At least two people will be surprised to see this tribute: Michael, Funke’s colleague, who asked if I would write it, and Funke herself, who knows that I do not typically share my thoughts on such matters.
But here we are. Funke will be 65 on November 3, and will formally retire from her law firm (Dentons-ACAS Law) on that day.
The firm is planning to celebrate her and among other things, present her with a book of tributes.
My instinctive response to Michael was that I was the wrong person to write a tribute since my relationship with Funke is personal rather than professional.
Upon reflection, however, I concluded that since I had the privilege of a ringside seat while her history was being ‘written’, I should share some of that history with her partners, colleagues, and friends.
Funke’s history as a lawyer would not be complete without honouring the professional ‘shoulders’ on which she stood to learn her trade.
When I met her, she was working with the late Mr Fola Sasegbon, one of Nigeria’s foremost shipping lawyers and a most honourable gentleman.
Funke joined Sasegbon’s firm in 1984, after completing an LLM in Commercial and Shipping Law at University College London, and that decision shaped both her career and her life.
Let me explain. She was the only lawyer in the firm apart from Sasegbon, and if someone had to clamber into a speedboat and accompany the Admiralty Marshal to serve an order of arrest on a vessel, who else would do that? And who else would get into a helicopter to visit an offshore drilling rig where there was a problem? Very early on in her career, Funke learnt the value of hard work and understood not to take shelter behind her gender—or the presumed ‘frailties’ associated with it.
She was, and will always be, a lawyer, not a “female lawyer.”
In 1993, Funke joined her friends – Sola Adepetun and Afolabi Caxton-Martins as a partner in the new and exciting firm known then as Adepetun, Caxton-Martins & Agbor; later known as Adepetun, Caxton-Martins, Agbor & Segun; and now known as Dentons-ACAS Law, following the firm’s combination with Dentons, the world’s largest global law firm.
Transitioning from being the only other lawyer in Fola Sasegbon & Co. to one of the 15 partners in an international law firm with over 50 lawyers, is a professional achievement that Funke can rightly be proud of.
Thus, when I think of Funke, the first adjective that comes to mind is “hard-working.” She is unquestionably that.
The second adjective is “determined.” Once Funke starts something, she will finish it, regardless of how long it will take, how much work it will require, or what her personal circumstances might be (two children, soccer and swimming practices, etc.). SHE WILL FINISH IT—and do so well.
The third adjective is “professional,” by which I mean calm, skilful, and morally upright.
She embodies all these traits and more. The fourth and fifth adjectives that come to mind regarding Funke’s career as a lawyer are “fairness” and “compassion.”
I have never heard her speak ill of anyone—an invaluable attribute in a lawyer, particularly one who is a partner in a law firm.
These and other attributes were recognised by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee when they awarded Funke the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2016.
Funke received further recognition in April 2021, when she was elected President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association—a body of which she has been an (over!) active member for over 40 years.
I understand from Funke that she will continue to handle all significant cases for the firm, notwithstanding her formal retirement, and I suspect she is looking forward to maintaining her hard work.
I conclude with this: Funke, at (only!) 65, I am confident that even greater achievements lie ahead for you, and I join your partners, colleagues, and friends in wishing you a very happy birthday and many professionally fulfilling years to come.
- Dan Agbor, Senior Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie