Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore

What Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore does

Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore, trading as SOOB Law, is a Nigerian full-service commercial law firm founded in 1986 and headquartered at 23/25 Catholic Mission Street, Lagos Island, with a second office in Abuja. The firm operates across eight integrated practice areas: Dispute Resolution, Corporate & Commercial Advisory, Money & Capital Markets, Regulatory & Compliance Advisory, Asset Recovery, Insolvency, Due Diligence & Investigation, and Data Protection Services. It is the exclusive Nigerian member of ICC FraudNet and a licensed Data Protection Compliance Organization (DPCO) under NDPR, NDPA, and GAID frameworks, while being registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria.

The firm serves leading businesses, financial institutions, multinational corporations, government agencies, high-net-worth individuals, and international law firms requiring Nigerian local counsel, with notable concentration in banking, energy, telecommunications, and financial services sectors. Its revenue model is partner-led professional services billing on hourly, fixed-fee, or contingency arrangements, with no standardized public pricing and no external investment. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven and referral-based, supported by thought leadership content, international legal directory rankings (Chambers Global, Lexology Index), and partner speaking engagements at conferences such as C5 Geneva and TL4Disputes. The firm's value proposition rests on partner-led bespoke service, deep sector expertise, exclusive institutional memberships, and switching costs anchored in nearly four decades of continuous practice and the production of 7 Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

Name

Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore

Legal name

Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore LP

Website

https://sooblaw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOOB Law is a Nigerian full-service commercial law firm, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Lagos with an Abuja office, providing dispute resolution, corporate, regulatory, asset recovery, insolvency, and data protection advisory to enterprises, financial institutions, government agencies, and HNIs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Due Diligence Advisory (Commercial/Financial/Operational) (BPAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI), Fraud Risk Management & Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption (ABAC) (BPAHAFAL), Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO)

Keywords

• Commercial litigation services
• Corporate legal advisory
• Cross-border asset recovery
• Regulatory compliance counsel
• Dispute resolution law

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafiagi

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory and Representation Services: Professional legal services revenue generated through hourly billing, fixed fees for specific matters, and potentially contingency arrangements for certain litigation matters. Services span dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law, regulatory compliance, asset recovery, insolvency, and due diligence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore is a Nigerian full-service law firm delivering legal advisory and representation across eight integrated practice areas: Dispute Resolution, Corporate & Commercial Advisory, Money & Capital Markets, Regulatory & Compliance Advisory, Asset Recovery, Insolvency, Due Diligence & Investigation, and Data Protection Services. The firm serves leading businesses, financial institutions, multinational corporations, government agencies, and high-net-worth individuals through partner-led bespoke engagements.

Product overview

SOOB Law is a full-service Nigerian law firm operating as a unified legal practice with eight integrated practice areas. The core service portfolio spans Dispute Resolution, Corporate & Commercial Advisory, Money & Capital Markets, Regulatory & Compliance Advisory, Asset Recovery, Insolvency, Due Diligence & Investigation, and Data Protection Services. These practice areas work together to provide comprehensive legal solutions to businesses, financial institutions, multinational corporations, government agencies, and high-net-worth individuals across Nigeria's legal and regulatory landscape.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dispute Resolution
• Corporate & Commercial Advisory
• Money & Capital Markets
• Regulatory & Compliance Advisory
• Asset Recovery
• Insolvency
• Due Diligence & Investigation
• Data Protection Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Assisted 50+ companies with corporate and commercial advice
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ICC FraudNetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNigeria's exclusive member of ICC FraudNet, a Chambers-ranked global asset recovery network. Provides unparalleled access to leading practitioners in over 50 jurisdictions for cross-border fraud investigations and asset recovery. Partner Babajide Ogundipe served as Co-Executive Director from 2019 to 2022.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirm partners actively participate in ICC commissions including the Global Commission on Anti-corruption and Corporate Responsibility, and Commission on Arbitration and ADR. Represents Nigerian interests in international commercial crime discussions.
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Nigeria BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding members of CIArb Nigeria Branch. Founding partner Mohammed Belgore served as Chairman (2014-2017). Partner Lateef Akangbe served as Vice Chairman of Training & Development Sub-Committee and former Chairman of Young Members Group. Partners are approved tutors for CIArb fellowship training programs.
• Lagos Court of ArbitrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner Babajide Ogundipe served as the first President of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, a statutory body created by Lagos State.
• Maritime Arbitrators Association of NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding and executive council member of Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria.
• ICC NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServed on Executive Council for several years. Holds leadership positions in various international corporate and professional bodies.
• Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Anti Money Laundering CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner Babajide Ogundipe serves as co-Chair of NBA's Anti Money Laundering Committee, which regulates Nigerian lawyers' compliance with Anti-Money Laundering laws and regulations.
• Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a licensed Data Protection Compliance Organization (DPCO), the firm conducts regulatory filings and compliance assessments with the NDPC.
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirm is registered and regulated by SEC Nigeria, and works closely with SEC on regulatory compliance matters.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Banwo & Ighodalo: Nigerian full-service commercial law firm with comparable practice areas across corporate, capital markets, energy, and dispute resolution. Direct competitor for high-end corporate advisory and dispute work.
• Aluko & Oyebode: Long-established Nigerian full-service commercial law firm with comparable international recognition and cross-border practice. Competes directly with SOOB Law for corporate, M&A, energy, and dispute resolution mandates in Nigeria.
• Templars: Nigerian full-service commercial law firm with comparable practice breadth across corporate, finance, dispute resolution, and regulatory advisory. Direct competitor for premium corporate mandates and the most analogous top-tier Nigerian firm to SOOB Law.
• SPA Ajibade & Co. Nigerian law firm with comparable practice areas in corporate, commercial, dispute resolution, and energy law. Competes for similar mid-to-large corporate mandates and complex litigation.
• G. Elias & Co. Nigerian full-service commercial law firm with strong dispute resolution, banking and finance, and corporate practices. Comparable peer in both domestic commercial advisory and international dispute work.
• Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie: Leading Nigerian full-service law firm with similar international network memberships (Lex Mundi) and comparable practice areas spanning corporate, finance, energy, and dispute resolution. Direct competitor for premium transactional and advisory mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Clifford Chance: Global Magic Circle firm with established Africa practice and Nigerian transactional capability. Competes with SOOB Law on cross-border M&A, capital markets, and project finance mandates involving Nigeria, though as part of a much wider global practice.
• Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman): Global law firm with Nigerian transactional and finance capabilities. Competes for the largest cross-border mandates involving Nigeria, often positioning SOOB Law as local counsel rather than lead.

Regional players

• Webber Wentzel: Leading South African law firm with cross-border African capability serving clients with Nigerian interests. Adjacent competitor for African cross-border mandates where SOOB Law could serve as local Nigerian counsel.
• Bowmans (formerly Bowmans and Africa Legal): Leading African law firm with Nigerian presence offering comparable cross-border corporate, finance, and dispute resolution services. Competes with SOOB Law for cross-border matters originating in or involving Nigeria, but with broader pan-African platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore