Taye Awofiranye, Managing Partner
Managing Partner; Taye Awofiranye explains how the firm is adapting to client’s changing needs
1) What do you see as the main points that differentiate The Trusted Advisors from your competition?
Our main differentiator can be encapsulated in the acronym "FIT’’, which is derived from our renowned tagline "Forged in Trust." We invest substantial efforts in carefully selecting and nurturing each team member, instilling in them not only the firm's confidence but also the responsibility of earning and keeping our clients' trust.
"Trust" lies at the heart of our brand, permeating every facet of our operations and embodied in our tripod of values: diligence, integrity, and creative engagement.
The youthful energy and unwavering pursuit of excellence within our team form the bedrock of our practice. As a result, we continually strive for progressive excellence, not only in distilling, understanding and owing each client’s unique position and needs, but also proffering that tailored solution that precisely address our client’s requirements.
2) What practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?
With a winning combination of strategic team composition, heightened industry awareness, and bold investments in service infrastructure, our firm is poised for remarkable growth across all our seven practice areas. However, our standout performance indicators point to exceptional growth prospects in our Fiscal and Finance, ICT & Media, and Admiralty practices.
In the near term, we have identified three key areas that are set to experience impressive growth. Our fiscal and finance practice is projected to achieve incremental client acquisition through rapid capacity expansion and development initiatives, fuelled by the industry's fast-growing acceptance of our services.
Our ICT and Media practice is primed to maximize the benefits of our recent collaborations with key players in the Nigerian tech law ecosystem. Our extensive knowledge-sharing initiatives are driving widespread industry awareness and fostering greater acceptance within the field.
Furthermore, our firm's unrivalled thought leadership in maritime law and admiralty practice positions us for industry leadership in this area. By leveraging our expertise and seizing viable opportunities, we anticipate a rapid ascent to the forefront of the industry in the years to come.
3) What is the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?
Our commitment to quality service delivery, sign-posted by our focus on human capacity development and progressive investment in service infrastructure, is beginning to yield results. The remarkable outcome has been an extraordinary surge in client acquisition and positive feedback on our delivery, accompanied by a notable enhancement in client retention.
Our ultimate objective is to streamline service delivery, while upholding the renowned quality that distinguishes us. Introducing our new platform, we ensure that each client can conveniently access our services anytime, anywhere, even outside traditional business hours. We are committed to providing seamless and accessible solutions that cater to our clients' needs on the go.
4) Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?
Introducing our revolutionary "Looya" app, a ground-breaking fusion of top-notch CRM design and state-of-the-art e-legal services. This pioneering platform offers an all-in-one solution for unparalleled service delivery to our clients. By seamlessly integrating with our HR and finance systems, it grants the client an on-the-go access to our cutting-edge services.
With this proprietary application at our fingertips, we have harnessed its power to optimise team performance, ensuring every member contributes their best while providing round-the-clock availability and real-time engagement with our clients, surpassing the limitations of traditional business hours. Armed with "Looya," we confidently claim the forefront of tech-driven legal service delivery. Our first of its kind “Looya” app integrates the best of CRM product designs with the most advanced offerings in e-legal services delivery to provide a one-stop shop for optimal service delivery to clients. This proprietary application integrates with the firm’s HR and finance solution to deliver on-the-go cutting edge access to our service offerings.
5) Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business
Unlocking value across diverse business operations is our pride and passion. We excel in crafting bespoke product and entity structures that empower ambitious start-ups to navigate regulatory obstacles effortlessly. Additionally, we have innovatively addressed the legal resource gaps resulting from the rise in workforce mobility through our exclusive retainer program.
However, one of our most notable recent triumph lies in delivering exceptional value to clients within the real estate industry. Notably, we have partnered with Nigeria's leading real estate company and a state-owned real estate corporation to revolutionize their revenue streams. By establishing strategic clause banks to their transactions and implementing protective measures, we have safeguarded their interests, and in the process, ensuring reversion rights and facilitating the recovery of title and possession in justifying circumstances.
This pivotal intervention has directly resulted in the generation of multibillion-naira revenues, propelling a significant surge in commercial rent collection. Our strategic guidance has made an indelible impact on our clients' success in the real estate sector.
As a practical example of how we add value to our clients' businesses, our transformative approach in the real estate industry has proven instrumental in driving financial growth and achieving remarkable outcomes.
6) Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms-where do you see the firm in three years’ time?
We recognize the pivotal role we play in our clients' operations, and it is no wonder that our clients appreciate our alignment not only with their values but also identify with our stability and our clear sense of strategic direction.
We have achieved significant success in cultivating a highly skilled and dedicated team of professionals, which is demonstrated by our collective alignment on strategic objectives and our unwavering commitment to ensuring client satisfaction. We are gratified by the growing recognition and trust from our clients, and we are steadfast in our determination to surpass their expectations by providing exceptional service.
Looking ahead to the future, our focus is on sustaining our culture of continuous improvement, fostering thought leadership, and delivering ultimate client satisfaction.