Biography
Beatrice A. Hamza-Bassey serves as a Partner at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. She has had significant experience on many important cases in the areas of class actions, product liability and multidistrict securities litigation. She has been involved in counselling clients on foreign corrupt practices act, focusing on internal investigations and compliance programs at Hughes. In addition to her extensive experience, Beatrice has received recognition for her work as Chair of Hughes Hubbard’s Associate Task Force on Diversity. She received her L.L.M. from Harvard Law School in 1998. She had previously received her L.L.B. from the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria in 1994 and her Bachelors of Law from Nigeria Law School in 1995.
Studying abroad
When I made my decision to study abroad, my intention was to study, gain experience and come back to Nigeria. I applied to different schools in the UK and the US and Harvard School was the only one I applied to in the US. I got admitted to the other schools in the UK too. It was a tough decision on where to go to. My mother who has always been a strong force in my life said there was no other choice that I had to go to Harvard.
Culture shock
It was a very interesting transition for me. Coming from Nigeria, I saw no colour. Most people looked like me and those who didn’t; I never saw them as different. I actually happened to have German God parents at that time in Nigeria so I never saw people in terms of colour. Having to now look at things in hues of colour was strange for me because I was not accustomed to it.
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
I came to Hughes because of their stellar reputation. I started as an associate; I fancied what I would be doing there because we are one of the premier firms in arbitration. It was an easy choice for me especially after my interview, everyone was incredibly nice. It had to be Hughes because there was nowhere else to learn American style litigation than from such a place so I accepted their offer.
Minority issues
There were constant reminders of being the odd one out either in the court room, at industry conferences or at depositions with the opponents. You walk into the room and it is usually male dominated, typically grey head men, I am typically Caucasian and often I am the only woman, the only black woman in the room. The overlaid truth of my gender and the fact that I am African amplified that reality but I never let that deter me and luckily for me, I was practicing under a law firm such as Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, where you could set yourself apart regardless of your gender or race.
Practicing in the US
Initially, I did not have insecurity issues but I was not totally confident of practicing in the US the way I did in Nigeria. But once I got my feet wet in cases and started to prove myself from the very first case I worked on, I was noticed by the partner in charge who later became one of my biggest mentors and he wanted me to work on all of his cases so that gave me more confidence with each year. It became obvious that I can do whatever I am asked to and even sometimes better than anybody else and then seven years down the line, I saw that there was the possibility to have the brass ring.
Brass Ring
Brass ring here signifies the partnership with Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. It was an exciting day for several reasons. I was in the hospital about to have my daughter when I got the call that I had been elected as a partner in the firm. It was a day of double joy. I hadn’t given birth then but it probably accelerated things because of the excitement. A lot of emotions…that was one call I was glad I answered even in the labour room.
Historical significance
When I look at the profession generally, across law firms in the US, the number of people of colour who became partner where not very encouraging so the significance of my becoming a partner to Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP was not and still is not lost in me. I carry that with the full appreciation of the historical as well as present value of my position. I work hard every day so we see more people like me, coming through the ranks and becoming partners.
Career highlights
There are so many high lights to my career. I have worked on the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy case and our job was to take care of all the assets on their behalf and returned them to all the customers that had valid customer claims. It was an incredible matter to work on. The other one was in New York, when we were able to secure an outcome that was unprecedented in the history of housing matters, where we sent the landlord to jail. We secured the judge to issue an order against him for his failure to make these repairs and for flouting the judge’s orders and the landlord went to jail. Because of what we did, the New York Public Advocate actually started a website titled ‘The worst Landlord in New York’. I have also had the opportunity of representing sovereign nations and advising heads of states. In terms of sovereign nations, I had the privilege of representing the Republic of Seychelles in litigation in the US and we got a positive and successful outcome.
Back home to practice in Nigeria
I remain very much engaged in my country and Nigeria/Africa never left my heart. I have stayed in the US over many years because I have found there a home where I can practice but I have also remained very engaged in Nigeria with different things I can do and especially in my work.
Greatest Inspiration
My greatest inspiration is Nelson Mandela. He was a lawyer like me and after reading his auto biography ‘a long walk from freedom’, I was greatly moved and I saw so many things in his background that resonated with me, especially his ability to use his legal degree to fight for causes and to do good.
Helping African investors
I help companies investing in Africa pursue those investments in an ethical manner and compliance with laws. When companies like my clients are able to do business, pursue their business, and make ethical money, they do good; the local communities do good so it’s a win-win for everybody.
Family and work
Work life balance is a myth. It’s a constant struggle for me and I am still trying to figure it out. Balance for me is how I prioritise my day. I know things have to get done so I have to get them done anyway. When I am done with my day’s work, because most of the time I am on the road, the time differences work in my favour. When I am done in Johannesburg, Paris, Nigeria or wherever I am, it’s still early in the US and my kids are just coming back from school. I get on Skype so we read together or do homework together. I do different things to make it work but I have truly not found that balance yet.
Trip to Nigeria
I had the honour and absolute privilege of taking my children to Nigeria recently. It was their first trip. It was a seamless transition. We got to my mother’s home, they got to meet their extended family and for them, that home-coming drove what I have been trying to do for years, to get them to see themselves as also Nigerian.
By: KEMI AJUMOBI
