Nigerian law expert links up with Pepys

NIGERIAN lawyer, Chima Umezuruike, has joined Pepys Chambers to advise on English and Nigerian law.

He retains his position in chambers in Lagos, and is one of the few London lawyers qualified to practise in these two jurisdictions.

He returned to England in 1990 to practise first as a solicitor and then as a barrister. "I came back to England because I wanted exposure to English law, which is more organised and developed. The main difference is that the fused profession in Nigeria has fewer restrictions and allows direct access to clients," he says.

Umezuruike joined Pepys Chambers in September, where his expertise in Nigerian law accounts for about 30 per cent of his common law practice. He expects this to increase with the growth of UK business interests in Nigeria, and with the recent association of Pepys Chambers with Eldon Chambers.