Meet Tayo Okunade | Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tayo Okunade and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tayo, how do you think about risk?
There is something exciting yet scary about taking risks and venturing out into an unfamiliar territory. Yet, from an early age my parents instilled in me the values that are embodied in the adage, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Born and raised in Nigeria, my mother, siblings, and I immigrated to the United States following my father who immigrated previously and was working on sabbatical at the University of Mississippi. My parents took the risk of leaving their home in Nigeria, transitioning their careers, and moving their family to start anew in the United States. We certainly had our challenges as immigrants, but watching my parents adapt and thrive in their unfamiliar environment instilled in me the tenets of dedication, patience, and persistence when pursuing one’s dreams. These values have shaped my approach to risk taking in my life and career decisions, and especially when it came to branching out to start Okunade, LLP in 2012. I started Okunade, LLP to break from the restrictions and limitations of a conventional law firm and to provide clients with flexible options to their needs. For almost 10 years of running the firm and pursuing my dream, I continue to draw on the strength and perseverance I witnessed in my parents when they embarked on their journey.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
There are many things that set Okunade LLP apart from other law firms. Primarily, we care about our clients. We understand that legal representation is often personal, and we pride ourselves on providing clients with individual attention to their legal matter to ensure effective representation. We are also able to leverage technology, our experience, and connections within the legal industry to save our clients’ money by finding creative ways to address the client’s needs and expectations. Starting a law firm is challenging, in particular, the aspect of running a business outside of the practice of law. For example, I had to rely on professionals for my bookkeeping and tax advice. And I also realized the importance of putting the right team in place, which made it easier to overcome those challenges.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It really depends on a few things including what time of year my friend visits. Couple that with the fact that Denver (and Aurora) has many wonderful places to eat and hang out. For starters, I would take my friend to breakfast at Rosenberg’s Bagels. For a sweet bite, I would bring my friend to Voodoo Doughnut then take a stroll down 16th street mall. For drinks or food, I would take my friend to Stanley Marketplace and experience the beer hall and many other offerings for food and drinks that Stanley Marketplace has to offer. The beer hall at Stanley is also a great spot for kids to hang out. Of course, you cannot visit Colorado without checking out the majestic Rocky Mountains. In the winter I would take my friend to Keystone for skiing or other winter activities. In the Summer, I would take him/her on a drive through Mt. Evans or have him/her experience any of the number of parks in Colorado. If there is sunshine and moderate warmth, I would bring him/her to any of the abundant golf courses in Denver, including Kennedy Golf Course, which is just across from my office.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family – both of my parents and my in-laws. All my and my wife’s family encouraged me to pursue my dream and open my own law practice almost 10 years ago. They were incredibly supportive then and have continued to support me and my business efforts. I also have numerous mentors, friends and colleagues to thank for their support and my success, but I would be remiss to start naming names, as I do not want to leave anyone out.

Website: www.okunadellp.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okunade-llp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OkunadeLLP

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OkunadeLLP