Paul Usoro, SAN is the Senior Partner and
founder of Paul Usoro & Co (PUC), a top commercial law firm headquartered
in Lagos with offices in Abuja and Uyo. He heads the Advocacy and Dispute
Resolution Practice Group and the Communications Section of the Firm.
Paul
Usoro is variously described as the go-to-counsel for complex matters, be it
litigation or commercial transactions and the foremost communications lawyer in
Nigeria with over 30 years’ experience in legal practice. He is an active
member of the National Executive Council of the NBA, and a member of the NBA
Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee set up in 2016. He was the
founding chairman of the Communication Committee of the Nigerian Bar
Association’s Section on Business Law. Paul is a consummate board room player
and sits on the Boards of several top companies. He is a fellow of the Chartered
Institute of Arbitrators, and a member of the International Bar Association and
the Federal Communications Bar Association, United States of America.
Background,
Training and Qualifications
Paul was born in Ukana Ikot Ntuen town
in Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State on 07 September 1958. He studied Law at
the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife), Osun
State, Nigeria where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree (with Honours) in
1981. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982. During his compulsory National
Youth Service Corp (NYSC) he had a stint with the Benue State House of Assembly
and thereafter served at George Uloko & Co in Makurdi where he cut his
teeth in advocacy practice. In 1983, he joined Sani Mohammed Kuso & Co in
Kaduna. His hard work and intellect resulted in a rapid elevation to Head of
Litigation, leading the Firm in complex litigation matters including about 12
(twelve) House of Assembly election petitions in Niger State sequel to the 1983
elections and also the representation of 3 (three) key persons before the
Awoniyi Commission of Inquiry in Niger State in 1984.
In 1985, Paul founded PUC in Kaduna.
In 1992, the headquarters of PUC was established in Lagos with the Kaduna
office still operational until 2003 when the northern operations were
consolidated into a new branch office in Abuja. Today, PUC is a full-service
Nigerian commercial law firm, with its principal office in Lagos, and 2
branches in F.C.T., Abuja and Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
Paul Usoro, SAN was elevated to the
Inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2003. Mr Usoro has continued to develop himself
through relevant post graduate executive courses, including Leadership Best Practices training at Harvard Business School in Boston, USA
and Finance for Executives Program at
the Fontainebleau Campus of INSEAD in
France. In 2001, Paul earned his preferment as Fellow of the Chartered
Institute of Arbitrators. He is a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Paul is a nationally acclaimed
litigator and transaction expert whose expertise covers the entire gamut of
commercial practice including finance, banking, oil and gas, power, election
petition and communications practice areas. He represents domestic and
multinational companies, public agencies, governments and inter-governmental
institutions in various sectors.
Advocacy
Experience
Paul’s skills and prowess as a
litigator and strategist are nationally and internationally acknowledged. The
rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is in recognition of his advocacy
skills. Paul’s litigation practice (election petitions, real property, criminal
matters, oil and gas, commercial litigation) cuts across all the superior
courts in Nigeria with a vibrant appellate experience. A passionate and
intellectual advocate – multinational companies, Nigerian blue-chip companies,
political parties/election candidates and high net worth individuals routinely
seek Paul’s litigation support and experience. A brief highlight of a few
matters handled by him is presented hereunder:
·
Paul was pivotal
to the recovery of N16billion for Access Bank Plc in a highly controversial multijurisdictional
dispute against a Nigerian company. The dispute involved multiple complex cases:
8 (eight) within Nigeria and a few others spanning over a number of
jurisdictions including, the United Kingdom, Greece, Netherland and South
Africa. He played the leading role in the negotiation of a global settlement
agreement between the parties.
·
Paul was the strategist and coordinating
anchor for the defence of Akwa Ibom State in the Supreme Court oil well matters
between Akwa Ibom State on the one hand and Rivers and Cross River States respectively
on the other hand. These cases were
determined in 2011
and the outcome thereof was Akwa Ibom State’s retention of most of its oil
wells that were the bone of contention in the suits.
·
Paul represented
the immediate past Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje
Aig-Imoukhuede and the current Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr
Herbert Wigwe in a Suit against the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria
(FRCN). The Suit challenged the statutory powers of FRCN to investigate issues
of mergers and acquisitions and other business combinations and in particular
the acquisition of Intercontinental Bank Plc (IBPLC) by Access Bank Plc. The
Court in an erudite judgment delivered on 24 October 2014, granted all the
reliefs claimed and perpetually restrained FRCN from investigating the
acquisition of IBPLC by Access Bank Plc which was declared a closed
transaction.
·
Paul represented the Governor of Akwa Ibom
State, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and his political party in about 35
pre-election lawsuits from 2015, particularly at the Governorship and National
Assembly levels. All the cases were successfully defended by Paul and his Team.
Not a single one of those matters was lost at any of the Courts.
·
Paul was the anchor, strategist and
coordinator for the defense of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the 2015 Election
Petition right from the Tribunal and up to the Supreme Court. The victory at
the Supreme Court indeed vindicated the strategy designed by Paul and his Team.
·
Paul successfully defended the 2015 elections
of 11 National Assembly Members from Akwa Ibom State including those of the
current Senators, at the Tribunals and the Court of Appeal. It is indeed a
testimony to Paul’s legal sagacity and skills that not one of the
election-related matters handled by him was lost in 2011 and 2015.
·
Paul championed the amicable resolution of
the dispute between Stanbic IBTC Bank, Financial
Reporting Council of Nigeria FRCN and the National Office for Technology
Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP). Paul’s stellar dispute resolution skills
ensured that the parties resolved the most contentious issues out of court, following
which FRCN issued its written approval of Stanbic IBTC’s restated 2013 and 2014
Financial Statements.
·
Paul successfully defended the Power
Holding Company of Nigeria in an arbitration instituted by the Lagos State
Government in respect of a dispute pertaining to the terms of a Barge Power
Purchase Agreement and a Contribution Agreement. The Lagos
State Government’s
claim in the sum of over 12billion Naira was rejected by the arbitral panel on
the basis of PUC’s compelling submissions.
·
Paul played a crucial and leading role in
the team that represented a France-based multinational oil servicing company in
a landmark litigation against a Nigerian company for the recovery of judgment
sums of US$11,628,962.11; US$5,214,939.98; DM212,252,751.11; N26,349,753.61 and
US$7,157,865.87. The judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in the second
quarter of 2015 has become a locus classicus in Nigerian jurisprudence on
the principles of subrogation of one party for another for purposes of
realizing a judgment debt. It is significant to note that Paul was not involved
in the proceedings at the High Court of Lagos State which gave rise to this
appeal. Indeed, he was engaged for a rescue mission after the appeal had been
lodged against the subrogation orders and had to re-engineer the entire
strategy of the case for a successful outcome. It is a tribute to his skill
that the subrogation orders earlier made against the French Company were
completely overturned and it was found not to be liable howsoever for the
judgment debts.
·
Paul represented the immediate past
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON in three (3)
2011 pre-election matters. All 3 matters traversed the rungs of Nigeria’s
superior Courts, starting from the Federal High Court and terminating at the
Supreme Court and the judgments at each point were in favour of the former
Governor.
·
As part of the legal team representing the Senate
President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Paul’s winning
litigation strategy totally reversed the narrative surrounding the
much-publicized trial of the Senate President from hopeless to not guilty.
Paul’s strategic cross examination succeeded in discrediting both the oral and
documentary evidence adduced at trial by the Prosecution. The legal team’s success
resulted in dismissal of the case by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on the ground
that no prima facie case was
established against the Senate President. The success indeed represents a
landmark victory and one of the few instances where a “No Case Submission” has
been upheld in a controversial matter of such nature.
The advocacy experience of Paul Usoro
is very robust and diverse. Paul leads the Litigation Group of the firm and is
personally involved in representation and drafting of processes for virtually
over 286 matters pending before various superior courts as at September 2017.
The various matters span all the areas of law including real property,
criminal, tort, industrial relations, election petition, taxation, and
commercial litigation.
Transaction
Experience
Apart from earning his stripes as a
seasoned and exceptionally skilled advocate, Paul is an experienced transaction
lawyer whose records and accomplishments include the world-acclaimed,
first-ever and all-round successful Nigerian Digital Mobile Spectrum Auction
conducted in 2000. The transaction earned the Federal Government of Nigeria
US$855,000,000.00 for 3 Digital Mobile Licences. Paul is indeed generally
acknowledged as Nigeria’s leading communications lawyer.
As an ICT law expert, Paul has been
involved in virtually all major transactions and regulatory reforms in the Nigerian
communications sector. In 2003, Paul Usoro drafted the Nigerian Communications
Act 2003, a robust and enduring piece of legislation that regulates the
communications industry till date. He has been the primary adviser to the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in most of its reform initiatives till
date. He served as Legal Consultant to NCC, and was
the only African and the sole Legal practitioner in the six-member
Auction Control Team for the Global Systems of Mobile Communications (GSM) Spectrum
Licence Auction that introduced Econet Wireless Networks Limited (now Airtel),
MTN Communications Limited and NITEL GSM to the Nigerian market. Additional core ICT regulatory and
transaction experiences are highlighted hereunder:
·
Drafted the Nigerian Communications
(Enforcement Processes etc.) Regulations, 2005;
·
Drafted the Annual Operating Levy
Regulations, 2014;
·
Acted as sole legal consultant to the NCC
in respect of the Mobile Number Portability and drafted the Mobile Number
Portability Regulations, 2014 as part of that assignment;
·
Preparation, on behalf of NCC,
of a National Carrier Licence and an International Gateway Licences for NITEL,
a hitherto unlicensed monopoly;
·
Acted as lead legal consultants
to NCC for the Second National Operator licensing processes, including the
auction and preparation of the 3 SNO licences; the process
produced Globacom Limited as Nigeria’s Second National Carrier;
·
Preparation of the Interconnectivity
Agreement between NITEL and licensed private network operators;
·
Represented NITEL in the negotiation of the
Construction and Management Agreement for the laying of the SAT-3/SAFE/WASC
trans-continental fibre-optic cable project which spans the sub-Saharan African
Continent and extends to Far East Asia through Southern Africa, with European
landing points. This was the first
trans-continental cable project in sub-Saharan Africa.
On account of Paul’s acknowledged
eminence as Nigeria’s leading Communications Lawyer, Akwa Ibom State Government
appointed and relied on him to manage its portfolio investment in Airtel in
2001. Paul negotiated this investment, valued as at the date of entry at the
sum of US$75,000,000.00. Up to May 2006,
Paul sat on the Board of Airtel as a Director representing Akwa Ibom
State. Akwa Ibom State Government cashed
out most of its investments in this enterprise in 2006, in the transaction by
which Celtel BV successfully invested over US$1,000,000,000, by way of share
purchase from existing shareholders and injected fresh capital into Airtel
(“Celtel Transaction”), which transaction was chiefly negotiated by Paul. The
State indeed made multiple returns on its investment amount.
Paul led the Airtel Shareholders
Committee in negotiating the Celtel Transaction as the Committee Chairman,
which, at the time, ranked as one of the biggest private sector equity
transactions in Nigeria’s history. Paul represented the interest of all the
shareholders which included three Nigerian State Governments and blue-chip
corporate citizens like First Assets Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
First Bank of Nigeria Limited. It is a testimony to Paul’s leadership quality
that Celtel BV insisted after the Transaction that he remains on the Board even
though Akwa Ibom State Government whom he initially represented had about sold
out completely from the Company.
Celtel BV in 2010 sold out its equity
entirely to the Bharti-Airtel Group of India resulting again in the
reorganization of the Airtel Board.
Again, Bharti-Airtel, the new 65% owners of Airtel insisted that Paul
remains on the Board of the Company where, as at date, he chairs the only
Committee of the Board i.e. the Audit Committee.
A founding Secretary General,
Telecommunications Law Association, Mr Usoro was named ‘Best Pan African
Telecoms Lawyer of All Times’ by the IT and Telecom Digest, Nigeria’s leading
and one of Africa’s foremost ICT magazines.
Boardroom
Experience
Paul is a consummate boardroom person
whose deep analytical mind and illustrious leadership skills are well
appreciated in all the Boards he sits. He has, at various times, served on the
Boards of several companies such as Premium Pensions Ltd, CR Services (Credit
Bureau) Plc (representing Zenith Bank Plc), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading
Plc and currently sits on the Boards of PZ Cussons Plc, Airtel Networks Limited,
Marina Securities Ltd and Access Bank Plc. Paul is a pioneer director of Airtel
Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s leading mobile telephone company, having been
appointed to the Company’s Board in 2001, then known as Econet Wireless Networks Limited; the
company has over the years undergone major ownership and structural changes
prior to being acquired by Bharti Airtel of India in 2010. Paul is the only surviving pioneer director
of the company and has headed the Board’s Audit Committee since the entry of
Bharti Airtel till date.
A director of Access Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s
leading banks, from 2014, Paul chairs the Board’s Remuneration Committee and
Governance & Nomination Committee. He also serves as a member of the
Board’s Audit Committee, Risk Management Committee and Credit & Finance
Committee. Paul was appointed as a director of PZ Cussons in 2011; he chairs
the People & Governance Committee of the Board.
Between 2008 and 2014, Paul served as
a director on the Board of Premium Pensions Limited, a leading Nigerian pension
funds administrator and was, throughout the entire period, the Chairman of the
Board’s Audit Committee. He also served on the Board of CR Services (Credit
Bureau) Plc, Nigeria’s credit-rating organization, representing Zenith Bank Plc
thereat. Paul has served on the Board of
Marina Securities Limited since 2011 and is currently the Chairman of the
Company.
Public
Service
The erstwhile President of Nigeria,
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, in 2011, appointed Paul a pioneer director on the
board of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) – Nigeria’s sole power
trading organization, fully-owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The NBET Board was, at that time chaired by
the then Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the
Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with the Minister of Power as a member. Paul was also the pioneer Chairman of the
NBET Board’s Audit Committee.
In 2012, Paul was appointed by the
Minister of Communications Technology into a select Ministerial Committee for
the review of Nigeria’s ICT Policy and he played a key role in that Committee’s
work, which final work product was approved by the Federal Executive Council.
Paul is on the Faculty of the Nigerian
Institute of Advanced Legal Studies as an astute trainer on telecommunications
law and practice. Accordingly, he has delivered several papers at NIALS’
workshops, seminars and training sessions. To mention but a few, the following
papers were personally presented by Paul while about 5 (five) papers, due to
conflict in schedule, were presented on his behalf by his colleagues in the
office:
·
“Telecommunications
Law and Regulations”. Paper presented at the Legal Advisers/Law Officers
Course organized by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Government.
·
“Drafting
Commercial Agreements and Banking Documents: Telecommunications Contracts”.
Paper presented to Course participants at Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal
Studies, Lagos Campus.
NBA
Activities
Paul is a committed and active member
of the NBA and the International Bar Association. He attends most NBA Annual
General Meetings and National Executive Committee (NEC) Meetings. Paul is an
active member of the NBA Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee set up in
2016. PUC fully sponsored the Elders’ Night of NBA Lagos Branch 2017 Law week
and routinely sponsors Lagos Bar events. Paul hosted NBA NEC members and senior
lawyers in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State in November 2014 and responds positively
whenever requested to sponsor and/or participate in Akwa Ibom and Cross River
States’ Bar activities. Paul’s Firm was the sole sponsor of one of the most
attended Break-out sessions at the 2017 NBA Conference: “Emerging Trends in
Global Legal Practice”. PUC paid for travel costs of the four (4) foreign
speakers who made presentations at the session.
Paul was the pioneer Chairman of the
Communications Committee of the NBA Section of Business Law (“SBL”). Supported
by Paul, PUC is actively involved in the sponsorship of SBL activities. The
Firm produced the Chairman of the SBL between 2010 and 2011, with the total
support of Paul Usoro, SAN.
PUC regularly pays annual practicing
fees and branch dues for its over thirty-five lawyers. Paul has presented
several papers at NBA programs, using the platform to share knowledge with old
and young lawyers. Some of these papers include:
·
“Frontloading
under Akwa Ibom State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009”. Lead Presentation at Joint Workshop by the 3
Nigerian Bar Association Branches (Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket) in Akwa Ibom
State.
·
“E-Legal
Practice and the Prospects of Litigation in Nigeria”. Lead Paper presented at a Session of the Nigerian Bar
Association’s Section of Legal Practice Maiden Conference in Abuja.
·
“Licensing
Procedures under Communications Act 2003”.
Paper presented at the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch
Bar Seminar/Law Week in Port Harcourt.
·
“Emerging
Nigerian Communications Industry and the Role of Lawyers”. Paper presented at the 2004 Annual Conference
of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Abuja.
PUC’s
Support for Lawyers’ Wellness
For nine (9) years and counting, PUC
sponsors the Lawyers’ Table Tennis Open (Mfon Usoro Cup), nicknamed the largest
sporting event among lawyers. LTTO is a Table Tennis tournament open to lawyers
from within and outside Lagos. Travel and accommodation cost for out-of-town
lawyers are underwritten by PUC. The 9th edition of this tournament will
hold in October 2017. Prizes include fully paid return flight ticket to the International
Bar Association (“IBA”) Conferences and other attractive prizes for 2nd
and 3rd positions. Training for the tournament is on-going at the
National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
|
MALE CATEGORY
|
FEMALE CATEGORY
|
|
RANK
|
NAME
|
BAR BRANCH
|
RANK
|
|
BAR BRANCH
|
|
2016
|
|
1st
|
KABIR
ADELEKE
|
|
1ST
|
TITILAYO OSAGIE
|
IKEJA
|
|
2nd
|
TUNJI
ABDULHAMEED
|
LAGOS
|
2ND
|
YETUNDE MARTINS
|
IKEJA
|
|
3rd
|
ADEYINKA
ADEREMI
|
|
3RD
|
TAOFIKAT ODUNUGA
|
|
|
2015
|
|
1ST
|
TUNJI
ABDULHAMEED
|
LAGOS
|
1ST
|
TITILAYO OSAGIE
|
IKEJA
|
|
2ND
|
KABIR
ADELEKE
|
|
2ND
|
YETUNDE MARTINS
|
IKEJA
|
|
3RD
|
OLUSEGUN
FABUNMI
|
IKEJA
|
3RD
|
ZAINAB OLABODE-SHODUNKE
|
LAGOS
|
|
2014
|
|
1ST
|
TUNJI
ABDULHAMEED
|
LAGOS
|
1ST
|
TITILAYO OSAGIE
|
IKEJA
|
|
2ND
|
OLUSEGUN
FABUNMI
|
IKEJA
|
2ND
|
SUSAN EZEIKPE
|
|
|
3RD
|
KABIR
ADELEKE
|
|
3RD
|
ANNE AIMUA
|
|
|
2013
|
|
1ST
|
TUNJI
ABDULHAMEED
|
LAGOS
|
1ST
|
TITILAYO OSAGIE
|
IKEJA
|
|
2ND
|
ADEYINKA
ADEYEMI
|
|
2ND
|
YETUNDE MARTINS
|
IKEJA
|
|
3RD
|
KABIR
ADELEKE
|
|
3RD
|
GANIAT ALLIU
|
|
|
2012
|
|
1ST
|
ADEYINKA
ADEYEMI
|
|
1ST
|
TITILAYO OSAGIE
|
IKEJA
|
|
2ND
|
TUNJI
ABDULHAMEED
|
LAGOS
|
2ND
|
SUSAN
EZEIKPE
|
|
|
3RD
|
WOLE
ODUWOLE
|
3RD
|
3RD
|
YETUNDE
MARTINS
|
IKEJA
|
|
2011
|
|
1ST
|
ODUWOLE
OLAWALE
|
LAGOS
|
1ST
|
TITILAYO OSAGIE
|
IKEJA
|
|
2ND
|
MOSHOOD
ABDULLAHI
|
|
2ND
|
YETUNDE
MARTINS
|
IKEJA
|
|
3RD
|
TUNJI
ABDULHAMEED
|
LAGOS
|
3RD
|
SUSAN
EZEIKPE
|
|
|
2010
|
|
1ST
|
OLUSEGUN
FABUNMI
|
IKEJA
|
1ST
|
TITILAYO OSAGIE
|
IKEJA
|
|
2ND
|
ADEDAYO
OSHODI
|
|
2ND
|
SUSAN
EZEIKPE
|
|
|
3RD
|
ONYEKA
ANIONWU
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
1ST
|
LEKAN
IJELU
|
IKORODU
|
|
|
|
|
2ND
|
DAYO
OSHODI
|
|
|
|
|
|
3RD
|
LOOKMAN
AGBOOLA
|
|
|
|
|
|
1ST
|
LEKAN
IJELU
|
IKORODU
|
|
|
|
Papers
and Scholarly Works
·
“Telecommunications
Law and Regulations”. Paper presented at the Legal Advisers/Law Officers
Course organized by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
·
“Drafting
Commercial Agreements and Banking Documents: Telecommunications Contracts”.
Paper presented annually from 2003 to Course participants at Nigerian Institute
of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos Campus.
·
“Frontloading
under Akwa Ibom State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009”. Lead Presentation at Joint Workshop by the 3
Nigerian Bar Association Branches (Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket) in Akwa Ibom
State.
·
“E-Legal
Practice and the Prospects of Litigation in Nigeria”. Lead
Paper presented at a Session of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section of Legal
Practice Maiden Conference in Abuja.
·
“Licensing
Procedures under Communications Act 2003”.
Paper presented at the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch
Bar Seminar/Law Week in Port Harcourt.
·
“Emerging
Nigerian Communications Industry and the Role of Lawyers”. Paper presented at the 2004 Annual Conference
of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Abuja.
·
Creating an Enabling Legal Environment for Information Technology. Presented at NITDA organized “E-Nigeria” Workshop in Abuja.
·
Nigerian Issues on Interconnectivity Arrangements. Presented at the International Conference on Electronic Commerce
and Telecommunications in Lagos.
·
Commentary
on Paper presented by Chief E A O Idowu titled “Bills of Lading: Practical
Implications – Today and Tomorrow”. Commentary made at 6th Annual
Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja.
·
Legal Significance of and Issues on Electronic Bill of Lading. Presented at the Annual Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja.
·
Legal Framework for Introduction of E-Commerce. Presented at US Embassy organized CTO Week in Lagos.
·
Digital Mobile Licence Auction: The Success Story and the
Challenges therefrom. Presented at the Lagos Business
School in Lagos.
·
Drafting Commercial Agreements Banking Documents:
Telecommunications Contracts. Presented at
Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos.
Personality
Apart from the leadership roles he has
undertaken in NBA/SBL activities, it is a testimony to Mr Usoro’s leadership
skills, integrity, accountability, independent, analytical mind that he has
consistently been given the responsibility of chairing the Audit Committees of
the Boards of Companies he sits on -– a key and strategic committee of any
Board (chairs Airtel’s Board Audit Committee, chaired Premium Pensions Limited Board
Audit Committee and chaired NBET Board Audit Committee). He is a member of Access
Bank’s Board Audit Committee. His leadership qualities and illustrious nature
is evidenced by the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors of Marina Securities
Ltd.
Paul is a natural leader. Even at a
young age, he contested for and won the Presidency of the Law Society of Ife,
becoming the first student from Nigeria’s ethnic minorities as at that time to
occupy such office. He breaks down barriers and glass ceilings.
Paul is a peoples’ person, a consensus builder and a
master strategist. He knows no stranger, welcomes and accommodates all. Even
where Paul is invited by clients on a salvage mission, he always encourages the
client not to disengage the counsel previously engaged on the matter prior to
his instructions, promising to work with the counsel for and in the interest of
the client. Paul is known for his ability to effortlessly function as a team
player and a team leader. His keen attention to details and talent for logical
analysis, even under the riotous waves of pressure, have produced, and will
keep producing towering achievements. As a matter of practice and personal
conviction, Paul believes in and is committed to youth empowerment, diversity
and inclusion. New hires in PUC being post NYSC enjoy six figures start
salaries and are encouraged to tap into the sustainable growth scheme of the
firm. One such counsel grew from entry level post youth service to the position
of a partner. The firm has 2 female partners. Paul’s hard work, tenacity and
industriousness has catapulted PUC, founded by him in 1985 to one of the top
tier law firms in the country. Paul is a role model for and source of
inspiration to colleagues. He is a man who is unafraid of challenges; a brother,
selfless in his doings; a self-motivated motivator, a dogged and tenacious fighter
who never relents until he gets a positive result; and these, among other
things, have made him the primus inter
pares.
Paul is an extraordinarily intelligent
but unassuming master strategist with the innate ability to associate and
connect with people from all walks of life. His calm mien naturally endears him
to people. His life story does not admit of “impossibilities”, from a
first-generation graduate to a founder of a top tier law firm, to a boardroom
guru, to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to a trail blazer and mentor for
several. Paul’s Midas touch makes him a much sought-after professional, in
Nigeria and internationally. Paul has a kind heart and a large capacity to
empathize. He offers financial assistance to people in need and those who are not
in want. Paul has withheld consent for the mention of his several charitable
donations and assistance to persons from every ethnic nationality in Nigeria.
Paul’s tranquil, self-effacing and
humble disposition belies his extensive national and international network of
contacts and friends. He has appeared in court and represented clients in
Kaduna, Kano, Abuja, Malumfashi, Katsina, Jos, Kafanchan, Makurdi, Minna,
Calabar, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Uyo, Benin, Asaba, Ondo, Ogun, Ikere-Ekiti,
Ibadan etc, and of course, Lagos, and remains loyal to friends he has made
along the way throughout his life and career. Paul does not hesitate to invite
his network of high net-worth friends to support a course he champions and
believes in.
Paul’s practice has opened up
opportunities and relationships for him with Federal and State institutions,
blue chip private sector companies, international firms and organizations and
high net-worth individuals.
It is notable that all the activities
highlighted in this write-up predates
Paul’s decision to contest for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association.
His life and actions demonstrate consistency, propelled by genuine altruism.
Family Life & Hobbies
Paul Usoro, SAN, a devoted and loving
husband and father, is married to Mfon Ekong Usoro and they are blessed with two
children, one of whom is a legal practitioner, a member of the NBA and of the
New York Bar. He likes swimming, jogging and reading.
Prepared by PUC
September 21, 2017
