Leadership in Corporate Commercial Law: Aderonke Alex-Adedipe’s Insights
Aderonke Alex-Adedipe, Founding & Managing Partner at Pavestones Legal, has a career spanning over a decade. Her journey began with a call to the Bar in 2009. She gained practical experience at Strachan Partners before co-founding Pavestones in 2018 with Partner Seun. Her expertise predominantly lies in Finance, Technology, and Corporate and Commercial transactions, building on her early focus on commercial dispute resolution.
What services and sector does Pavestones specialise in, and what values does the firm represent?
Pavestones is a full-service corporate commercial law firm with particular interest and expertise in Technology, Foreign Investment, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Sustainability. We provide services to businesses operating across various sectors, including Finance, Telecommunications, Real Estate, FMCG, and Entertainment, amongst others.
How would you describe the implementation of affirmative action policies in Nigeria, particularly regarding women’s leadership roles? Nigeria adopted a National Gender Policy a few years ago, specifically aimed at ensuring 35% female participation in public governance at all levels. Evidently, this threshold is currently underachieved. Could this be because not many women are putting themselves forward for governance positions? Or could it be that not many women are eligible for these positions and so the merit of their appointments may be questionable?
Whatever the case may be, women remain clearly underrepresented in governance. There must be deliberate advocacy, consistent action by the government, and wilful participation by women in promoting Affirmative Action.
Do you believe women face marginalisation, and if so, what can be done to address this?
Historically, women have been marginalised by design, and this has constrained our economic and socio-political abilities. Women must therefore recognize that traditional institutions and societal norms are not necessarily established in their favour, and for this reason, we have the tendency to be more vulnerable. Women, therefore, have “a point to prove” that they are not the weaker or less privileged sex.
But this is not a fight by women alone. We need men to support the cause for gender equality, recognising that marginalisation impacts their significant others, mothers, and daughters. And no, it is not a war of feminism against chauvinism. It is a recognition and deliberate stance that all men are born equal and that societal values must be redesigned across all social strata to embrace this concept. And it starts with the little things- how we train the boy child vs how we train the girls, how we treat male employees compared to female employees, women taking up jobs in roles that are traditionally “meant for men” and men, vice versa.
As a career woman, how do you manage your family, work and other social
engagements?
These are three aspects of my life that are very important to me. Because there is really no such thing as equilibrium in life, it is always about “trying” to maintain a balance, which often feels like a see-saw. Sometimes, I might have to pay a little less attention to one aspect of my life in favour of the other(s), but not losing sight of any of the other aspects helps me stay focused such that one does not suffer in favour of another.
I also know when it is time to take a holiday, which may mean a hiatus from all three. This helps me recharge and recalibrate when I have to so I can avoid burn out.
What drives your passion for your career, and what advice would you give to young women aspiring to succeed in the legal industry?
My passion is driven by the fact that I cannot afford to fail and by my innermost desire to continue practicing law. I have experienced situations where I have had to make choices, and in those moments, I realised that I had no motivation to do anything else but law. Growth also drives me. Knowing that the idea of Pavestones was conceived only a few years ago and that we continue to grow, achieve our goals, and set higher standards remains a strong motivating force.
My advice to young lawyers is this: law as a profession should not just be a means to an end. It should never be treated as just a job. As is the case with every other profession, you must genuinely love what you do to be successful and remain committed even when success does not appear imminent. If you love it, then you are more likely to remain focused and trust the process.
Finally, remember that law is often described as a “jealous mistress”, and rightly so. To be an outstanding lawyer, you must give it your best and more. At the same time, you must learn to balance your work with personal interests such as relationships, social obligations, motherhood, and other commitments.
A Passionate Advocate for Women Empowerment: Seun Timi-Koleolu
Seun Timi-Koleolu is a distinguished Founding Partner at Pavestones Legal, a globally recognised law firm. With over 17 years of experience, she has developed expertise in advising on complex business transactions, including Corporate and Commercial Law, Foreign Direct Investments, Technology Law, Private Equity, and Data Protection. Throughout her career, she has successfully led teams of lawyers in both private practice and in-house roles, delivering high-quality legal services to clients.
Throughout her career, she has advised on numerous high-profile transactions, including the Etisalat Nigeria $1.2 billion financing, Africa’s first outsourcing project, and the entry of a major multinational sports brand into Nigeria. Other notable deals include pioneering biometric payment services, establishing the first indigenous British school, and Fintech mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, she has helped organizations build robust compliance and ethics cultures.
Her contributions to the legal profession have earned her prestigious awards, including the 2024 Woman Leader in Law Award at the Africa Legal Awards in South Africa and the 2021 Partner of the Year award at the Africa Legal Awards in South Africa. She is also recognised as a Fintech Leading Lawyer in the 2025 and 2024 Chambers & Partners Fintech directory, reflecting her expertise in supporting technology startups in Nigeria.
She is the author of the Pavestones Doing Business Simplified series, which provides valuable insights into Nigeria’s business landscape, bridging the information gap for local and foreign businesses. This initiative has garnered numerous thought leadership awards for both her and the Pavestones team.
Her passion for positive impact is evident in the Pavestones Women Empowerment Program, which provides women with access to free legal services and expert-led empowerment initiatives, supporting them in building successful businesses.
Additionally, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Technology Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law ((NBA-SBL). She holds a LL.B. from the University of Warwick and an LL.M. from University College London.
What core values does the Pavestones represent?
At Pavestones, we define ourselves as a modern law firm through our core values. We prioritize simplicity, ensuring our clients can easily understand the legal advice and transaction documents we prepare, free from unnecessary jargon. We also value accessibility, making it easy for clients to reach us and receive timely support, while providing access to information that facilitates quick decision-making.
Additionally, we focus on commercial savviness, striving to understand our clients’ business and commercial goals to deliver practical and effective advice. Our lawyers are trained to be solution-driven, seeking ways to support clients in achieving their objectives within the bounds of the law, while thinking creatively and strategically.
Lastly, we recognize the importance of embracing technology in our service delivery, continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of our clients globally.
Can you assess the representation of women in leadership positions across various sectors in Nigeria?
Although female representation in leadership positions remains low as compared to male representation, Nigerian women are progressively claiming more leadership roles across various sectors, including the Minister of Trade and Investment, and the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, amongst others. This suggests a positive shift toward gender inclusion in the nation’s governance and economy. The growth of Female leaders in government reflects an increasing recognition of women’s expertise in driving strategic national initiatives.
In the corporate arena, sectors like banking and finance have seen a noticeable rise in female representation in executive and board positions including institutions such as Zenith Bank and GTB. Similarly, the legal and judicial fields continue to benefit from the contributions of distinguished women, both as senior partners in top law firms and as judges in high courts.
Notwithstanding these positive trends, female representation is still very low and we need more organizations like WIMBIZ and the Pavestones Women Empowerment Program to provide mentorship, advocacy, and resources to empower the next generation of women leaders.
As a career woman, how do you manage your family, work and other social
engagements?
Successfully navigating my responsibilities as a law firm founder, wife, mother, church leader and maintaining leadership responsibilities in various committees and associations is not an easy task. There are days when the multitude of responsibilities can feel overwhelming. My approach to balancing these different aspects of life begins with recognizing the utmost priority for me—my family. This helps me audit my time and decide what to prioritize when there is an unescapable conflict.
To manage it all, my strategy includes prioritizing effectively, setting boundaries, and declining opportunities that do not align with my goals; recognizing that I do not need to attend every event or take on every task every task; delegating tasks to team members and investing in training/building them up as leaders to confidently handle major responsibilities whilst I maintain oversight in the background. I have also implemented good systems at work, such as flexible work hours to allow all team members maintain a good work life balance and I also benefit from the flexibility.
More importantly, I am blessed with a great spouse and we support each other in keeping the family front whilst achieving our career goals.
What drives your passion for your career, and what advice would you give to young women aspiring to succeed in the legal industry?
My passion for the legal profession stems from its capacity to create meaningful change. I find fulfillment in using my expertise to positively impact lives, guide businesses toward sustainable growth, and contribute to societal progress. The dynamic nature of law ensures every day brings new challenges and learning opportunities, making the legal sector exciting and impactful.
To women aspiring to build fulfilling legal careers, I offer guidance: invest in learning through reading, practice, and seeking wisdom from others. Prioritise roles that expand your skills, as competence will attract financial reward. Trust your journey, embracing imperfection and growth, and don’t let criticism dim your confidence.
Define your vision by setting clear goals and regularly revisiting them. Nurture your whole self by prioritizing emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Celebrate progress, affirm your worth, and move forward with purpose and resilience.
