Lara Kayode

Ms. Lara Kayode is the founder and Managing Partner of the law firm of O. Kayode & Co based in Lagos, Nigeria. 

An IP boutique firm, her practice covers both corporate and commercial matters, with a particular emphasis on industrial and intellectual property law, and alternative dispute resolution with a special interest in mediation.

Lara studied law at the University of Buckingham, England, and at the QMW University of London, where she obtained an LLM in intellectual property law in 1994. She was admitted as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1992.

She began her career as a practising lawyer in 1992 with one of the leading intellectual property law firms in Nigeria, and is today recognised as one of Nigeria’s leading trademark practitioners.

The firm manages trade mark, patent and design portfolios, for domestic and international clients respectively. The firm offers advice and solutions, for patent, trade mark and design challenges in the Nigerian and African environment. Lara has developed a growing enforcement department and has successfully handled counterfeiting cases defending world famous brands belonging to the firm's clients.

In the last few years, Lara has developed active and mutually beneficial relationships with associate firms in other African countries, enabling the firm to assist clients with IP challenges by rendering solutions in the ARIPO and OAPI treaty countries, Kenya, South Africa, Cape Verde, Ghana and Sierra Leone among others.

A CEDR-accredited mediator since 2005, Lara is a member of a number of associations including the Section of Business Law of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), PTMG, ITMA and AIPPI where she is now the treasurer of the Nigerian National Group.

An active and former board member at INTA, she has consistently served on numerous committees, including the Madrid Protocol Committee, Trade Mark Office Practices Subcommittee, the Information Resources Committee where she served as subcommittee chairperson for the Online Publication Subcommittee. She currently serves as the Treasurer of the AIPPI Nigeria National Group.

Lara is the current Chair of the INTA Global Advisory Council for Africa and the Asia and Africa Subcommittee of the Unreal Campaign Committee.

Lara has authored a number of articles on trademarks including "IP Management in Nigeria: Trademarks & Designs" (World IP Review); "The growing necessity for the protection for service marks in Nigeria"; and "The legal remedies plaintiffs have in Nigeria to protect their products and trademarks" (World IP Review).