Senior Associate makes Partnership at P&G

Senior Associate at the commercial Law firm, Perchstone and Graeys (P&G), Tolulope Aderemi was on Friday 4th July, 2014, elevated into the firm’s partnership. His elevation brings to seven the number of partners currently in the law firm.

The young and vibrant commercial lawyer, with an enviable knowledge of the Nigerian Energy Sector was selected after a long and rigorous exercise that consists of a series of tests and interviews by a panel from within and outside the law firm.

A John Taylor graduate of the University of Aberdeen, Tolu has been involved in high profile domestic and international Energy transactions; both in litigation as well as energy/construction arbitration references. He currently heads the Oil and Gas group and is the Chief Editor of the Perchstone & Graeys electronic Power Today; a weekly publication dealing with trends and events in the power sector.

He is also a regular Speaker at local and international commercial law conferences; delivering papers at several of these events.

Speaking about the elevation, Managing Partner Osaro Eghobamien SAN, described Tolu’s promotion as timely. “Whatever you choose to do as a person, do it in full dedication, it is important for you to work with diligence. Every detail is important and this is the key to a successful practice” he said.

He speaks on, “to the younger lawyers, I say, this may not be the place to get extremely wealthy but if you do the right thing, you will be happy and as well, meet your daily needs and expectations- That is the spirit of Perchstone & Graeys,” he stated.

Also speaking, another partner of the firm, Afolabi Kuti, outlined specific ingredients for partnership in the firm. “To be a partner at Perchstone & Graeys, the first thing you need to ask yourself is if you actually belong here, followed by an abiding faith in the values of the firm. He continued, “Rarely do you find a partner grow from an associate but today, Tolulope Aderemi had distinguished himself amongst others”.

He continued, “To grow in the business of law today, you must be business- oriented and to understand that a business requires the invention of creative ideas, you must be able to inspire confidence among the people you lead and above all, integrity, honesty, creativity is much needed to be a partner at Perchstone & Graeys”, he said.

Partner, Kunle Ajagbe, also added, “what brought us here today has been a long, winding and torturing process but it’s a relief that we have been motivated by what we believe. This process started in August last year and it is all centered on making the firm a better place to work in Nigeria,” he explained.

Giving his vote of thanks to the partners and members of the firm, Tolu appreciated his elevation; noting that beyond the merriment, it was an increase of his responsibilities in the firm, as well as an avenue for improvement over previous performance.

“This isn’t just about the celebration,” he said, “but also a huge challenge for me. I think the key word which has brought me thus far, is teamwork and this means that I must give credit to everyone of my colleagues who worked with me and supported me all the way.

“When I started out in the firm, I always had my golden rings, finger rings, etc, but Mr. Eghobamien saw me and thought that he could change me, which he did. Here at P&G, I became focused. I worked like the firm was mine and this explains why I have attained this lofty height,” he said, gratefully.

Olawale Adebambo, yet another Partner of the firm, offered an international perspective on partnerships, “I have been with P&G for five years, but before then I was in the business of regulating legal firms. If there is one thing a firm requires to be successful, it is its ‘standards’ – setting the right standards.”

“I came to meet a firm built on character, competence, integrity, professionalism and leadership abilities.  Law firms need to identify what their philosophies are, otherwise, such a firm is  bound to crumble. This and more is our focus and this is what keeps us strong at P&G.

Perchstone & Graeys is one of Nigeria’s leading commercial law firms with remarkable participation in headline commercial transactions in core practice areas such as Regulatory Compliance, Banking and Finance, Oil & Gas, Environmental Law, Capital Markets, etc. 

In June 2013, P&G became the first Nigerian law firm to open a pathway of engagement with the organised private sector of India when it organised the inaugural edition of the India Africa Business Series in New Delhi, India

The March 2014 edition of The Lawyer magazine also ranked the firm as one of the 46 “Africa Elite” law firms and one of the six from Nigeria.