October 21, 2024
Damilola Katibi didn’t really know what to expect when she moved to Toronto after enrolling in Osgoode’s Professional LLM in International Business Law.
“I came in blind, knowing nobody,” she says.
Other than national stereotypes about the friendliness of the Canadian population, Katibi’s only real experience with the country was through one of the international clients she served working as an associate at a boutique law firm in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city.
“He was from Canada and every time he visited, he would complain about the weather, so I also knew it would be cold,” she explains.
In the decade since her move, Toronto has exceeded Katibi’s expectations in every aspect – for better and for worse.
“I’m still not crazy about the weather, but everything else has been wonderful. I love it here,” she says. “My family has moved here now and this has become my home.”
Growing up, Katibi says her family and friends began picking up on her promising legal skills long before she did.
“Everyone assumed I was going to be a lawyer because of my personality. In Nigerian culture, you are not really encouraged as a child to ask questions, especially as a female, but I didn’t care about that. I was always good at talking and very inquisitive,” she says. “Personally, I was thinking more about showbiz: a singer, an actress or something of that sort.”
“In high school, it became clear I had no talent whatsoever, so I decided to pursue a legal career,” Katibi jokes.
After graduating with an LLB from the University of Lagos, Katibi quickly established herself at a local law firm, building a corporate-commercial practice with a strong international flavour at a time of growing foreign investment in both Nigeria and across the entire African continent.
Sensing that an international business law LLM may give her a competitive edge in the legal job market, Katibi settled on Osgoode, inspired partly by the encouragement of her Canadian client.
“I thought that in Canada I would be in a good place to explore. If I didn’t like it, the U.S. was right next door or I could always go back home to Nigeria with a masters to my name,” she says.
In the end, Katibi had no need for any backup plan. At Osgoode, she was instantly struck by the diversity of the International Business Law LLM program, which is popular with internationally trained lawyers seeking to requalify in Canada because of the opportunity it offers students to take electives accredited by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation.
“It was 12 years ago, but it’s still so vivid to me. I started at Osgoode immediately after arriving, so it was also my first introduction to Canada,” Katibi says. “There were no odd ones out. We were all in the same boat, coming from different countries and trying to figure things out in this new place.”
“It was also very flexible, which meant I had opportunities to explore the city and do other things outside the classroom,” she adds.
According to Katibi, the counselling and career support services available to students are another gem in the Osgoode crown.
“It all contributes to a very soft landing for people wanting to transition to the legal space in Canada,” she says.
After securing a short-term role with Bay Street heavyweights McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Katibi made a strong impression, building on her existing corporate-commercial legal experience.
“It was supposed to be a six-week position, but they liked my work and asked me to return for the summer,” Katibi says. “It was a fantastic training ground for me.”
She eventually spent more than five years with the firm as an articling student and associate, before her recruitment by Vale, where she is currently a senior counsel in the legal department. At the global mining company, Katibi handles a wide range of matters, including M&A, joint ventures, project development, regulatory compliance and corporate governance.
“One of the reasons I was attracted to the role was the way it incorporates elements of private practice in an in-house position,” she says. “Every day I wake up to an email asking for something that I have never done before. Of course, I still get the support of external counsel, but I get to do a bit of everything.”
Katibi’s swift adaptation to an unfamiliar country and legal market has not gone unnoticed in the wider profession. In 2023, her outstanding contribution to innovation, leadership, and excellence in the industry was recognized by Canadian legal magazine Lexpert, which named her a recipient of its Rising Star Award for the country’s top 40 lawyers under 40.
Katibi says she still treasures her connections with fellow students and professors, urging any internationally trained lawyers following in her footsteps to focus on setting professional goals and building their networks both inside and outside of Osgoode.
“Your relationships with your fellow students and professors are very important, but you should also take every opportunity you can to connect with people in the industry. You never know where that conversation might lead,” Katibi says.
The same goes for relationships outside of the legal environment, she adds.
“When you move to a new country and a new city without any friends or family, it can be difficult and you can feel isolated,” Katibi says. “In a place like Toronto, there is light at the end of the tunnel, because there are plenty of opportunities to find your community and make yourself some form of stable foundation to build upon.”
“As soon as you are settled in, I would advise International Business Law LLM students to start finding their community, whether at work, at church, in social groups or wherever. It’s not just good for your general health and well-being, but it’s also good for your career advancement.”
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