Former University of Benin classmates look to build their own ‘big law firm’ as Abe and Asotie LP launched

Beyond being a legal service provider, newly launched Nigerian firm Abe and Asotie LP is a growth enabler for clients, for businesses in general, and will passionately pursue positive societal influence, says Managing Partner Theokalus Asotie.

“This is because in our role as legal professionals we believe that we have a whole world of good to do for society, both for now and for the future,” says Asotie, who has previously worked as an in-house counsel in the Nigerian banking sector, following his first few years of practice as an associate in one of West Africa’s largest law firms. 

Now he’s established Abe and Asotie with University of Benin law school classmate Joshua Abe, with big ambitions to grow their new firm into a large African practice itself. The pair also worked together in recent years as partners at CM Advocates. 

After building its foundations and working with local and international clients across the mining, aviation, oil and gas, banking and finance, and technology sectors, Abe and Asotie was officially unveiled by its co-founders yesterday, in an online video.

“What we are hoping to do is with the quality of the legal team we have we believe that we will be able to expand our practice areas and sectors within the shortest possible time,” says Abe, who last year received the "Icon of Hope" Award from Nigerian students in recognition of his contributions to nation-building and humanity.

As it is officially launched, Abe and Asotie LP is a full-service law firm with four lawyers, operating across a diverse array of practice areas and industry sectors. 

Abe shared memories of he and Asotie being fresh from law school and being excited about the potential of working with the big law firms in Nigeria, then being able to do so. He practiced for almost nine years at leading Nigerian firm Aluko & Oyebode, before striking out on his own journey, which has included winning University of California, Berkeley’s African Legal Impact Award, and completing an LLM at that university with specialisation in Business Law and Technology Law.

“But today the responsibility of building a big law firm rests squarely on our shoulders,” he says. “As challenging as this might be, we are excited about the prospect and we believe that we’ll be able to accomplish this target before us and become the big law firm that we always spoke about.” 

A law firm the next generation will be excited to work with.