Itee Odekunle

Itee Odekunle qualified as a commercial solicitor in 2012 and has since gained extensive experience in both the private and public sector. 

Itee is an In-House Legal Counsel (EMEA region) at Wesco/Anixter, a Fortune 500 global supply chain solutions company.  In her role, Itee works as a strategic partner to the company’s various business units, providing advice on a range of issues, including negotiating complex commercial contracts, securing new business opportunities and compliance issues. 

Itee sits on the Wesco/Anixter Inclusion and Diversity Across Borders Committee and as the Professional Development Lead for her company’s BLIPOC business resource group. 

Itee joined the Board of Directors of the Leeds Law Society in 2019, with a primary focus on promoting the Society’s engagement on issues facing people of colour within the profession. 

Itee is very passionate about ensuring that the legal profession is both accessible and nurturing of diverse talents.  She firmly believes that when the historical barriers to access, retention and progression for all groups of people within the profession are removed then, and only then, will the profession be truly fit for purpose in today’s society.  Having worked both in private practice and now as in-house counsel, Itee recognises that everyone in society has a part to play to ensure that the professional workplace and society at large are equitable spaces where individuals can each thrive on merit. 

Itee serves as a trustee at a number of local Leeds-based charities, is a graduate of Durham University and lives in Leeds with her young family.