Building Institutions,
Resolving Disputes.
Helping governments, professional institutions, corporations, universities, and development organizations build credible institutions, effective governance systems, sustainable professional bodies, and world-class dispute resolution frameworks.
Years Legal Practice
Years Org Development
Years ADR Experience
NICArb Professionals Led
Core Advisory Areas
What we do
We combine executive leadership experience, institutional knowledge, and deep ADR expertise to help organisations build credible systems and resolve complex challenges.
Institutional Development
Strategic advisory for professional bodies, government agencies, and institutions seeking governance reform, secretariat modernisation, and sustainable growth.
Governance Advisory
Board effectiveness reviews, governance audits, compliance frameworks, and institutional strengthening for organisations across all sectors.
Arbitration & ADR Advisory
End-to-end advisory on arbitration centre setup, mediation development, case management systems, ODR implementation, and court-connected ADR.
Professional Body Consulting
Membership strategy, certification design, CPD frameworks, accreditation systems, and secretariat modernisation for professional associations.
Legal Practice & Consultancy
Corporate legal advisory, contract review, regulatory compliance, and legal risk assessment delivered with seasoned expertise.
Leadership & Change Management
Executive coaching, governance masterclasses, organisational transformation, and change readiness programmes for leaders and institutions.
The problems we are called in for
“Our board meets, but nothing is decided.”
A board effectiveness and performance review covering composition, committee structure, delegations and decision quality — ending in a working board calendar and an evaluation cycle.
How we handle it“Our secretariat cannot carry the institution.”
A secretariat review across structure, staffing, procedures, records and reporting, converting administrative support into the operating engine of the institution.
How we handle it“Our members are not renewing.”
Membership growth and retention strategy: value proposition, member journey, certification and fellowship pathways, and branch structure.
How we handle it“We have been asked to set up an arbitration centre. Where do we start?”
End-to-end advisory on arbitration and mediation centre development — institutional structure, rules and procedures, case management and launch.
How we handle it“Our governance looks compliant on paper and fails in practice.”
A governance audit and health check across governance frameworks, policy, compliance and accountability systems, and institutional risk.
How we handle it“We need institutional-quality legal advice, not a law-firm invoice.”
Corporate legal advisory, contract drafting and review, regulatory compliance and legal risk assessment, delivered with institutional context.
How we handle itClients we work with
Our advisory services serve a wide range of organisations across the public and private sectors.
National Governments
Ministries of Justice, Trade, and public agencies
State Governments & Judiciaries
Court systems, judicial institutes, state agencies
Professional Bodies
Law, engineering, medicine, accounting, banking, procurement
Universities
ADR centres, governance institutes, law faculties, business schools
International Organizations
UN agencies, AfDB, World Bank, Commonwealth bodies
Private Sector
Banks, insurance, construction, energy, telecoms, manufacturing
Packaged expertise for measurable impact
We distil decades of executive leadership into structured consulting services designed for clarity and results.
What we bring
We bring together a combination of legal expertise, institutional experience and organisational development knowledge.
We have governed, not just advised
Our principal has sat in the chair being advised — Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of a national professional institute. Recommendations are tested against what a council will approve and a secretariat can actually run.
One practice, four disciplines
Governance, legal advisory, institutional development and dispute resolution in one firm, so a client is not left stitching four consultants together.
Context-specific solutions
We recognise that effective solutions must reflect the realities and needs of each organisation, not a template imported from elsewhere.
Institutional perspective
We understand the structures, relationships and systems that influence organisational performance — including the ones that decide whether a reform survives its second year.
Commitment to results
We focus on solutions that can be implemented, evaluated and sustained. The engagement ends when the institution can run the system without us.
Diagnostic, project, or retainer
Diagnostic
A fixed-scope assessment — governance health check, ADR readiness, institutional review — ending in a findings and priorities report.
Project
A defined reform or build: secretariat modernisation, certification framework, arbitration centre establishment, transformation programme.
Retainer
Ongoing governance advisory, board support, legal and regulatory counsel, or dispute resolution administration on a retained basis.
Led by a seasoned professional with decades of ADR expertise.
Shola Oshodi-John brings over 30 years of legal experience and 20+ years in organizational development to every engagement. A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, IMI Certified Mediator, and former Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of NICArb, she offers unparalleled insight into institutional leadership and dispute resolution.
“Our approach combines deep legal expertise with strategic organizational insight. We don't just resolve disputes — we help clients navigate complexity and emerge stronger.”
Shola Oshodi-John
FCArb, IMI Certified Mediator, SMP, MPPM, Member, Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria
Principal Partner, Avid & Grace Consults
Ready to strengthen your institution?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your governance, institutional development, or dispute resolution needs.