Alex has worked in many public sector organisations, including HM Customs & Excise as a VAT Officer and at Inner London Crown Court. He was admitted as a Solicitor in June 2003 and he joined the Crown Prosecution Service. He was a Senior Crown Prosecutor until he resigned to go into private practice. He was the Head of Family & Immigration Departments at Beacon Wealth Legal, a firm that has four offices around the Cambridgeshire area. Alex later founded A.Y. Sovereign Solicitors, where he is the Director offering a wide range of excellent services in the areas of Personal & Business Immigration, Family, Criminal law, Civil Litigation, and Employment law. He is an accredited member of the following professional organisations:
- Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA), a professional association and registered charity, the majority of whose members are barristers, solicitors, and advocates who have expertise in all aspects of immigration, asylum, and nationality law.
- The resolution, a national organisation of family lawyers committed to non-confrontational divorce, separation, and other family problems.
In recognition of his commitment to value-adding services, Alex has been engaged as a consultant for reputable law firms including Alletsons in Somerset and Slater & Gordon. He has acted for many small and large businesses on Business Immigration, and this includes advising employers about hiring and employing overseas nationals. As a result of Alex’s vast experience and expertise, he is a professional mentor for the Law Society, and he also mentors other professionals that are relatively new to the profession. Alex is married and blessed with children. His hobbies include riding a motorbike or playing table tennis.
Who is Alexander Adeyemo?
I am a professional that strives to exceed clients’ expectations. I am easygoing, and I intentionally have time for other interests outside of work. I have a cheerful personality with excellent interpersonal skills.
Tell us about your educational and professional qualifications
I studied law at the University of London and subsequently completed the Legal Practice Course (Law School) and was admitted as a Solicitor in June 2003
Tell us about your family background. Where were you born and raised.
I was born in South London and was taken to Nigeria for my primary and secondary education. Life in Lagos was interesting. I lived in some areas in Lagos where you have to be Streetwise, and this helped a great deal when I returned to the UK at the age of 21. I returned to the U.K. for my University degree programme.
What are your core values and life philosophy?
Every day on this earth is a gift, so I make the most of each day. My life is a life of thanksgiving, and I am always grateful to God for His grace and mercy upon my life and that of my family.
What is the nature of your current professional engagement?
I am a Solicitor, and I provide legal services through my law firm (A.Y. Sovereign Solicitors Ltd).
How did you climb the ladder of success?
It was not easy but determination and perseverance saw me through.
What was life like when you arrived in London, and how have you coped?
I returned to London at the age of 21 with no “one to hold my hands”, so it was extremely difficult. Over time, I kept myself very busy with focusing on my ambition and this helped me later in life. Some of the advice that my mum gave me when I was much younger started to ring bells, for example, know the son of whom you are!!!
What are the success principles or nuggets you would like to share with us?
Don’t go into a career or profession just for financial reasons. Find out what you are naturally good at, and you will excel when you are on that path. Strive to be the best of yourself rather than be a copy of another person.
What is your advice for young Nigerians just arriving in the UK?
There will be a lot of distractions, so focus on your aims, ambition, etc. The success that will be durable cannot be achieved overnight, so have goals, be patient, and be true to yourself.
Tell us about your unforgettable moments in life, the pleasant and the not-so-pleasant.
The path to qualifying as a Solicitor was not straightforward so I cannot forget the day I was admitted as a Solicitor in June 2003. The not-so-pleasant experience in my career was when I had some challenges that potentially threatened my career.
How do you socialize? What are your hobbies?
I enjoy spending time with members of my family. I take my wife and children on dates, and sometimes it is just spending time watching films on Netflix. I also enjoy spending time with close friends. I enjoy going to the cinemas and playing Table Tennis; I play in two leagues (Croydon & Bromley).
What is your assessment of the legal profession in the UK? Are there tips you would like to share with us?
The UK is a very legalistic country and the legal system of England and Wales is a ‘common law’ system which means that much of the law is to be found in the decisions of judges in individual legal cases, hence the reference to legal cases or what is sometimes referred to as ‘legal authorities’. I will suggest that more ethnic minorities should apply to be magistrates, judges, etc so we can contribute to the legal system of the future.
What are your plans?
I will like to continue mentoring the younger generation that is interested in law. I would like to “give back” in as many ways as I can to the community, my church, etc.
What advice do you have for the Nigerian government to turn around the country’s fortunes?
It will take a book to deal with this complicated topic, but the following comes to my mind: Part of the fundamental problem in Nigeria is the lack of integrity. Bribery and corruption are the norms, and those who are well off are above the law. As a result, some people can get away with murder with no consequences. The following is debatable, but I will state this as it comes to my mind: Being religious is not the same as having Godly character and values. Having honest discussions around this issue may be the beginning of the solutions to the uncountable problems in Nigeria. It will also help a great deal if the Nigerian government and all those in leadership positions can also consider the following and try and abide by the principles.
George Mason was an elder-planter who had originally stated John Locke’s theory of natural rights: “All men are born equally free and independent and have certain inherent natural rights of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Tell us about your wife and children
I love my career but I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today without the support of my wife. By God’s grace, we have been happily married for 30 years, and we are blessed with three amazing children.
