Best Lawyers Ones to Watch - Calgary lawyer Charles Osuji
CHARLES OSUJI AWARDED AS ONE OF THE TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS IN CANADA

Charles Osuji 

CEO & Managing Partner

Calgary Employment and Business Lawyer Charles Osuji

...Charles Osuji is a multi-award-winning lawyer and the CEO of Calgary’s Osuji & Smith law firm. He was chosen as one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 and one of the top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada.

 

From law school in Nigeria to law firm CEO in Calgary, Charles’ rise to the top has been swift, earning him a LEXPERT Rising Star recognition for Canada’s Leading Lawyers Under 40, and one of Canada’s 100 Most Influential Black Canadians.  With over 70 local and national recognitions and awards in the last few years  he is now leading one of the fastest growing mid-sized law firms in Calgary, Osuji & Smith, which has quickly become one of the largest black-owned law firms in Canada, and the largest in Alberta. At an age when most lawyers are busy learning their craft, Charles is doing that plus ensuring he is providing mentoring and leadership for his staff of associate lawyers, legal assistants, and articling students. He has been honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for his contributions to the Province of Alberta.

 

After graduating at the top of his class with honours, and getting called to the Nigerian Bar, Charles had the privilege of articling at Osuji & Smith (then Smith Law Office) and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2014. Only two years later, he became a Partner in the firm, and in 2017, he became the sole owner of Osuji & Smith.

 

Charles’ fast journey to success is proof of his dedication to helping clients achieve a resolution to their matters through quick, cost-effective, and thoughtful negotiation, mediation, and litigation. Responsive communication, practical legal advice, and thoroughness are priorities in his practice, which includes employment law, family law, real estate, litigation, business law, personal injury, wills and estates, and foreclosures

 

“Charles is extremely clear with his advice. Every time he takes on a case, he gives a part of himself and his heart. He is honest and works very hard to add value to his clients’ lives. His client reviews speak for themselves”

Giving Back

Being a lawyer in Calgary after starting his law career in Nigeria has allowed Charles the privilege of combining his passion for law with his enthusiasm for mentorship and leadership within Calgary’s newcomer population.

 

Outside of his practice, Charles spends his time mentoring other young professionals, running a free legal clinic that primarily serves Calgary’s newcomer population, and volunteering with his church. He also enjoys being with family and friends, playing piano, playing and watching soccer and other sports, and reading.

 

In 2022, with the expansion of the Firm to a second location in the heart of Calgary, Charles launched the Foot in the Door Initiative, which would give up to 100 internationally trained lawyers, per year, a volunteer opportunity in Osuji & Smith, and connect them to local career opportunities.

Honours & Awards

  1. Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal by the Government of Alberta for his contributions to the Province of Alberta.
  2. 2023 Inclusive Leadership Award for promoting inclusion by Immigrant Champions Awards.
  3. 2023 Black Icon Award, by Nigerian IT Professionals of Canada (NIPCA)
  4. 2023 Inclusive Leadership Award, by Immigrant Champions of Canada
  5. CHRR 5-Star Employment Lawyers Award
  6. 100 Most Influential Black Canadians (2022) by Silver Trust Media and Afroglobal TV
  7. 2022 Professional Achievement Award by Afroglobal TV
  8. 2022 Innovation & Leadership Award by Shaun Chen, Member of Parliament, Scarborough North, Toronto
  9. 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Best Lawyers)
  10. 2020 Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada (Canadian Lawyer)
  11. LEXPERT Rising Stars, Leading Lawyers under 40
  12. 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Lawyer to Watch
  13. 2021 Avenue Calgary Top 40 Under 40
  14. Canada’s 2021 Top 40 Under 40
  15. Recipient, Power of Inclusion Community Award by Council of Nigerian Professionals, Canada
  16. Recipient, 2021 Top 25 DEI Person of the Year Award by Canadian Multicultural Group
  17. Black Excellence Award by Calgary Black Chambers
  18. 2021 Les Prix Canie Awards’ Black Entrepreneur Award
  19. 2021 Torch Awards by Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  20. 2020 Canadian Bar Association’s Douglas Miller Rising Star Award
  21. 2020 Employer Awards for Newcomer Employment, given by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
  22. 2020 Immigrant of Distinction– Achievement under 35 award (Immigrant Services Calgary)
  23. 2020 Entrepreneurship and Innovation award (Immigrant Services Calgary)
  24. 2019 Hope Awards by Aspen Family and Community Network Society
  25. 2019 Professional of the Year Award by Diversity Magazine, Alberta
  26. Recipient of the Afro Canadian (AC) 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Diversity Magazine; https://diversitymag.ca/from-a-student-to-the-boss-in-4-years-charles-is-not-done-yet-at-37/
  27. 2019 Employer Awards for Newcomer Employment, given by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
  28. Recipient of the 2019 CY Ekwulugo Award for Volunteering and Community Service, courtesy of the Igbo Cultural Association of Calgary, Alberta
  29. 2018 Immigrant of Distinction – Achievement under 35 (Immigrant Services Calgary)
  30. Rated one of the Top 3 Civil Litigation Lawyers in Calgary, Alberta, for 2019, 2021, 2022 & 2023 by the ThreeBestRated
  31. Rated one of the Top 3 Employment Lawyers in Calgary, Alberta, for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023, by the ThreeBestRated
  32. Rated one of the Top 3 Business Lawyers in Calgary, Alberta, for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 by the ThreeBestRated
  33. Rated one of the Top 3 Divorce Lawyers in Calgary, Alberta, for 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023, by the ThreeBestRated
  34. Rated one of the Top 3 Estate Planning Lawyers in Calgary, Alberta, for 2020,  2021, 2022 & 2023, by the ThreeBestRated
  35. The 2016 Professional of the Year by OBSIDIAN, Alberta
  36. Charles has also been recognized as one of the “Outstanding Africans in Canada”.

 

Under Charles’ leadership, Osuji & Smith has won:

 

  1. 2023 Inclusive Organization Award by Immigrant Champions Awards.
  2. CHRR 5-Star Employment Law Firms
  3. Top 10 Employment Law Firms in 2023 by Manage HR Canada Magazine
  4. 2021 Top Choice of Business Law Services in Calgary 2021;
  5. 2022 Top Choice of Business Law Services in Calgary
  6. 2023 Top Choice of Business Law Services in Calgary;
  7. 2021 Best Business in Canada by Canadian Business Review Board;
  8. 2022 Best Business in Canada by Canadian Business Review Board;
  9. 2023 Best Business in Canada by Canadian Business Review Board;
  10. 2021 Best Employment Lawyers in Calgary;
  11. 2022 Best Employment Lawyers in Calgary;
  12. 2023 Best Employment Lawyers in Calgary;
  13. 2021 Best Real Estate Lawyers in Calgary;
  14. 2022 Best Real Estate Lawyers in Calgary;
  15. 2023 Best Real Estate Lawyers in Calgary;
  16. 2021 Best Family Lawyers in Calgary;
  17. 2022 Best Family Lawyers in Calgary;
  18. 2023 Best Family Lawyers in Calgary;
  19. 2021 Best Divorce Lawyers in Calgary;
  20. 2022 Best Divorce Lawyers in Calgary; and
  21. 2023 Best Divorce Lawyers in Calgary.

Volunteerism

  • Founder, Foot in the Door Initiative (FIDI)
  • Mentor for Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC)
  • CRIEC Board of Directors
  • Mentor through Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS)
  • Calgary Immigrant Women Association
  • Founding Ambassador with United Way, Calgary
  • Alberta Legal Aid
  • Alberta Law Society Lawyer Referral Service
  • Igbo Cultural Association of Calgary
  • Mustard Seed (through CRIEC)
  • Habitat for Humanity (through CRIEC)
  • Elizabeth Fry Society
  • Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre

Media

Charles has been featured by multiple news outlets, including

 

  • Lawyers’ Daily
  • Canadian Lawyer Magazine
  • The Sprawl
  • IAF Canada
  • Digital Journal
  • CityNews
  • Afro X TV
  • 660 News
  • OMNI TV
  • Global News

 

You can find some of his interviews here -> Featured Interviews

Memberships

  • The Canadian Bar Association
  • The Law Society of Alberta
  • The Calgary Bar Association
  • The Nigerian Bar Association
  • Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council
  • Legal Aid Council of Nigeria
  • The Global Lawyers of Canada
  • Calgary Black Chambers
  • Association of Black Conservatives
  • Ambassador, United Way, Calgary
  • Co-Founder, Nigerian Lawyers in Calgary

Education

  • Call to Bar, Alberta, 2014
  • Legal Education Society of Alberta (Bar Admission Course), 2014
  • Bachelor of Laws Equivalency Examinations, Federation of Law Societies of Canada, 2013
  • Call to Bar, Nigeria, 2010
  • Nigerian Law School, Barrister-at-Law (BL), 2010
  • Imo State University, Bachelor of Laws (Hons), 2009

 

Practice Areas

 

You may contact Charles at 403-283-8018 or by email at [email protected].

Charles Osuji – Award Winning Calgary Employment and Business Lawyer

top-best-rated-calgary-lawyers-2024

…Osuji & Smith Calgary lawyers has just won the 2024 Three Best Rated for Best Rated Employment Lawyers in Calgary. This is our eight win having won it in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024. We have also won the 2024 Three Best Rated for Best Rated Business Lawyers in Calgary for 2024. This is our sixth win having won it in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024. Osuji & Smith has also won the Three Best Rated for Best Rated Divorce, Civil Litigation and Estate Planning Lawyers in Calgary for 2024. This is our third win. We have also won the 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 Top Choice Award for Business Services in Calgary and the Hope Awards, Aspen, among other awards.

DO YOU HAVE A CASE? REQUEST A CONSULTATION

Osuji & Smith Lawyers is known for its friendly team of legal professionals. We are client-focused and also driven to produce practical results for you.For years, our clients have trusted our experience and skill in solving their legal matters. Our skill is based on knowledge of the law and our ability to interpret it depending upon the facts of each case. Our dedicated team of lawyers is constantly striving to find unique resolutions for your complex issues. Our office is conveniently located in Kensington close to downtown Calgary, Alberta. For easy access, we also have free parking available for our clients.

What People Say About US

JENNIFER L.

“Charles was fantastic to work with! He was very professional, made sure I knew my options and supportive to the end. He successfully handled my employment matter and I would hire Charles again if needed.”

KIRSTEN A.

Aniedi Davidson at Osuji & Smith made our experience of incorporating interesting, accessible and hassle free. She took the time required to help us understand the process thoroughly and was very kind and friendly. Incorporating felt like a large task to us and she made it easy! I would highly recommend her services to anyone looking to incorporate their business.

NEDU A.

Quite frankly, Osuji & Smith is the best. Charles and his team handled my Divorce process with ease. Their level of flexibility and professionalism is second to none! Would advise the general public to contact Osuji & Smith for all their legal needs.

RON H.

I would like to thank Nitin Srivastava of Osuji & Smith for his help on my recent case. He was very professional and knowledgeable and helped me to make the proper decision regarding my case. I would recommend Nitin to anyone needing advice on labour and employment law.

MICHELLE R.

My partner and I had a meeting with Charles today. He was very welcoming and so full of knowledge! Not only that but most importantly, honest. He helped us understand our situation and did so without us retaining him and charging us a ton of money! Such a different experience than any other lawyer I had dealt with in the city. He did not make us feel as if we were just a dollar sign and actually seemed to care. That is not common in lawyers. You’re awesome Charles and we would most definitely recommend you to anyone!

JOSEPHINE O.

Charles Osuji has been my legal advisor for some time now. From the first day I met with him, I came to the conclusion that being brilliant and respectful has nothing to do with race or colour of skin. If you need a smart, efficient, competent, hardworking and professional lawyer, Charles Osuji embodies all these qualities. Charles is a very patient, considerate, hardworking lawyer that works 24/7 for the best interest of his client. He has been handling all my legal matters and has done an amazing job. I should note that he works with a dynamic and friendly team. I highly recommend him and his law firm, Osuji & Smith!

FOERSTER D.

I had a great experience with Charles Osuji and his staff! Very professional and friendly and helpful. They are very reasonable with their hourly rates. I highly recommend Charles Osuji and Osuji & Smith to all my friends and anyone out there who is looking for professional help.

CARMELO M.

Had a great experience dealing with Charles. He looked after our best interests and finished our contract in good time. We will be using Osuji and Smith in the future.

CHRIS W.

Osuji and Smith handles all of our personal and business needs and we could not be happier with them. They are always available to answer any questions and provide sound advice. If you are looking for a great law firm, call them and they will take care of you every step of the way.

ROMINA B.

They are Excellent and I had a wonderful experience especially Mr. Charles! He is very friendly and explained us all the outcomes. And we won the case!

GLORIA N.

Charles and Colleen provided me with some legal and real estate services. They are very professional, competent and on time. Their fees are very reasonable too. I highly recommend Charles Osuji and to anyone looking for a competent and knowledgeable lawyer that can resolve your case quickly at a reasonable price. Thanks, Osuji and Smith for the excellent work!

BORIS N.

We hired Charles to help us with Employment law. He was very knowledgeable on the matter, he worked very efficiently and he achieved a favorable result in a short period of time. He was also very reasonable priced. I highly recommend him to anyone in a need of legal advice and services.

OLA F.

I came to Osuji & Smith to review a commercial lease for my new business location. Charles and Alessia thoroughly reviewed my lease with me so that I understood it, and provided me specific notes about the present lease to take back to the landlord. Charles exceeded my expectations by also giving me additional tips on legal contracts on top of sharing some business advice that will be invaluable to the future of my business and my success as a new business owner. I feel the value I received from this office is why I will surely choose them again in the future.

JAMES G.

I worked solely with Charles on an employment case that was very personal to me. From the get go he displayed nothing but the highest standard of respect, knowledge, case fact competency and actually cares about your interest & well being. Always reachable even whilst I was overseas in multiple countries. His consistency, experience, historic reference, and flawless case punctuality are very noticeable in the way he handled every single matter. I can’t thank him enough for his honest work, support, and dealings. Osuji and Smith law-firm is an amazing establishment. Thank you again, Charles.

JOSEPHINE O.

Charles Osuji has been my legal advisor for some time. From the first day I met with Charles I came to conclusion that being brilliant and respectful has nothing to do with race or colour of skin. If you need a smart, efficient, competent, hardworking and professional lawyer, Charles embodies all these qualities. Charles is very patient, considerate, hardworking lawyer that works 24/7 for the best interest of his client. He has been handling all my legal matters and had done an amazing job. He works with a dynamic and friendly team. I highly recommend him and his law firm Osuji & Smith Lawyers.

FRANKLIN O.

I have used them once and all I can say is their services are top notch, didn’t have anything to complain about. Hence I will definitely recommend them to friends and family.

SEBA P.

I had the opportunity to have Charles Osuji providing legal services for myself and I can say that he and his team dealt with my matter in a very professional way. They are very responsive and Charles worked even on a Sunday to have my issue solved as soon as possible. Reasonable priced and more than that, he offered me the most cost-efficient alternatives for my case. Highly recommend this law firm.

SARATHY

I hired Charles for a prenuptial agreement. He is amazing from day 1. Unlike other corporate family lawyers, Charles calls you back even after 9 pm and even on a Saturday or Sunday. You can directly talk to Charles anytime unlike other lawyers who are not so easy to talk. His prices are reasonable and he is very professional. I would highly recommend Osuji & Smith for your legal needs.

TERRY T.

I worked with Charles and Colleen for the sale of my old home and the purchase of my new home. They were so wonderful to deal with. Very professional and helpful. I would highly recommend Osuji & Smith for your legal needs!

ANGIE N.

Charles is amazing. He handled my divorce efficiently and professional and put up with some craziness on my part. Would definitely recommend!