Published June 08, 2025
On Saturday, June 7th, 2025, Lawyers and Co, a legal networking group, hosted another valuable session for some young lawyers in Accra. The event focused on business development strategies, emerging and untapped opportunities for young lawyers, and the benefits of collaborative efforts. These crucial areas, often overlooked in formal legal training, provided attendees with essential skills and fresh perspectives for navigating their careers, both within and beyond traditional legal roles. Full highlights from the event will be available on our website later this week. In the meantime, we say Ayekoo to the organizers
Looking ahead, there is a major legal event to note: on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Coast will host a noteworthy legal conference. The 12th Jurist Confab, themed “Rewriting the Rule Book: Constitutional Reform in Ghana,” will feature Professor Takyiwaa Manu, Clara Kasser-Tee, Bright Simons, and a other distinguished speakers. We encourage you to join in for what promises to be a highly insightful event.
Lawyers in the news
Bernad Shaw
Bernard Shaw, a well-known Criminal Defense attorney, secured the acquittal of Yaw Asante Agyekum. Mr. Agyekum, an accomplice of the notorious criminal, Ataayi, had been sentenced to 35 years for conspiracy to commit robbery in the early 2000’s and had already served 20 years of that sentence.
Mr. Shaw, understandably pleased with the outcome of the appeal, described the verdict as “orgasmic” in a recent interview.
This decision by the Court of Appeal in favour of Mr. Agyekum is consistent with some notable recent decisions from the Court of Appeal and even from the Supreme Court in which the appellate courts have acquitted and discharged some convicts who, through their dedication and firm belief in their innocence, successfully navigated the legal system to secure their freedom.
While these rulings underscore persistent flaws in our criminal justice system—particularly the troubling reality of wrongful convictions—they also reaffirm the crucial role of appellate courts in safeguarding justice. It is both encouraging and essential to see our higher courts actively exercising their mandate to correct these errors and restore the freedom and dignity of those who have been unjustly imprisoned
Professor Raymond Atuguba.
Last week marked the end of Professor Raymond Atuguba’s tenure as the Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, following the appointment of his successor, Professor Peter Atupare.
Professor Atuguba, an alumnus of the self-same school, rose from a law lecturer to hold this prestigious position from 2019 to 2025.
During his tenure , Professor Atuguba led the the preeminent law establishment through a period of significant reforms and academic excellence. Although his immediate plans are not yet known, professor Atuguba, a lawyer of outstanding intellect and scholarlarship has undoubtedly left his mark at the law faculty.
We wish him the absolute best in his future endeavor
Now to the other news
A widow battles over her late husband’s Estate.
According to the Newyork Times, a legal battle has erupted over Jimmy Buffett’s $275 million estate, with his widow and his accountant filing lawsuits this week seeking to remove each other as co-trustees of a trust containing the “Margaritaville” singer’s sprawling holdings.
The widow, Jane Buffett, is not pleased with the way her husband’s estate has been managed and has filed a petition seeking to oust her co-trustee, the accountant Richard Mozenter. She complains that the marital trust set up by the singer is producing far too little income.
Mrs. Buffett asked a judge in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday to appoint an independent third party to replace Mr. Mozenter. Her petition accused Mr. Mozenter of failing to provide her with basic information about the trust’s assets and finances, keeping her “in the dark with regard to the state of her own finances.”
Prominent law firms continue to haermorrage top talents
Paul Weiss, the tier one law firm that was the first to reach a deal with the Trump administration to a punishing executive order, continues to haermorage top legal talents the latest being — the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York William Damien
Damian Williams, joined Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison in January, shortly after stepping down as one of the nation’s foremost prosecutors. He moves to Jenner & Block where Mr. Williams will serve as a co-head of the law firm’s litigation and white-collar practices.
Unlike Paul Weiss, Jenner & Block challenged successfully an executive order aimed at punishing the firm for employing an attorney who had investigated Mr. Trump.
