A full-service law firm, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (UUBO), has tasked corporate lawyers to reimagine their strategic roles in today’s fast-changing global environment.
This was at the firm’s inaugural General Counsel (GC) Summit in Lagos, organised to address the evolving challenges facing corporate counsel. The event assembled top legal minds, business leaders, and policy experts.
Held in partnership with Lex Mundi – the world’s leading network of independent law firms, the summit looked at “Confronting Complexity, Igniting Innovation, Reinventing Resilience.”
It also explored the critical intersections between legal, business, and policy imperatives shaping decisions in today’s boardrooms. Topics ranging from cross-border mergers and acquisitions, data protection, and AI governance, to navigating regulatory risk and geopolitical volatility were considered.
In his welcome address, a Senior Partner at UUBO and Chair of the Lex Mundi Board of Directors, Aniekan Ukpanah, said the summit creates a much-needed space for General Counsel to reflect, recalibrate, and reimagine their strategic roles.
The event featured Lex Mundi’s top executives, including Vice President of Global Markets, Eric Staal, and Director of Innovation, Andy McDonnell, who shared insights on AI, cybersecurity, and operational resilience.
The CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Dr Tayo Aduloju, who spoke on “Resilience in a Multipolar Era – Strategic Outlook for General Counsel,” highlighted Africa’s projected population boom and the implications on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
A leading voice on data governance, Godson Ogheneochuko, gave an overview of Nigeria’s evolving data protection environment and regulatory enforcement trends.
He emphasised the critical importance of regulatory preparedness, cross-border compliance, and proactive risk management by GCs. Partner in UUBO’s Mergers, Acquisitions and Private Equity teams, Christine Sijuwade, highlights the practical dealmaking complexities GCs face across African jurisdictions.
Drawing from Nigerian and international case studies, Sijuwade offered tactical insights on transaction structuring and managing legal risk in uncertain markets.
UUBO partner, Festus Onyia, stressed the proactive legal risk management and the importance of understanding dispute triggers before they escalate.
Other standout sessions included a GC Risk Agenda panel moderated by UUBO Managing Partner, Jumoke Lambo, and a CEO Fireside Chat titled “The GC Every CEO Wants,” featuring Seun Oni, CEO, AG Leventis and Femi Badeji, Executive Director, FCMB Group.
The summit also welcomed senior legal counsel from across Africa and the globe, including representatives of Lex Mundi member firms such as Bowmans, Faegre Drinker, Bentsi-Enchill, and Bennani & Associés.
