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Expert urges lawyers to embrace technology

By Onoharhigho Omovudidi
06 August 2019   |   3:08 am
Following the recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by president Muhamadu Buhari, the Managing Director of Law Pavilion Business Solutions Ltd. Mr. Ope Olugasa has called on Nigerian and African lawyers to embrace modern technologies in order to compete successfully in the provision of legal services across the continent.    

Managing Director, Law Pvilion, Mr. Ope Olugasa.

Following the recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by president Muhamadu Buhari, the Managing Director of Law Pavilion Business Solutions Ltd. Mr. Ope Olugasa has called on Nigerian and African lawyers to embrace modern technologies in order to compete successfully in the provision of legal services across the continent.
   
Olugasa made the call at the weekend during a press briefing at the headquarters of Law Pavilion Business Solutions Limited in Lagos state.

He stated that the company has keenly observed and followed the deliberations on the AfCFTA which has the primary objective of enhancing Intra Africa trade to promote accelerated economic integration of the African continent.

  
“The AfCFTA, which Nigeria became a signatory to in July 2019, has significant importance for Nigeria, particularly in view of the fact that Nigeria with an estimated population of 200 million people, represents the largest economy in Africa, and thus has the potential of being the biggest beneficiary of the AfCFTA, if well executed and implemented,” he said.
   
In regards to legal services, he drew attention to the staggering statistics that between 70 percent and  80 percent of the high-end legal services consumed in Africa is provided by law firms and lawyers in Europe and North America, leaving African lawyers to scramble for the remaining 20 to 30 percent.
   
“One of the difficulties that have beleaguered the provision of excellent and efficient legal services in Africa is the inadequacy of the type of capacity needed to compete with Law firms in London, New York or Paris.
   
“In response to these difficulties, LawPavilion has developed and is now showcasing its newest solution – The Solicitors and Arbitrators’ Toolkit (SAT),” he pointed out.
   
Olugasa further affirmed that the SAT, together with LawPavilion’s Practise Management Software, boasts of a Document Authoring and Management platform, which provides access to hundreds of customizable forms and precedents, court forms and insight notes on various practice areas.
   
He said moreover with the introduction of electronic filing at the Supreme Court, and the foreseeability that any arbitral tribunal set up under the AfCFTA will leverage significantly on electronic filings, robust document management, and correspondence, it is more imperative than ever for Nigerian lawyers to get on board.
   
“To demonstrate the unique value proposition of LawPavilion’s new and enhanced offerings, the company has set up Experience Centers in its Lagos and Abuja offices and invites legal practitioners for hands-on experience,” he said.

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