Desired change for gender equality in Nigeria’s legal industry is already happening – Ntaekpiken

n this interview with LEGAL BUSINESS, TNP Partner in charge of Intellectual Property, NTA EKPIKEN speaks to editor, THEODORA KIO-LAWSON about trends in Intellectual Property (IP) Law, IP rights, leading as a woman, path to partnership in a global law firm, among other topical issues. EXCERPTS...

You’ve only recently joined the partnership at TNP, please tell us about this move. I have always been eager to build an IP practice and TNP gave me that opportunity. My partners have been absolutely supportive, and the move could not have come at a better time. I am super excited about what the future holds.

As Partner in charge of the firm’s Intellectual property practice, where do you see this practice in five years and how do you think its growth could directly or indirectly contribute the development of the IP Practice in Nigeria?

Based on global trend, one thing is clear, IP is the future. I see TNP contributing immensely to the growth of IP through enlightenment campaigns for our clients, capacity building for our regulators, prosecution/ registration of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), infringement/passing off suits, IP valuation and effective IP portfolio management that is driven by technology.

As a woman, are you equipped for the task ahead?

The task ahead is not gender sensitive and I am certainly equipped for it. TNP is the Firm of the future, forward thinking and innovative people. Technology is a driving force of our generation and I have been equipped with cutting-edge technology that will ensure that the service that my team delivers is done effectively and optimally.

March 8th was International Women’s Day (IWD) and the 2020 theme was “Each for Equal”. Do you think this is a concept well understood and welcome in the legal profession?

Personally, I have not experienced discrimination on the basis of gender in my firm or my previous employment. The issue of equality rarely comes up in my experience where the female is equally qualified for the role. In my Firm, we have two (2) female Partners and the issue of gender has not been the basis for promotion within the Firm and in my case, admission to Partnership.

In your opinion, what are some obvious barriers on the path to partnership for women in Law and how can this be surmounted?

I have never witnessed any such barriers. As such, I do not subscribe to this stereotype that there are specific barriers to women making partner in law firms. For me, the boys scout motto ‘be prepared’, best answers this question. Preparation here is a mix of qualification and experience.

Regardless of gender, the need for work – family life balance cannot be over emphasized.

TNP is a family-oriented firm and continuously devises means to help team members achieve that balance.

You’ve worked with a number of top tier law firms in Nigeria. From experience, do you think adequate opportunity for growth and leadership is given to young women in law firms? What are best practices globally?

I can obviously not speak for all top tier law firms in Nigeria, but I have been fortunate to witness, and I am a product of the opportunities given to women. While there is still room for improvement, one thing is clear, these opportunities exist.

Globally, trainings, secondments and mentorship opportunities are available to women. TNP is not lagging in this as we in particular actively provide the platform and tools for women to grow in their chosen fields. We also constantly encourage all team members to have mentors within and/or outside our Firm in their chosen fields to guide them.

How can we ensure that diversity and inclusion is made a core part of a law firm’s values? Particularly in these climes.

I can only speak for my Firm and can confirm that we do not have a diversity or inclusion issue. We do no promote on the basis of gender and I am not aware that decisions on promotion and opportunities have been offered in a discriminatory manner.

What sort of culture shift is required to bring about the desired change in Nigeria’s legal industry? I am of the opinion that the desired change of gender equality in the Nigerian legal industry is happening already. We as women have to continue to gain expertise, aim/set goals to be the best and give no excuses in achieving these objectives.

Are women doing enough to take advantage of capacity building and professional development opportunities around them?

I am not oblivious of the fact that we are in Africa and culture is an integral part of us. As such, I think that there may still be instances where women may be restrained from exploring opportunities. Nonetheless, women have to consciously work towards garnering the requisite experience and qualification they need to achieve their goals.

What are some of the best ways to support younger female lawyers into leadership roles in the legal profession?

Providing mentorships platforms, holding regular workshops from time to time for capacity development, encouraging them to also develop capacity and getting them to be actively involved in the NBA.

NTAEKPIKEN isapartnerattnp. She is an alumni of the united states( us) International visitors leadership program (Ivlp) and an associate fellow of the nigeria leadership initiative(n li ). Also an alumnus of swansea university, Wales, united kingdom, nta has wealth of experience in the legal framework for the protection of intellectual property rights, brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, copyrights, image rights, licensing& franchi sing, technology transfer and product registration. She is involved with many campaigns/ advocacy initiatives including a committee working on there view of the ip laws in Nigeria, the united states consu late–antiCounterfeiting collaboration( a cc) fight against fake malaria drugs campaign.