expectation of delivering legal services with the highest ethical standards and enhanced by an ambitious entrepreneurial spirit.
“The African Continent is an undeniably dynamic market and a springboard for real development opportunities for many domestic and international companies. Today, we are immensely proud to be part of the ALN alliance. With this joining of forces, we bring a tailor-made legal service to our domestic and international clients with a focus on meeting the highest international standards to support and secure their operations wherever they are operating.” – Kofo Dosekun, Chair of the Management Board, ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode.
ALN is positioned to lead the way forward, focusing on excellence and further deepening of capabilities to deliver a positive and proactive approach to supporting clients in overcoming their business challenges. This strategy is a reflection of a sophisticated response to the development of legal services in Africa and Aluko & Oyebode will significantly grow ALN’s reach and bench strength in the market. We are ready to transform the way legal services are delivered in Africa through a dynamic integrated operational model of “One Region. One Vision. One ALN”.
“We are confident that Aluko & Oyebode’s entry into the ALN alliance will forge a stronger and more comprehensive offering for our clients in Nigeria and across Africa. Similarly, we remain grateful to our clients and other key stakeholders whose support has continually facilitated our growth. As the exclusive ALN firm in Nigeria, Aluko & Oyebode will continue to leverage the alliance’s approach to provide integrated solutions to support clients in doing business across the Continent.” – Karim Anjarwalla, ALN Board Director and Senior Partner, ALN Kenya.
Aluko & Oyebode continues to put good governance at the heart of its operating model to ensure that systems and leadership structures position the firm well in a fast-changing and challenging market. The appointment of Reginald Udom as the Managing Partner in 2021, working together with a dynamic Partnership and management team, is instrumental to the firm’s success and growth across Africa as it transitions from a founder-led organisation to an enduring institution.
“As an alliance of integrated law firms in Africa, our people and their knowledge are critical assets in differentiating us from our competitors and in adding value to our service offering. Having Aluko & Oyebode join ALN is a major step in transforming Africa’s current legal services and a crucial turning point for the Continent. This decisive process significantly increases ALN’s influence and provides a solid foundation for the future development of our pan-African offering.” – Reginald Udom, Managing Partner, ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode.
