At HARLEM, we prize relationships over profits and are truly enamoured of the robust synergy among our lawyers, staff and third parties
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Babatunde I.G. Lawal, Esq., LL.B, B.L, LL.M, MCIArb., MNIPR, FCAI
Principal Partner/CEO
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
- Member, African Arbitration Association (AAA)
- Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
- Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
- Member, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb.)
- Member, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria (ICC)
- Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration (FCAI)
Babatunde, an alumnus of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, bagged a degree in Law of the Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, after successfully completing a Diploma-in-Law before he proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, and graduated summa cum laude with a Masters degree in Law following his being called to the Nigerian Bar. He later trained to join the membership of both the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
Babatunde’s vast experience and redoubtable skills in the general law practice and, profoundly, in the corporate sector extend to a variety of areas, including dispute/conflict resolution, government & community relations, contract negotiations, crisis management, corporate/commercial matters, real estate law as well as site acquisition (SAQ). He also has sufficiently cogent experience with confronting Immigration issues, general grievances and drafting commercial agreements and leases.
Prior to founding HARLEM, Babatunde cut his teeth on the profession, working in the Litigation unit of Chief Bon Nwakanma, SAN & Co. in Owerri, Imo State and continued in active legal practice in the Law firm of Alhaji Y.A Agbaje, SAN (with Mr. Akeem Agbaje as the then Supervisor) at Agbaje, Agbaje & Co. Legal Practitioners in Ibadan.
Babatunde ventured into the Corporate practice terrain in 2004 and garnered a handful of awards for consistent hardwork and religious commitment to excellence while in the employ of the multi-national telecommunication companies, receiving accolades so numerous enough to give electronic calculator severe circuit trouble, and rated as a Solid Performer during his entire career as an in-house Counsel, cutting across all areas of Regulatory/Compliance, ADR/Arbitration, Litigation, Real Estate, Lease Negotiations/Renewals & Drafting, Crisis Management, Recovery cases as well as Community and Government relations (not a small task!).
Babatunde’s unique personality and his adept writing skills have enshrined him in the hearts of the firm’s clients. Popularly known as ‘Bigg Laww’, and for doing as he promises, Babatunde also enjoys writing, blogging and spending quality time with his family.
e-mail: biglaw@harlemsolicitors.com
* Phone: +234 8033852360
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Kola Fatoye, Esq., LL.B, B.L, LL.M, Notary Public
Chair, Litigation Group
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
- Notary Public
Kola earned his Law degree summa cum laude from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, and called to the Nigerian Bar over two decades ago. He also bagged his Masters degree in Law (LL.M) from Obafemi Awolowo University.
Kola started his legal practice in the law firm of Alfred Okupon in Benin City, Edo State, where he acquired significant experience which gave him broad exposure to a variety of civil and commercial litigation matters, before he moved to Agbaje, Agbaje & Co., where he set the foundation for a trenchant success -spanning over 11 years- garnering a great deal of experience representing clients in litigation and maintaining a robust appellate practice while allowing for synergy between the lawyers, staff and third parties to be as optimal as possible.
Relying on his focused, tenured and consistent leadership in the Litigation Group, Kola has pursued multiple cases to favourable verdict for clients and represented a wide spectrum of clients in diverse matters raging from Wills, Probates, Corporate/Commercial Litigation, Employment & Labour, Civil and Criminal Litigation to high-exposure cases involving government-linked conglomerates, corporations and private high net worth individuals. He is also a Notary Public.
During his personal time, Kola likes reading and travelling.
e-mail: kola.fatoye@harlemsolicitors.com
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Grace Kalu, Esq. LL.B, B.L.
Senior Associate/Team Lead
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
Grace graduated magna cum laude (Top 5%) with a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Uyo and also graduated with a First Class from the Nigerian Law School while emerging as the 7th Overall Best Student, with three awards to her name.
Having cut her teeth in the legal profession at the time-honoured law firm of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN & Co., Grace has been suitably groomed and adequately equipped to handle complex legal issues with minimal supervision. Constantly craving for success over the long haul, Grace is an ambitious team member with a sensuous nose for details and unquenchable thirst for client satisfaction, arriving HARLEM with a high volt of Corporate/Commercial and Litigation experiences as well as a demonstrable expertise in dispute resolution through litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), leveraging on her deeply entrenched commitment towards addressing the broader policy and institutional barriers which confront litigants in pursuit of ADR.
A remarkably protean thinker, Grace has acquired certifications in Copyright from the Harvard Law School, Intellectual Property from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Digital Marketing from Google, among others. She is a bundle of creative, goal-oriented and problem-solving skills, blessed as she is with great wit, intelligence, keen sense of proactive pre-planning and forward-looking resourcefulness.
Grace loves reading, researching, writing and watching movies in her spare time.
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Zephaniah Adediran, Esq., LL.B, B.L
Executive Associate
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
Zephaniah graduated from University of Ilorin and was duly called to the Nigerian Bar in 2018. Endowed with a keen determination and razor-sharp sense of right and wrong, knowing the value of having a lawyer who communicates with his clients and understands their immediate concerns, Zephaniah enjoys advising start-ups and big organisations on regulatory compliance matters, helping them to make prudent, mission-aligned decisions in mindful ways.
Blessed as he is with significant strengths in regulatory and transactional aspects of the legal practice, Zephaniah is adept at handling Corporate and Commercial Transactions, Intellectual Property, and Wills & Probate matters, being buoyed by her resilient attitude, strong values, keen determination and razor-sharp sense of right and wrong.
Prior to joining HARLEM, Zephaniah enjoyed an illustrious career with Funmi Roberts & Co., Ibadan, where he gained significant strengths in Corporate/Commercial Transactions, high-conflict civil and commercial litigation and set a textbook example of success drafting of real estate documents, researching litigation matters, easing individuals’ worries with unbelievable ease and top quality ‘on-call’ legal solutions. He combines analytical precision with creative processes, matched with his robust ability to encourage bold commitment and unrelenting hard work within the team.
During his free time, Zephaniah enjoys reading, researching and travelling.
e-mail: zephaniah.adediran@harlemsolicitors.com
Phone: +234-9090041104/8033852360
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Timilehin Olalusi, Esq., LL.B, B.L
Associate
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
Timilehin received her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree from University of Ibadan, graduating cum laude before being duly called to the Nigerian Bar.
She is an industrious lawyer whose unquenchable desire for excellence and perfection has contributed to delivery of top-notch services to our Clients, combining analytical precision with creative processes.
Timilehin enjoyed an illustrious career with Kunle Kalejaye, SAN & Co. from where she joined HARLEM with a high volt of trial experience, tremendous courage under fire and strong professional values, bringing a broad perspective and skill set to bear on producing excellent outcomes, as she perfectly understands both the immense pressure and responsibility of ownership as well as the massive, intense rush of entrepreneurialism.
An inveterate people person, Timilehin has also garnered cogent experience in Intellectual Property and the Capital Markets, among others. She joined HARLEM as a lawyer of exceptional stamp and a valuable asset to our team providing tenacious, client-oriented legal services. To say that she displays a powerful drive for progress and client satisfaction in these areas is to say that Albert Einstein knows his sums!
In her free time, Timilehin loves listening to music, reading and writing.
e-mail: timilehin.olalusi@harlemsolicitors.com
Phone: +234-8182403775/8033852360
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Cyprian Adoga, Esq., LL.B, B.L
Associate
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
Cyprian obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree from Benue State University, Makurdi, before being duly called to the Nigerian Bar.
He is blessed with significant strengths in drafting legal documents, researching litigation matters, ADR issues and Corporate/Commercial issues, including Intellectual Property. She also designs lasting solutions in areas of Wills & Probates, ICT, Mortgages and Debt Recovery. A stickler for accuracy, Cyprian is credited with being a committed lawyer and a valuable asset to our team providing tenacious, client-oriented legal services and working very hard to ensure that clients’ interests are represented and their legal rights, properly protected.
An inveterate people person, Cyprian loves reading, researching and watching movies during his leisure period.
email: cyprian.adoga@harlemsolicitors.com
Phone: +234 8094907777/8033852360
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Jadesola Esan, Esq., LL.B, B.L
Associate
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
Jadesola bagged a Second Class Upper Bachelor of Laws Degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, before being duly called to the Nigerian Bar, also graduating with a Second Class Upper.
As a linchpin of HARLEM’s Dispute Resolution practice group, Jadesola brings an exceptionally strong commercial and business perspectives to her legal advice, constantly advising and representing clients in disputes relating to real estate, labour and employment, corporate and commercial matters.
Quick of wit, Jadesola is blessed with a rare knack for ingenious creativeness, bringing a high level of professionalism and an enormous capacity for dedication and enthusiasm to bear on her duties and relationship with clients while leveraging on her practice model which believes that the substratum of legal representation is to build an integrity based on mutual trust by putting clients first. While Jadesola’s practice in HARLEM is ultimately driven by client needs, she is the team’s main point of contact on ADR matters, Cyber Law, Regulatory & Compliance Issues, General Mediation as well as Governmental affairs.
Her interests outside of legal practice include listening to music, travelling, reading and writing.
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Kelechi UmahiHR/Legal Practice Manager
Kelechi is a Second Class Upper graduate of Law from Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State.
An assiduous problem solver, Kelechi is distinguished by her unending patience and ability to relate to all the firm’s clients with polished professionalism and genuine pleasantness while driving through their concerns, full-throttle, and designing workable, lasting solutions.
Kelechi is a self-motivated paralegal with a strong sense of analytical thinking and an unbendable passion for problem solving, an avid reader, decorated with an art of sportsmanship. Adept at combining razor-sharp accuracy with quiet efficiency, she plays an undoubtedly pivotal role in strengthening the firm’s business models through cast-iron business development initiatives designed towards more attractive, tremendous potential growth opportunities and improvement of the firm’s bench strength.
Outside HARLEM, Kelechi enjoys watching movies, reading, writing and travelling.
e-mail: kelechi.umahi@harlemsolicitors.com
Phone: +234-9090041103/8033852360
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Executive Assistant (Corporate Support Services)
Blessing Abimbola is a 2019 Graduate of University of Lagos. Being an ardent believer of achievement of the best results through alternative resolution strategies, she provides practical telephonic support and straight-forward assistance in promoting relationship with our Corporate Clients while ascertaining and trouble-shooting any issue being experienced by them.
Constantly craving for success over the long haul, Blessing is an ambitious team member with a sensuous nose for details and unquenchable thirst for client satisfaction, blessed, no doubt, with eclectic mix of Client Relationship Management and Client Acquisition, and has arrived HARLEM with great professionalism, unimpeachable work ethics and overwhelming passion for corporate oversight, research and development, corporate governance and internal support systems. She came on board with impressive credentials as an optimistic, resourceful, result-oriented and a valuable asset to our team providing tenacious, client-oriented legal services while working very hard to ensure that clients’ interests are represented and their legal rights, properly protected.
To say that Blessing is blessed with a powerful drive for progress and client satisfaction is to say that Albert Einstein knows his sums! Her lofty ideals and expertise on the job have endured intact since she came on board. These lofty ideals have inevitably provided sizable clientele base for HARLEM and consistently defined the Firm’s self-identity. Forthrightness, honesty and truth-telling fairness are her credos and with a firm whose watchword promises ‘Honest Advice, Proactive Strategies’, she finds herself in her element.
In her leisure, Blessing loves travelling and watching films.
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Toluwalope Ajibare, B.Sc.
Administrative Manager
Kezia, as she is fondly called, is a Second Class Upper Graduate of University of Ilorin, Kwara State, and an intelligent, dynamic, highly motivated and passionate team member. After her NYSC programme, she had a great and fulfilled career with different organizations where she garnered cogent experience in effective customer service relationship, office administration and requisite skills to meet strict deadlines and also, providing solutions to meet challenging business needs.
Kezia is analytical and detail-oriented and possesses a sabre-sharp and tailored competence in Client Relationship Management, Cross-Functional Team Collaboration and Client Relationship Building. She is our lead efforts in coordinating, planning and providing support in our daily operational and administrative functions even as we forge ahead in our sustained efforts towards providing tenacious, client-oriented legal services.
In her leisure, Kezia enjoys singing, travelling and watching films.
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