‘I have been instrumental in developing new practice areas at UUBO’- Jumoke Lambo

Mrs. Jumoke Lambo, the incoming Managing Partner of UdoUdoma and Belo-Osagie, one of the foremost law firms in Nigeria today, studied Law at University of Bristol, UK. She had earlier gained her O’Level and A’Level certificates at Ellerslie Girls School, in the same UK.

After bagging her law degree, she returned to Nigeria to attend the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1989. She subsequently did her NYSC at UdoUdoma& Belo-Osagie and got retained after her service year in 1990, meaning that as at today, she has spent over 35 years in the firm.

Lambo who became a Partner in 2000disclosed that she decided on reading law because of her passion for justice, equity and fairness in society. As someone that believes in ensuring everyone has access to justice, and is treated with dignity, with their fundamental rights respected, protected and preserved, she is thus obsessed with law. Apart from this, Mr. Femi Okunnu, SAN, her uncle, was a great influence on her. She reminisced that her discussions with him in her childhood days always centered on current events and this greatly fueled her desire to pursue a career in the profession.

Lambo who has had a distinguishable career at UUBO revealed that her areas of specialization include telecommunications, media and technology, data protection, commercial aviation law, employment law including corporate immigration and business establishment advisory, mergers and acquisitions with a focus on due diligence compliance and general corporate advisory. In 2010, she was seconded to Etisalat Nigeria as head of legal directorate where she was tasked with restructuring the unit. Similarly, she was seconded to Union Bank in 2014 to restructure their legal unit. Additionally, she oversees Alsec Nominees Ltd, the company secretarial arm of the firm which provides company secretarial and corporate compliance services for over 300 companies across almost every sector of the Nigerian economy.

She returns all glory to God for her accomplishments so far in life. Aside from God, she says she owes a great deal to her parents, Mr. Abdul Karim Ohimai Amu, OFR and Mrs MorayoYeside Amu and Mr. Femi Okunnu, SAN, who mentored and nurtured her. According to her, there are numerous others who she cannot mention individually but she remains grateful to all. She said that her aspirations when she left Law School was to reach the pinnacle of her career no matter where life takes her adding that it is gratifying that her prayers have been answered by the almighty.

Recalling some significant experiences in her over 35 years professional career, she offered: ‘‘One standout moment was when the firm was engaged by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Bureau for Public Enterprises to work with an international consortium of experts to review the Nigerian telecommunications framework. This project was life-transforming for me, sparking my interest in telecommunications and technology. I’m particularly grateful for this work because its benefits continue to drive advancements in the sector, contributing about 15% to Nigeria’s GDP.’’

She continued: ‘‘The secondments to Etisalat Nigeria and Union Bank were also pivotal assignments. These opportunities exposed me to new experiences and broadened my perspectives, significantly impacting how I engage with in-house counsel. They also inspired me to adopt new practices to enhance the firm’s efficiency, many of which we have implemented over the years.’’

Lambo who has been instrumental in developing new practice at UUBO such as the data protection practice, and expanding other practice areas to merge them or broaden the range of services provided to clients also handles the pastoral care of all employees. This involves counselling employees and being a supportive listener to address their concerns. This, she says, is because the firm is deeply committed to her employees’ well-being as well as their mental, physical and emotional health, thus ensuring a safe and supportive workplace for everyone.

Speaking on the challenges she’d had in her career, she had this to say: ‘‘Challenges often arise from the work clients refer to us and on a personal level. These challenges are what make the practice of law so exciting to me. No two matters are ever the same, regardless of how similar the facts may be. Each case has its unique characteristics, making the task enjoyable as we strive to find solutions that work for our clients. Balancing work and personal life also presented its challenges. I remember working on a project in Abuja while needing to be home every evening for family commitments. For two weeks, I took the first flight to Abuja and returned on the last flight each day. Despite the demanding schedule, the work proceeded smoothly, and my family was not neglected’’.

As she is on the cusp of becoming the Managing Partner of UUBO, Lambo is eagerly looking forward to an exciting tenure of growth and expansion. On the other hand, she aims to increase efforts at giving back to society and nurturing the next generation of young professionals. And to aspiring female professionals, she has these words of advice: ‘‘Dream big and strive to achieve your dreams. While there will be obstacles along the way, the only thing that can stop you is yourself. Surround yourself with women who have walked the path you aspire to take and seek mentorship from them’’.

A lover of children and youth she contends that she would have been working with children and youth or become a Human Resources professional if she had not gone into the law profession. In fact, even though she turned out to be a lawyer, she is currently involved with organizations supporting young women, providing them with the tools to succeed in their careers and become well-rounded individuals.