By Daniel Bulusson, Esq
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/NBBSPIDEL.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
“If GOD knew that the right eye won’t help the left eye, or the right hand won’t help the left hand, he would have created them one each” DR A.K USMAN, ESQ
So this writer woke up one fateful morning, as usual before getting up from bed, I was scrolling through messages in my WhatsApp groups, and one comment from an amiable senior colleague M.T Mohammed, Esq in my NBA Kaduna Branch whatsapp platform struck a chord, “AGF Urges lawyers to embrace partnership for enhanced practice, as partnership bring together lawyers with diverse expertise, fostering comprehensive legal solutions and promoting creativity in jurisprudence“, and I followed with a comment that some legal practitioners are gifted solicitors, while some are gifted advocates, we all can’t have the same qualities to practice, sadly the one man law firms are the order of the day.
Another amiable senior in practice, B.L Aliyu FciArb (uk) said “Absolutely, Lagos is the best example, some years back many law firms in Lagos entered into partnership and today they are doing exceptionally good in different areas of law practice both in Nigeria and Globally”, and then the flood gate of assenting and dissenting views from members flooded in, which I would state some before I pen my thought.
O.J Opawale, Esq commented, “In as much as partnership is a good idea, the problem lies in brief sourcing. Partner A may be well connected while partner B and C are not, I posit that partner A who brings in briefs may want to lord things over partner B and C even though B and C are endowed with the intellects to perfect the brief to fruition though this may not be so in all cases”, M.B Uthman Esq posited “just like other mode of practice, it also has its several disadvantages which can’t be swept under the carpet. By studying both the pros and cons each individual will make an informed choice and decision”, and someone replied that ”these are issues that can be addressed from the beginning, as prospective partners should know their status and agree on terms”.
Personally, In my over ten years at the Bar, I have come to the self realization that i prefer the solicitor’s part of legal practice i.e Research, Drafting, Corporate governance, Property sales and management (soft work), so if I decide to open a one man law firm then it means the firm would have a cash inflow gap from litigation briefs, best option is to collabo with a lawyer whose passion and flare is litigation to bridge the inflow gap.
Truth be told, there are disadvantages to partnership just like anything in life, from conflicting interest, communication breakdowns, trust issues, unequal contributions, different work style etiquette, managing client relationship, decision making challenges, financial disagreements, competition for clients, exit strategies, liability concerns, etc. The underlining of all to me is lack of trust, once there is trust between intending partners, then all other cons can be resolved for the partnership to sail smoothly to the promise land.
On the flip side of things, partnership in legal practice offers numerous benefits, from shared expertise, increased capacity, networking opportunities, cost saving, innovation, competitive advantages, access to new markets, talent attraction and retention, risk management, improved client service, knowledge sharing to efficient case management, just to name a few (source Chat GPT).
As earlier mentioned, the major challenges hampering the growth of partnership in Nigeria’s legal industry are lack of trust amongst colleagues and fear of profit sharing. I strongly believe that if more colleagues in the industry can work out arrangements within themselves to avoid these major pitfalls then the era of partnerships would grow rapidly in other parts of the country.
Like someone said, we have to keep pushing the idea, walk the talk and not talk the walk, there is nothing wrong with two small one man law firms merging together to birth a mega law firms that will attract bigger clients and funds inflow. If a firm earns N1, 000,000.00 (One Million Naira) only from a brief, there is high probability that with a merger, same brief can bring in N5, 000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) only, which is more money for everyone.
At this point I posit that more focus should be placed on the pros of a partnership which is more than the cons, and the time starts now. If the senior colleagues have reached a stage in practice than such merger cannot possibly work amongst themselves, then we the younger ones should avoid establishing one man law firms when the time reaches to branch out from under the wings of a principal partner. We all can’t be equals in our passion and qualities to the practice of law, it is better to find a companion who would complement our weaknesses for a better result.
Godspeed and God bless.
Happy yuletide seasons to we and our loved ones.
God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Do send your comment(s), observation(s) and recommendation(s) to danielbulusson@gmail.com or send WhatsApp to 08098404127
The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion.
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
