Chief Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi was born on July 16, 1959, in Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. He earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Jos in 1984 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. He further obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1987.

Chief Fagbemi began his legal career under the mentorship of renowned lawyer Afe Babalola, SAN. In 1998, he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), becoming one of the youngest to attain this distinction at the time.

He established his own law firm, Lateef Fagbemi & Co., also known as Temitope Chambers, with offices in Ibadan, Lagos, and Abuja. Chief Fagbemi has expertise in arbitration, alternative dispute resolution, commercial law, and land disputes.

On August 16, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Chief Fagbemi as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. He officially assumed office on August 21, 2023, succeeding Abubakar Malami.

In his role, Chief Fagbemi has focused on enhancing Nigeria's legal framework, particularly in arbitration and mediation. He was instrumental in the enactment of the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023.