Born in Nigeria and now splitting his time between Aspen and New York, Odini Gogo blends legal rigor with business instinct by helping clients reduce friction, move faster, and close deals with confidence.
In this edition of our provider spotlight series, we sat down with Odini to talk about his approach to working with in-house teams, the impact of flexible legal talent, and how building a business outside of law has shaped his legal practice.
Q: How do you approach working with in-house legal teams?
Odini: I see myself as an extension of the team. My job is to reduce friction, align with internal priorities, and deliver work that makes my in-house counterpart’s life easier. I’m mindful of business goals, internal politics, and bandwidth, both mine and theirs.
I ask smart, targeted questions. I avoid over-lawyering. I don’t just push back—I explain the risks in plain language and help the team get to yes.
Q: What do enterprise clients value most about working with flexible legal talent like yourself?
Odini: Speed, precision, and judgment. With flexible legal talent, clients get senior expertise without the delays of hiring or the cost of traditional law firms. There’s less over-lawyering and more understanding of the business. Because I’ve worked across multiple sectors, I bring an immediate lift and better risk management. Fewer bottlenecks. Better outcomes.
Q: Can you share an example where you made a measurable impact for a client?
Odini: I once turned around a heavily negotiated, multi-million dollar agreement in under 48 hours. The original attorney was out, and the deal needed to close by quarter-end. I stepped in, worked closely with the business team, and got it done on time.
I’m also known for moving fast, issue spotting, and aligning risk postures, things like indemnification and liability caps, that matter deeply to companies. It’s why most of my engagements start at two months and go on long-term.
Q: What drew you to Priori, and how has the platform shaped your practice?
Odini: I love Priori. The quality of the clients and the ability to focus on substantive legal work, without the administrative drag, is what drew me in. The matching process is excellent. The team surfaces engagements that align with my expertise. I’ve been matched with fast-paced, meaningful matters across industries—everything from enterprise banks to venture-backed startups to consumer-facing brands.
Q: How do you think platforms like Priori are changing legal services?
Odini: Priori is democratizing access to top-tier legal talent, both for the companies that need it and for the lawyers providing it. It reflects how business teams actually work: lean, fast, and remote-friendly. It’s not just a new way to practice law. It’s a better way.
Q: What advice would you give to in-house teams considering Priori?
Odini: If you need immediate, high-quality support, without the ramp-up of hiring or the unpredictability of outside counsel, Priori is the answer. You get vetted, experienced attorneys who can plug in quickly and drive results.
Q: What would you tell another attorney thinking about joining Priori?
Odini: If you’re experienced, independent, and serious about your craft, this is the place for you. The work is meaningful. The clients are sophisticated. The platform is efficient and respectful of how much, or how little, you want to work.
Q: Can you tell us about your legal background and how your practice has evolved?
Odini: I started my legal career at King & Spalding, which is an AmLaw 100 firm, where I focused on corporate transactions and commercial contracts for global clients. Over time, I transitioned into in-house roles, mainly for Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing tech firms, managing a spectrum of commercial agreements, regulatory matters, and operational risk.
Today, I lead a boutique practice called Gogo & Moore that blends BigLaw precision with the flexibility and pragmatism in-house teams need to move fast.
Q: You also founded a fashion brand, Res Ipsa. Tell us more.
Odini: Yes! Outside of law, I started a company called Res Ipsa over 10 years ago, in 2013. (Forbes article). We literally started from the trunk of our cars, selling shoes, doing trunk shows in people’s homes and small boutiques. Today, we have 8 stores and over 100 employees across the U.S. and globally.
The name ‘Res Ipsa’ is from a legal term we all learn in law school, res ipsa loquitur, which means ‘the thing speaks for itself.’ When we started, we thought we’d mostly be selling ties to lawyers and they’d get a kick out of the name. But now, the products have taken on a life of their own. People see them and say, ‘That’s so Res Ipsa.’ That’s been really rewarding.
Q: How does your business experience inform your legal work?
Odini: Running a business has made me a better lawyer and legal partner. I understand firsthand what it means to negotiate leases, work with manufacturers, and manage procurement. That insight helps me deliver legal advice that’s grounded in reality and advice that actually helps clients move forward.
Q: Any final thoughts?
Odini: When you’re in law school, you’re taught to think like a lawyer, but not always to think about being multi-faceted. Platforms like Priori let you be both. They free you from the administrative burden so you can pursue what matters most to your clients and to you.
‘Flexibility’ isn’t just a buzzword. To me, it means having the freedom to live the life you want.
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