In a profession largely dominated by men, it is often very rare to see women excel and reach the pinnacle of the law profession. Many of them have over the years demystified this enchantment and have soared higher than even some of their male contemporaries.
They hold highly exalted positions and command respects and they are always a sight to behold. The number of notable female lawyers in Nigeria is steadily rising and over the past years, the “men in skirt” constitute the largest number of new wigs in the country.
In ranking the ten lawyers, law repository takes a look at their pedigree, their position, year of practice and landmarks they’ve achieved in arriving at the final list. This list contains the most prominent and top female lawyers in Nigeria
We present to you the top 11 female lawyers in Nigeria in no particular order.
Here are the top 11 lawyers you need to know.
1. Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke SAN
2. Funke Adekoya SAN
3. Funke Agbor SAN
4. Kofo Dosekun SAN
5. Mrs. Funmi Falana
6. Funmi Roberts
7. Doyin Rhodes Vivour
8. Victoria Awomolo SAN
9. Myma Belo-Osagie
10. Hauwa Ibrahim
11. Boma Oziona OON
Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke – A woman of many first, Mrs. Solanke is the first female lawyer to be conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in March 1981. She was awarded the International Woman of the Year in 2012 by the International Federation of Women Lawyers.
Funke Adekoya SAN – she is a partner at AELEX, one of the largest law firms in Nigeria. Mrs. Adekoya was appointed notary public in 1986 and elevated to the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2001 becoming only the 5th woman to be so elevated. She has been a life bencher since march 2007. According to data pulled from her law firms website, she is a litigator and represents clients regularly before the Nigerian courts at all levels and has provided expert opinions and appeared as an expert witness on Nigerian law issues before the courts of England, united states and turkey.
Funke Agbor SAN – she is a partner in the law firm of Adepetun Caston Martins Agbor and Segun. She is an expert in shipping and litigation. She is based in Lagos and recognized as an elite “leading individual in shipping and transport. She has been described by Chambers Global as “a respected maritime lawyer and a key member of the firms (ACAS) dispute resolution practice”.
Kofo Dosekun SAN– she is the managing partner and head of transactions at Aluko and Oyebode, one of the largest and most respected law firms in Nigeria. Kofo Dosekun is experienced in large, cross-border transactions. She is well respected in the market, with sources remarking: “If I were making a recommendation, I would point them to her.”
Funmi Falana – she is the wife of renown legal giant Femi Falana. She is a women right activist. She is the current national director of women empowerment and legal aid (WELA), a non-governmental organization that defends the right of women and children.
Funmi Roberts – she is a dispute resolution expert. She is also a highly respected litigator. She is the principal partner in a law firm she founded, Funmi Roberts and co
Doyin Rhodes Vivour – she is the managing partner at Doyin Rhodes Vivour & co. she specializes in commercial transactions, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. She sits as an arbitrator and represents parties as counsel in arbitration proceedings. She is passionate at promoting the benefits of ADR and she is a leading light in this area.
Victoria Awomolo SAN – she is the managing partner in the law firm of Adegboyega Awomolo & Associates. She was conferred with the rank of senior advocate in 2013. She is a good litigator and is involved in active legal practice.
Myma Belo-Osagie – Dr. Myma is a university of Ghana graduate and also a graduate of Harvard Law School. She is a specialist in Nigerian petroleum regulations and environmental law. She is currently a managing partner at the law firm of Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie. She heads the telecommunications and oil and gas teams. She played a key role in the drafting of the Nigerian Communications Act in 2003 and she is a member of the New York, Ghana and Nigerian Bar.
Hauwa Ibrahim – she is hailed as one of the top defenders of women’s rights in Nigeria. She is most known for her pro bono work defending people condemned under Islamic sharia laws in northern Nigeria. She is the founder and senior partner at Aries law firm in Abuja. She is the recipient of three honorary doctorates and is currently a visiting lecturer at Harvard university.
Boma Ozobia OON – Mrs. Boma has over 25 years experience in commercial practice and was the president, Commonwealth Lawyers Association from 2011-2013. She was also the Chairwoman, Association of Women Solicitors, England and Wales from 2005-2006. She is one of the best female lawyers in the country.