Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour’s Profile
Adedoyin Oyinkan Rhodes-Vivour nee Akande is the Managing Partner of Doyin Rhodes-Vivour & Co. Legal Practitioners, Consultants and Arbitrators, a commercial law firm specializing in Litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
She holds the LLB [Hons.][1980] and LLM [1986] degrees in Law from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She holds a Masters of Arts degree [MA] with merit in International Peace and Security from King’s College London, University of London [2002]. In recognition of her leadership qualities, she was nominated by the United States Information Services (USIS) to participate in the ‘Young African Leaders Programme’ in 1990. In 2005 she was awarded the British Government Chevening Scholarship in the area of peaceful settlement of International disputes.
She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and was elevated to the status of Chartered Arbitrator in 2004. She is a Centre for Dispute Resolution [CEDR] (UK) Accredited Mediator. She was conferred with a Practice Diploma in International Arbitration Law by the Law Society of England and Wales/International Bar Association in 2007.Adedoyin is a member of the Court of the International Chamber of Commerce Paris ,Court of Arbitration .She is a member of the World Bank Group Sanctions Board .She is a member of the ICC Paris ,Commission on Arbitration and ADR .
Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour has significant experience as presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator or co-arbitrator in arbitration proceedings domestically and internationally mainly under United Nations Commission on Trade Laws (UNCITRAL) Rules ,International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules ,the London Court of International Arbitration and the Kigali International Arbitration Rules . Her areas of expertise include oil and gas, construction and infrastructural projects, maritime, power, banking and finance, franchise and commercial disputes generally. She has acted as counsel in various arbitration proceedings. Her legal practice actively encourages alternative dispute resolution and she has successfully mediated several disputes. She has also acted as consultant to some regulatory bodies for drawing up arbitration/ADR industry specific schemes.
In recognition of her distinguished service to the legal community in particular the field of arbitration and ADR, the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) honored her with an award for distinguished service to the legal profession in 2012. The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law conferred her with the awards of Chairperson of the Year Award [Arbitration and ADR Committee] in 2006 and 2009 respectively. Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour is listed in editions of the Global Arbitration Review (GAR) International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration. She is listed in editions of Who’s Who Legal and recognized as one of the world’s leading arbitrators. She is also listed editions of Guide to the World’s Leading Commercial Arbitration Experts as a preeminent professional in the field of arbitration.
She was member of the Court of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), The Hague, The Netherlands pursuant to her nomination by Nigeria. She is listed on various Arbitration/ADR panels including the International Maritime Conciliation and Mediation Panel(IMCAM), the database of London Court of International Arbitration(LCIA), the database of the LCIA-MIAC Arbitration Centre, Panel of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution(ICDR)International Panel of the American Arbitration Association , International Panel of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), Panel of Arbitrators of the Lagos Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (RCICA), Panel of Arbitration Foundation of South Africa [International Division ,Panel of Neutrals of the Lagos Multi-door Courthouse(LMDC), Abuja Multi-door Courthouse(AMDC) and Supporting Member generally prepared to take up appointment as arbitrator by the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA).
Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour has served in various leadership capacities. She is a Past Chairman Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigeria Branch. She is a Founder member and Pioneer President of the Maritime Arbitration Association of Nigeria [2005-2010]. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association. She was a member of the Pioneer Board of Directors of the Lagos Court of Arbitration. She wasa member of the Pioneer Board of Governors, Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre. She is a member of the ILA International Committee on International Commercial Arbitration and the Pioneer Past Chair, Committee on International Commercial Arbitration of the International Law Association (ILA) Nigerian Branch. She was an Officer of the Mediation Committee of the Legal Practice Division (LPD) of the International Bar Association (IBA). She was a member of the Council of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She was a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping. She was the Pioneer Chairperson Nigerian Bar Association Committee on Arbitration/ADR [2005-2010]. She was a member of the Governing Council of the Citizen’s Mediation Centre (Lagos State) [2006-2011]. She was a former Vice Chairperson of the Institute of Directors (UK) Nigerian Branch Law Reform Committee.
She has written various articles on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution and delivered papers at international and domestic conferences and training events. She is an approved tutor of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and regularly teaches arbitration courses. She is author of the book ‘Commercial Arbitration Law and Practice in Nigeria through the Cases ‘ published by Lexis Nexis South Africa .
Aisha Ado Abdullahi
Aisha Abdullahi who is the Director and Registrar General of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre (NCC-DRC) is a practicing lawyer and the Managing Partner of Green Edge Attorneys.
She is also the immediate past National Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
She is a member of the Dispute Resolution Committee of the International Bar Association, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, member of panels of neutrals at the Kano multi-door courthouse and the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre.
In 2018, she was unanimously appointed as the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Susan Muchaneta Mutangadura
Susan Muchaneta Mutangadura, is a certified international commercial arbitrator, entrepreneur, business leader, and generalist attorney with extensive experience in private legal practice as well as corporate sector experience having worked as a Partner in a leading law firm, Company Secretary and Legal Advisor for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and as Managing Director for Aon Zimbabwe Ltd, a member of the Aon plc group.
She is an experienced corporate governance practitioner and past Chairman of the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe and the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust. Served on corporate boards in various sectors of the economy including financial services, risk management and the banking industry.
Until December 2022, she was the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Netone Cellular (Pvt) Ltd, Zimbabwe's second largest cellular company, stepping down after having served a four-year term. Clearly distinguished in having served a full term under two different Ministers and two different Permanent Secretaries and voluntarily passing the baton.
She is also a board member of Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe and Mashonaland Holdings Limited - both listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. Member of the Board of Trustees of the Legal Resources Foundation.
She Holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe, an LLM International Commercial and Business Law (Distinction) from Bangor University, Wales, an MBA (Merit) from the University of Surrey, UK and a CAS in Arbitration from the University of Lucerne and the University of Neuchâtel, in cooperation with the Swiss Arbitration Academy.
Dr. Omogbai Omo-Eboh, SAN
LL.B. (Lagos) LL.M., Ph.D. (London); B.L., FCIArb., Chartered Arbitrator
Dr. Omogbai Omo-Eboh is a legal practitioner specialising in Maritime, Insurance and Arbitration.
After his law education at the University of Lagos and call to the Nigerian Bar in 1985, he proceeded to the London School of Economics & Political Science of the University of London, where he obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in 1986 with Distinction. He was granted the Overseas Research Students Award by the Committee of Principals and Vice-Chancellors of United Kingdom Universities and the Professor W.G. Hart Scholarship to enable him pursue a research course of study leading to the award of a Doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in law.
During the course of his doctoral research, Dr. Omo-Eboh was a lecturer in law at the University of Buckingham. He has written extensively on current legal issues and regulation in local and international journals. He was consulted by the Law Commission of England & Wales on the reform of the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 1930 (UK) in March 1997. He is a regular speaker and facilitator at the Maritime Law Seminar for Judges organized by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute and in training seminars organized by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for judges.
He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association; Fellow and Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) where he is an approved Tutor of the Institute. He co-established the Institute of Maritime Law, Faculty of Law, Lagos State University, in 1999 where he was a pioneer lecturer.
He has acted variously as counsel, party appointed arbitrator and Chairman of arbitration panels in references relating to Commercial Contracts, Insurance, Shipping/Maritime and Energy disputes in both domestic and international arbitrations.
He is a foundation member, first Honorary Secretary and past President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN).
He is the author of the books: “The Law of Insurance Contracts in Nigeria” and “Casebook on Insurance Law in Nigeria” both published in 2012.
He was the Chairman, Committee for the Review of Insurance Laws in Nigeria, inaugurated by the Hon. Minister of Finance on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria in February, 2016, and a Commissioner, Lagos State Law Reform Commission.
He was preferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in December 2020, by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), as a mark of distinction in legal practice and in recognition of significant contribution to the development of the law in Nigeria.
DAPO OTUNLA’S BIO
Dapo Otunla is currently the Chief Corporate Services Officer at IHS (Nigeria) Limited (“IHS”) in which capacity he oversees the company’s legal, sustainability & communications, government relations, regulatory affairs and compliance & data governance departments. IHS is a Nigerian company duly licensed by the Nigerian Communications Commission to provide telecommunications infrastructure services.
Dapo holds a BSc. (Honours) Degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan and an LL.B. (Honours) Degree from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Dapo also attended a joint law and management programme at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA and graduated with an LL.M. Degree (with Honors; Dean’s List) and a Certificate in Management from Northwestern University’s School of Law and Kellogg Graduate School of Management, respectively. He also has a certification in Strategy Execution from Harvard Business School in Cambridge, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA.
Prior to joining IHS, Dapo was Group General Counsel at another leading Nigerian company in the agricultural/manufacturing sector.
Dapo began his legal career at Olumide Sofowora’s Chambers, in Lagos, Nigeria and has practiced at several top-tier law firms in the world including McKee Nelson (then #1 issuer and underwriter counsel for securitization transactions) in Washington, DC and culminating with Mayer Brown LLP (then #8 largest firm globally) in Chicago, Illinois. Dapo has represented most of the major global investment banks in a variety of transactions including several emerging market transactions. He has a good knowledge of corporate and financial transactions.
Dapo is admitted to practice at the Bars of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1996) and the State of New York (2000), The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2002), the District of Columbia (2004) and the State of Illinois (2008; Inactive status), in the U.S.
Dapo has served as a member of the Council of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section of Business Law. He is a former co-Chair of the Foreign Lawyers’ Committee and a former member of the Steering Committee of the International Law Section of the Boston Bar Association in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, U.S. He was also an inaugural member of the Nigerian Bar Association's Section on Business Law's Committee on Products Liability and Consumer Protection. He was listed in 2015 in the Legal500’s GC Powerlist Africa publication as one of the leading General Counsel in Africa.
Dapo has spoken at a number of corporate organizations and at private sessions on topics focused on organizations developing corporate cultures, inspiring professionalism and motivating employees towards optimizing their potential in line with corporate organizational objectives.
Dapo has a keen fascination with mentoring, international affairs and developmental politics. He also dips his toes into the world of art and classic cars.
BRIEF PROFILE
Dr. Agada Elachi is a practicing lawyer called to the Nigerian bar in 1999. He holds a doctorate degree in Public Policy and Administration specializing in Terrorism, Mediation and Peace (Walden, U.S.A), and a Master’s degree in Law.
Agada is an ADR expert with a bias for mediation and arbitration. He holds the fellowship of several professional bodies including the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC, Nigeria) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). He also holds a diploma in international commercial arbitration. He is a certified trainer in Mediation, Arbitration, and conflict resolution processes generally.
He is on the panel of Panel of Neutrals of several organizations. Some of these are: Global Mediation (UK), Kigali International Arbitration Centre, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre (NCC-DRC), Nigerian Communications Commission, Federal High Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre, and several multi-door courthouses. He is actively involved in researching, writing, and speaking locally and internationally.
Dr Babatunde Ajibade SAN
Dr Babatunde Ajibade is the managing partner of S. P. A. Ajibade & Co, a leading corporate and commercial law firm with offices in Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja, Nigeria.
He is a dispute resolution specialist and has substantial expertise in various aspects of commercial litigation and international commercial arbitration, especially in the fields of company law, insolvency law, energy law, labour law, hospitality law, construction law and investment treaty law. He has acted as counsel in both ad hoc and institutional arbitration proceedings and also sits as an arbitrator.
He is a co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s African Regional Forum, a Vice-President of the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Arbitration Commission’s Steering Committee, a Director of ICC Nigeria, a Director of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC). He is also the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association at national level and of the Judiciary Relations Committee of the Lagos Branch of the association.
Dr. Ajibade was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989. He obtained an LLM degree in corporate and commercial law in 1990 and a Ph.D. in private international law in 1996, both from King’s College London. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in December 2007. He was awarded the International Practice Fellowship of the International Bar Association in Madrid in October 2009 and became a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK in January 2015.
Dr. David Kariuki Muigua, C,Arb
Dr. David Kariuki Muigua is a distinguished law scholar, Environmental Consultant, an accomplished mediator, a Chartered arbitrator, a holder of a Ph.D in law from the University of Nairobi and with widespread training and experience in both international and national commercial arbitration and mediation.
Dr. Muigua is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)-Kenya chapter. He is also a Chartered Arbitrator. He has served as the Branch Chairman of CIArb)-Kenya from 2012 to 2015. He has widespread training and experience in policy formulation and the legislative process. He is highly knowledgeable on the Kenyan legal system and has previously been consulted on the drafting of Bills and regulations.
He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya of over 26 years standing and practicing at Kariuki Muigua & Co. Advocates, a firm that specialises in environmental law and natural resources research and practice, ADR, constitutional law and commercial law litigation. The firm is also listed as a leading Kenyan commercial law firm in the distinguished Martindale Hubbell Directory.
He has undertaken specialised courses specifically on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Audit (EA) which earned him the EIA/EA lead expert accreditation by the National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya (NEMA). He is a Lead Consultant and Expert at Pristine Consultants, an Environmental Law and Policy Consultancy firm drawing its clientele from Kenya and elsewhere around the world.
His research interests include Environmental and Natural Resources Law, Governance, Human Rights and Constitutionalism, Conflict Resolution, International Commercial Arbitration, The nexus between environmental law and human rights, Land and natural resource rights, economic law and policy of governments with regard to environmental law and economics.
Dr. Muigua has also collaborated with various environmental advocacy groups in Kenya and regionally. He works with professionals affiliated to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) especially in the areas of Environmental Resources and their management through Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Mediation and Public Participation. He advocates the setting up of effective policy, legislative and institutional frameworks for the resolution of environmental conflicts. He is an ardent commentator and contributor to debates on the constitutional review, governance and has worked closely with stakeholders in the areas of constitutionalism and access to Justice.
He is also a lead auditor/implementer of BSI ISO/IEC 27001:2005 (Information Security Management Systems) and consults on the same.
Dr. Muigua teaches law at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP) and the School of Law, University of Nairobi.He is widely published in the areas of environment and natural resources, ADR and access to justice.
Previously, Dr. Muigua has been engaged as a consultant by various bodies on diverse issues falling within his areas of practice and research interests.
Dr. Hakeem Seriki
Dr Hakeem Seriki is a qualified solicitor and consultant in the London office of Steptoe & Johnson.
Dr Seriki represents clients on a wide area of dispute resolution matters with particular emphasis on international arbitration and litigation. He has advised clients in arbitrations conducted under the auspices of various institutions such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Clients have included major oil & gas companies, telecoms companies, state governments and agencies. Dr Seriki has authored and published a number of articles in leading international and commercial arbitration journals. Dr Seriki also sits as an arbitrator and is an Associate Professor of Commercial Law at University of East Anglia.
Dr. Mahutodji Jimmy Vital Kodo
Dr. Mahutodji Jimmy Vital Kodo is an Attorney (Avocat à la Cour) and Member of the Hauts-de-Seine Bar Association in France, an independent arbitrator and a leading OHADA expert and practitioner with over fifteen years of experience. He has been appointed arbitrator by African States in investment disputes, and regularly represents parties in complex litigation and arbitration proceedings as well as appeals before the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA).
Eunice Lumallas
Partner in charge of Constitutional Law, Trial Advocacy And Dispute Resolution
Eunice Lumallas is a highly regarded litigator, with extensive experience of representing clients before a number of key courts and judicial Tribunals. Lumallas focuses on both private client work and as well as general litigation, arbitration (domestic and international) and mediation. Lumallas is an accredited mediator certified by the mediation accreditation committee.
Eunice Lumallas holds a Master’s degree from the University of Nairobi in Public International Law, a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Moi University and a post-graduate Diploma in law obtained from the Kenya School of Law. She has vast knowledge in Law through services at various entities both private and public, she has worked with Mohammed Muigai Advocates, CFC Stanbic Bank as head of debt management and the Parliament of Kenya and in selected nations in Africa and beyond Africa. She served as the Head of the Secretariat and Legal Counsel for the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Kenya, Hon. Kenneth Marende, and also served as Deputy Director in the Department of Litigation and Compliance.
She is a governance expert and has immense interest in gender and children matters, in this regard she is a Member of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), a member of the Law Society of Kenya’s Gender and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committees and a practicing Arbitrator and ADR practitioner at Fellow level with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (K). Lumallas is a registered patent agent with the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), a Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public.
Major practice areas include:- Alternative Dispute Resolution, Commercial arbitration (international & domestic) and General Litigation, Intellectual Property, Criminal law, Energy Law & Regulation/ Oil & Gas & extractive industries regime, Constitutional law & Governance, Legislative Drafting & law making process, Labour, sports and entertainment law, Family law, Probate & Administration. Other Positions Held: • Council Member at the Association of Professional Societies of East Africa (APSEA) • Branch Committee representative of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Kenya Branch.
Funke Adekoya, SAN
’Funke retired as the head of the dispute resolution practice group at AELEX in February 2022. AELEX is a full-service law firm with offices in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Abuja in Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana.
With 45 years’ experience in commercial dispute resolution, she now commences her practice as an independent arbitrator and arbitration counsel.
She is frequently appointed to arbitral tribunals, either as chair, sole or party appointed arbitrator conducting proceedings under the rules of the ICC, ICSID, LCIA and UNCITRAL.
Arbitrations in which she has been involved range from disputes arising from gas sales agreements, oil rig supply contracts to joint ventures in construction and real estate.
Her specialties are in Commercial arbitration and litigation; investor disputes, corporate insolvency and restructuring disputes.
Greg Falkof
Greg is a South African and UK national, and a Partner in the International Arbitration Practice of Mishcon de Reya LLP in London, the UK's premier independent law firm. He has a particular focus on the effective resolution of disputes in the energy, resources, transport, engineering, infrastructure and construction sectors, as well as international investment arbitration and public international law, with particular experience in Anglophone Africa and the Middle East.
Greg is a member of the ICC Global Commission for Arbitration and ADR and co-founder and a former Director of Delos Dispute Resolution, an independent arbitration institution that promotes quality, flexibility, and time and cost efficiency in the resolution of international disputes.
Greg has represented both claimants and respondents in large complex international arbitrations worth billions of dollars, and before major arbitral institutions including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, CIETAC, LMAA as well as ad hoc arbitration proceedings. He also sits as an arbitrator, both as a party-appointee and appointed by the ICC and LCIA as sole arbitrator (in expedited or standard proceedings).
Greg has acted for: parties in commercial and investment arbitrations in a range of sectors including construction, energy, infrastructure, transport, commodities, mining and natural resources, real estate, telecoms and international trade; State-State disputes pursuant to public international law, including conducting advocacy before eminent international tribunals; and both investors and State claimants in investment treaty arbitrations.
Before joining Mishcon de Reya, Greg was a partner in the international arbitration practice of a global law firm, and prior to that at a UK 'magic circle' law firm. Before his legal career, Greg qualified as a construction engineer and worked as a professional project manager on large, complex construction projects in the UK and South Africa.
Hon Justice Folashade Bankole-Oki FCIArb (UK) is a retired High Court judge, seasoned arbitrator, accredited Faculty Tutor, Assessor and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) since 2008. Over the span of her successful career, she worked as a State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice (1979 – 1985), partner at Law Chambers of Bank Oki & Co until 2013 when she was appointed as a Lagos High Court judge. She retired from the Bench in 2019. She is currently a partner in Benchmark Juris Consult, a full service commercial and dispute resolution law firm and a consultant in the law firm of Adekunle Oyesanya LP.
Hon Justice Bankole-Oki primarily sits as a Sole -arbitrator or Co-arbitrator in high value, complex and high profile domestic, state government-related and international arbitration proceedings. She has significant experience with the UNCITRAL Rules, ICC Arbitration Rules, Lagos Court of Arbitration Rules and the Nigerian Arbitration law (the previous law, Arbitration and Conciliation Act and the recently enacted Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023). Her areas of expertise include banking, finance, and commerce, maritime and construction. She is also adept at negotiating post-judgement and post-award settlements.
Hon Justice Bankole-Oki is an active member of diverse ADR organizations including the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, Lagos Multi-Door Court (Panel of Neutrals) and Lagos Court of Arbitration. She has written numerous publications on ADR and is a sought-after speaker and teacher in several arbitration fora around the world.
In recognition of her contribution to the Arbitration practice in the country, she was recently nominated the 2022 Arbitration Personality of the Lagos Court of Arbitration quarterly journal. She remains passionate about dispute resolution, in or outside of the courts.
Jacqueline Waihenya
Jacqueline is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Managing Partner of JWM Law LLP (formerly Jacqueline Waihenya Maina and Co. Advocates which she founded in 2012) with specialized interests in commercial law. As an academic she holds an LLM from the University of Nairobi specializing in Public Finance & Financial Services Law. She has recently been appointed to the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Standing Committee on Civil Justice Reforms.
Jacqueline is an ADR Expert and a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (C.ARB/FCIARB) holding a diploma in International Arbitration where she is the Vice Chairman. She further holds an Advanced Certificate in Construction Adjudication from CIARB, is an International Federation of Consulting Engineers FIDIC Legal Professional and a member of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DBRF).
She is also a Chartered Mediator at the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), a FIFA Approved Mediator and International Mediation Institute Certified Mediator. she holds Certified Advanced Mediator qualifications in Sports Mediation, Tax Mediation, Commercial Mediation and Family & Divorce Mediation from the Mediation Training Institute International (CPM-MTI).
Jacqueline is also a Governance Expert being a Fellow Certified Secretary Kenya. She is an accredited Governance Auditor at the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) where she sits on the Council and convenes the Research and Publications Committee where she has recently overseen the publication of the Governance Journal 2022 and the launch of the Governance Ethics Research and Compliance Manual and training. In 2021 she served on the Taskforce to the Review of the Certified Public Secretary Act which presented its report in November 2021. She is a certified Legal and Compliance Auditor by Kenya School of Law where she is also an adjunct lecturer. She serves as the Vice Chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Mombasa Chapter and is the Vice Chairman, Mombasa Law Society where she convenes the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Admiralty & Maritime Committees.
Jacqueline Waihenya is also a member of several other professional bodies, that is to say, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) – Kenya Chapter where she previously served on the Governing Council as Coast Representative.
Jacqueline is the Vice Chair of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mombasa Chapter and she is also a member of its National Governing Council.
Mouhamed Kebe is Managing Partner of Geni & Kebe a member of DLA Piper Africa. He is admitted to practice in Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal.
He has over 30 years of experience in the field of commercial arbitration, investment arbitration, and domestic litigation in Africa.
He acts for states and their entities, as well as for corporate clients in all types of disputes, focusing on energy and natural resources, infrastructure, telecommunications, banking and finance.
He sits also as arbitrator serving as tribunal chair, sole arbitrator, and co-arbitrator with arbitrator appointments under the rules of ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL, CCJA.
He has lectured and published extensively on questions dealing with investment treaties, including a recent book on ‘’the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Future of Investor-State Dispute Settlement in Africa.’’
He is a member of the Court of Arbitration of the ICC, a member of the panel of arbitrators of the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration of OHADA, and a member of the panel of arbitrators of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).
Judge Maedot Tesfaye
Judge Maedot Yeshak Tesfaye is currently Judge at the Federal High court of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. She has nearly 10 years of concrete work Experience ,and training and expertise on court systems, court procedures and rules, arbitral rules and procedure, and specialized training and certification on variety of legal disciples both at the International and national levels. She also had demonstrated legal research skills in Human rights and Humanitarian law.
Judge Mohamed Gomaa
Judge, Arbitrator, Author, Dr. Jur., Former lawyer, Mgr., Dipl. prof. hon.
Mohamed Gomaa is a Judge at the “Center of Judicial Studies and research”, also at the court of appeal and a board member of the “DT and CR Unit” at the Egyptian State Council, Ministry of Justice Cairo, Egypt since 2014. A board member of the “CIArb YMG Global Steering Committee”.
He worked as a Research Assistant, Public Int. Law Department, Institute of Law and Economics, Hamburg University, Germany – project “Economics of Judicial Systems”, since Oct 2021. A part of a research team working on a project regarding “Coding Arabic texts and Machine learning”, Institute of Law and Economics, Hamburg University, Germany. One of the selected Judges to participate in the EU judicial project “FRICoRe” (Fundamental Rights in Courts and Regulation & AI). “TRAINING THE TRAINERS” A CROSS-SECTORAL TRAINING FOR EUROPEAN JUDGES AND TRAINERS. A Founder of the “Energy Related Arbitration Practitioners” (ENERAP) Chapter in Egypt. A Guest Lecturer at MediateGuru’s Mediation School (Nov – Dec 2021). A Member of the scientific committee of International Journal of Legal Interpretative Judgement, published by the “Democratic Arab Center” Germany – Berlin. A former lawyer, the legal affairs department at the Egyptian Russian University from 2012 to 2014.
Gomaa is a board member of Many International and domestic associations and committees, he also has had the privilege to speak as a guest panelist at prestigious law conferences in different parts of the world, which notably include the scientific symposium on “Digital Transformation and Data Security and Safety in Arab Courts” organized by the Arab Centre for Legal and Judicial Research. . An author published different articles in Arabic, French and English.
Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate at Hamburg University, Germany. He has a triple L.L.M /Master’s degree in Law & Economics, Thesis subject “The effect of Digital Transformation (DT) on the efficiency of Judicial Systems”.
BIOGRAPHY OF JUSTICE NENE A. O. AMEGATCHER
JUSTICE NENE AMEGATCHER was called to the Ghana Bar in 1980. He holds a Master of Laws Degree in Advanced Litigation and Dispute Resolution from the Nottingham Trent Law School, UK. He practised law from 1980 and rose to the position of Managing Partner of the law firm of Sam Okudzeto & Associates. He also served as an adjunct lecturer in ADR, Advocacy and Legal Ethics at the Ghana School of Law, Accra, from 1994 to 2018.
Justice Amegatcher is a Past President of the Ghana Bar Association. He has held the position of chair of the African Regional Forum of the International Bar Association, Hub chair of the African Region for the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, and chair of the Advisory Council of the College of Humanities at the University of Ghana, Legon. Justice Amegatcher once represented Ghana on the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Court of Arbitration in Paris. He has also been a member of the Judicial Council and General Legal Council.
In 2018, Justice Amegatcher was nominated by the Judicial Council for approval by the President of Ghana, the Council of State and Parliament to sit on the Supreme Court of Ghana. He was sworn into office as a Justice of the Supreme Court in October 2018 and retired on 31st July 2023.
Kamau Karori
Kamau Karori is a Senior Counsel and dispute resolution and arbitration lawyer in Kenya with over twenty-five years of experience. He has been involved in numerous matters that have formed and developed jurisprudence in Kenya. In recognition of his immense contribution to the legal practice the president of the Republic of Kenya conferred on him the title and rank of Senior Counsel. He was also conferred the award of Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) by the President of Kenya in recognition of his distinguished service to the country.
Karori currently represents Kenya in the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) panel of Arbitrators.
Karori is an established and well-regarded practitioner in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court where he appears as counsel or lead counsel in numerous cases. Over the years, Karori has been involved as counsel in most of the key cases that have been litigated in Kenya.
Karori is a chartered arbitrator and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration. He has and continues to represent states, local, foreign and multinational companies in cases filed at leading international arbitration forums such as ICSID, the ICC as well as in domestic arbitrations. One of the significant cases he has handled is the US$2.56 ICSID claim filed by Cortec Mining Limited and others against the Government of Kenya. He is also often appointed as arbitrator by both domestic and international arbitration institutions.
He is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Kigali International Arbitration Centre, the Nairobi Centre of International Arbitration, the African Arbitration Association and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-Kenya) among others.
He has been invited to share his experiences in many international and domestic arbitration conferences. He has also been trained Judicial officers on arbitration at the invitation of the Judicial Training Institute.
Kehinde Aina
Kehinde Aina, a Sir Alexander Darnley Award nominee redefined the practice of law in Nigeria with notable changes in justice administration when he founded The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, the first connected ADR Centre in Africa. Thereafter, he saw to its replication in almost twenty state courts, established the Court of Appeal Mediation Centre and the Supreme Court Mediation Centre in Nigeria. As a lead partner in one of Africa’s leading law firms, Aina Blankson, he is known for his professionalism, competence and visionary leadership. His core competence in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, litigation, international commercial arbitration and mediation has resulted in a number of cross border representation for multinationals and governments.
A sought-after corporate lawyer, litigator, renowned mediator and international arbitrator, he has been involved in a wide range of corporate finance, capital raise and oil and gas projects including maritime. The catalogue of transactional experience of Kehinde Aina include the Nigerian revolutionary banking sector consolidation which resulted in his representation of over fifty banks and his lead role in the merger of nine commercial banks. His numerous oil and gas experience include structuring the Nigerian Content Fund and the Ministerial Regulations for the oil and gas industry in which he led seven other law firms. The string of commercial transactions which Kehinde has led include the Nova Capital $2Billion capital raise, the R500Million golf estate acquisition in South Africa, the $350Million Atlantic LNG project, the Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development Pipeline project, the 20billion pounds Shell Petroleum oil spillage negotiations, and numerous arbitration matters under the ICC, LCIA and the Singapore Arbitration Rules amongst others. His mediation credential is second to none in Africa.
A Consultant to the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, and the United Nations, he has advised on projects in West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, Asia, Middle East and the United Kingdom. His work in Africa involves workplace dispute management, construction, and oil and gas-related disputes including dispute systems design for governments and multinational corporations in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Liberia, Kenya, and Siera Leone.
A respected former justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kayode Eso, described Kehinde Aina as “a seasoned lawyer, imbued with the spirit of selfless service. He is an asset to the country”. Without any application, he was approached by Ashoka, admitted Fellow of the esteemed international body which afforded meaningful support in the early days of his career. The books authored by Kehinde Aina include Commercial Mediation, Investment Treaty Arbitration, Plea Bargaining and Structured Finance. He has a first degree in Political Science, a second degree in Law along with a Master's Law Degree.
Koye Akoni
Koye is an English barrister who has an international commercial practice. He regularly appears as an advocate in international arbitrations and in the English Courts in disputes concerning international trade, energy, shipping, aviation and general commercial matters.
He has appeared in arbitrations seated in London, Singapore, Jordan, and China, and acts primarily for international clients, which include multinationals companies, States, and state-owned entities. He has experience in conducting arbitrations under most of the major arbitration institutions, including, LCIA, ICC, LMAA, SIAC, FOSFA, and GAFTA, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations and arbitrations pursuant to the UNCITRAL Rules.
Prior to joining Quadrant Chambers, Koye worked in the litigation team of an oil major between 2012 and 2014. During that time, he advised on various matters including historical misallocation of processed oil and gas under a Production Sharing Agreement, interpretation of gas price review clauses in long- term gas supply agreements, and the interpretation of a joint venture agreement regulating the processing and distribution of gas from certain North Sea Gas fields. He also worked on several arbitrations, including an ICC arbitration concerning the suspensory effect of a declaration of force majeure in the context of a natural gas transportation agreement; and an LCIA arbitration concerning the recoverability of instalment payments made pursuant to a design and sale contract frustrated by Iranian sanctions.
Koye also served as serving as the Judicial Assistant to the then Chancellor, Sir Terence Etherton for two terms in 2014, and has been a Visiting Tutor at King’s College London where he taught Contract Law, and the Law of Trusts and Equitable Remedies.
He graduated with a First-Class degree in law from King’s College London and a Distinction in the BCL from the University of Oxford.
MARIETTA BREW
Marietta Brew is the Managing Partner of Lithur Brew and Company one of the leading law firms in Ghana. She holds an LLB from the University of Ghana and was called to the Ghana Bar in 1994. She also holds a graduate diploma in Law and Development from the Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands, and a Masters in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana, Legon.
As an experienced litigator, her expertise includes, but is not limited to, commercial law, transactions and general corporate advice. After 19 years of legal practice, she was appointed and acted as Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of Ghana from February 2013 until her tenure ended in January 2017. As Attorney General and Minister of Justice, she was the Legal Advisor to the Government of Ghana and represented the Presidency, the country, and its ministries and agencies in all major transactions. In litigation, she appeared before the highest courts in the country and major international tribunals such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). As a member of the General Legal Counsel, she had a key voice in legal training and professional discipline. In her capacity as the Minister for Justice, she managed Government's legal response to all issues, oversaw drafting and the presentation of legislation to the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, and supervised the general administration of the justice ministry with quiet distinction.
She has been appointed to serve as Ghana’s representative at the International Court of Arbitration, ICC and also a member of the committee on ADR and Dispute Resolution. She has extensive experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) ranging from mediation, negotiation and Arbitration. She has acted as an Arbitrator and Counsel in many arbitration cases before the ICC, PCA, ITLOS, Administrative Tribunal of AfDB, ECOWAS Court of Justice etc. She is also a member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration Committee (LCA). She is an Honorary Council member of the Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (GARIA).
Orji A. Uka
Orji A. Uka is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution Practice group of Templar.
Orji holds a Master of Law degree in International Business Law from King’s College London. Orji graduated with a First-Class degree from Abia State University in 2010 after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar.
He has over a decade’s experience advising Nigerian and expatriate clients on diverse areas of Nigerian law and regularly appearing on their behalf before trial & appellate courts as well as arbitral tribunals in high profile commercial and general civil disputes covering a broad range of causes.
Prior to joining Templars, Orji was a key member of the Dispute Resolution teams at two top commercial law firms in Lagos, Nigeria.
PAUL SILLS
Arbitrator, Mediator, Dispute Board Member
Nationality: New Zealander
Languages: English
Paul Sills is a leading independent international arbitrator and mediator with over 27 years of
litigation experience, often involving multi-parties and complex commercial issues. His arbitration
and mediation practices reflect this experience, where Paul is often called on to either determine
or help resolve complex multi-party disputes.
Prior to becoming a full-time neutral, Paul was a civil and commercial barrister but also spent
time as a CEO and Director for a number of international businesses including international freight
and transportation where his focus recently has been on energy transition and ESG issues. Paul has
also been the Managing Director of an international construction company. His commercial background
and unique understanding from a client’s and lawyer’s perspective means he is well placed to accept
appointments in the below sectors.
⮚ Energy, Natural Resources & Climate Change
⮚ Construction, Engineering & Infrastructure
⮚ Commercial Dispute Resolution
⮚ Aviation & Aerospace
⮚ Marine, Shipping & Superyachts
⮚ Transport & Freight
⮚ Mediation & Disputes Boards
⮚ Conflict Avoidance Boards (CABs) & Corporate Diplomacy
Paul teaches International Commercial Arbitration to LLM students at the University of Westminster.
Also Regularly lectures and publishes on dispute resolution in the UK and internationally on topics
including fintech, climate change, energy transition, construction and engineering (from both an
arbitration and mediation perspective). Paul is a Fellow with numerous Arbitration Institutes
globally, including CIArb. He runs the Fellowship training for both arbitrators and mediators in
New Zealand where he was originally based. He has trained at the Harvard Program on Negotiation,
again focusing on complex and multi-party disputes. Paul’s engagements in the energy transition
sector include an 18-month cross border facilitated negotiation project dealing with solar energy.
In 2022 and 2023 Paul was named by WWL as a Global Leader in mediation. He was also appointed as a
chairperson to the European Commission arbitration panel for EU trade disputes. Paul has been
recognised by
Chambers & Partners UK where clients have commented on his style being “very sharp intellectually”.
KOFI ABOTSI ( PROF.)
Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi is the Dean of the UPSA Law School, Accra-Ghana, having previously been the dean of the GIMPA Law School, Accra. He is an Associate Professor of comparative constitutional law and international law. A public intellectual, Dean Abotsi is also a member of the Ghanaian Bar, a Lifetime Member of the Governing Council of the Africa Bar Association, and a member of the Corporate & Commercial Law Committee of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. He holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree and Qualifying Certificate of Law from the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law respectively, a Master of Laws Degree from the Harvard Law School, and a Doctorate in Constitutional and international Law from the University of Milan, Italy.
Dean is widely consulted by intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) including the IMF and other UN agencies, in addition to having supported many leading Ministries and constitutional bodies in Ghana in a variety of initiatives and reforms. Within the context of academia, Dean Abotsi has been a visiting scholar and guest lecturer in leading European and American universities including Oxford University, Fordham Law School, Indiana Law School and the University of Milan, Biccoca, Italy.
In addition to the above, Dean Abotsi has served on a number of corporate boards and advisory councils and played pivotal roles in shaping the policy directions of corporate entities in Ghana including currently being the chairman of the advisory board of the Chief Executives Network of Ghana, (a body comprising the CEOs of some of the largest and notable corporations in Ghana).
He has written extensively in leading peer review journals of law in the world and a text book on Ghanaian constitutional law. In the field of legal practice, he is a lawyer of with a more than two decades standing at the Ghanaian Bar.
As an attorney, he has extensive experience both as a transactional and litigating attorney having accumulated a 21-year standing at the Bar during which period he has participated in a number of notable courtroom and international arbitral proceedings. He is the Managing Partner of Axis Legal, Accra Ghana.
Dean Abotsi is an honorary fellow of the Institute of Directors, a member of the Ghana Bar Association and Rotary International.
Professor Gbolahan Elias SAN
Professor Gbolahan Elias SAN is a partner in G. Elias a leading Nigerian business law firm that is a member of Multilaw, the award-winning alliance of distinguished business law firms worldwide. His practice is unusually wide-ranging. He has advised on seminal mergers and acquisitions, large and complex foreign currency financings, transformative long-term commercial arrangements, pioneering infrastructure projects, critical arbitrations and impactful law reform efforts – all across industries including banking, energy, telecommunications, consumer products, healthcare and transport.
Critical court cases and large London-seated arbitrations are also major aspects of his practice. His clients range from Nigerian technology start-ups to Pan-African supranational and global multinational enterprises headquartered in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, South Africa, India, Japan and China. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and of the Energy institute (United Kingdom). He speaks frequently at fora on Nigerian business law and policy both at home and abroad.
Gbolahan Elias was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981 and the New York Bar in 1990. He had been an associate at Cravath Swaine & Moore, a pre-eminent New York law firm, in late 1989 to early 1993. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (Queen’s Counsel equivalent) in 2005 and is the first African member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC).
He has been a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom) since 2004. He has also been the Chairman of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, and a Fellow of the Energy Institute. He read law at Magdalen and Merton Colleges, Oxford University, graduating BA (1st Class Honours), BCL (1st Class Honours), MA and D.Phil. He has published widely especially on trusts, corporate law and arbitration, and has been a part-time professor at Babcock University, llishan-Remo.
Outside the law, he is the Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Nigeria’s leading state university. For the past decade, he has also been an enthusiastic promoter and sponsor of soccer tournaments and personal development programmes for under-15 boys and girls in his hometown in Lagos State.
Segun Ogunyannwo
Segun Ogunyannwo is an acclaimed mediator, trainer of mediators and an Ambassador for Peace. With an Engineering background, he brings to the mediation process, the creativity and ingenuity of an Engineer - calling the process, "Human Engineering". He also holds a Masters’ degree in “Peace and Conflict Studies”
He has consulted for and trained mediators for Shell Petroleum Dev Company (SPDC), Mid-Western Oil and Gas (MWOG), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Dev Programme (UNDP), German Agency for Int’l Dev (GIZ), DFID: Justice for All (J4A), Mercy Corps (MC), Int’l Republican Institute (IRI), Kofi Annan Int'l Peace-making Training Centre (KAIPTC), Heartland Alliance Int’l (HAI), Int’l Rescue Committee (IRC), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Partnership Initiatives In the Niger Delta (PIND), etc
He Consulted for the UNDP Integrated Peacebuilding Program for Nigeria’s Farmers/Herders Crisis in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States. He won the int'l ‘Call for Consultants’ to conduct the Neutral Mediation, Dialogue Facilitation and Training of Trainers (TOT) certification courses for staff of Danish Demining Group (DDG) an arm of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
Segun Ogunyannwo wrote the proposal for the establishment of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) and served as the first in-house mediator. He also wrote the proposals for the establishment of the Kano, Uyo and Ogun Multi-Door Courthouses (MDCs) and served as Consultant on the projects. He is presently consulting for GIZ on the Plateau and Niger States MDCs
He is the first Nigerian to receive the prestigious Int'l Mediation Accreditation from the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. He is also an MTI-US Certified Professional in Workplace Mediation
Segun Ogunyannwo is the President of Mediation Training Institute (MTI-Nigeria). He is the immediate past Registrar/CEO and Life-Member, Governing Council of ICMC. He is a Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP)
He is on the Boards and Panels of Neutrals of several organizations
He consults for the UNDP sponsored project for Civilian Joint Task Force and Vigilante Groups from the North East. He was a consultant on the Presidential Amnesty Program for ex-militants of the Niger Delta
Segun Ogunyannwo is the author of The Effective Mediator, a resource material for practicing and aspiring mediators. He loves peace and people, demonstrating deep knowledge and understanding of human nature. He is adjudged one of the best mediators and trainers of mediators in Africa
Profile of Seyilayo Ojo
Seyilayo Ojo is a legal practitioner and Senior Partner of S. O. & C. Legal, a commercial law practice in the Central Business District of Lagos State. His experience cuts across transaction documentation, litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from Obafemi Awolowo University and holds a Master of Laws degree in International Business Law from the University College London. He also holds two International Business Practice Diplomas in International Business Organisations and International Mergers and Acquisitions respectively as well as a STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust Creation, Law and Practice. He is an Accredited Mediator, certified by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution; a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; and a Chartered Arbitrator. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Dallas, Texas and a Notary Public for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria Branch and Chair, Training Sub-Committee.
Tonye Krukrubo SAN, MCIArb
Tonye is a Partner in the Firm and heads the Firm’s Port Harcourt office. He handles complex instructions from diverse clientele and advises on commercial transactions, banking, immigration, regulatory compliance, taxation, finance and regulation of financial services, employment law, land law, oil and gas, environment, energy and natural resources, shipping and other aspects of law practice in Nigeria. He holds an LLM degree with a focus on International Business Law from the University of Liverpool.
He has been recommended by The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa for his litigation experience. He has also been recommended by Who’s Who Legal 500 as a lawyer with “great interpersonal skills” and “excellent expertise in the field” of Labour and Employment.
He was a Speaker at the 2019 Africa Business Conference of the Lagos Business School where he shared insights on various aspects of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA). He is currently the chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK Nigeria Branch Port Harcourt Chapter. He was Secretary of the Section on Legal Practice of the (NBA). He is a member of NBA Port Harcourt Branch, where he currently chairs the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Branch.
In 2022, he was elevated to the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Wilbert B Kapinga
Wilbert Kapinga is the managing partner of our Tanzania office.
He has over 20 years’ experience advising domestic and international financial institutions and corporations on corporate, regulatory and transactional matters. Wilbert has advised on numerous project finance, public private partnership (PPP) and infrastructure development transactions including roads, railways, sea travel and airports. Wilbert has also advised numerous multinational mining companies and oil and gas exploration companies with operations in Tanzania in the natural resource space including local content requirements. Prior to entering private practice, Wilbert was a Senior Lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Dar es Salaam where he was a member of the teaching and research staff for seventeen years.
Wilbert is a member of the Tanganyika Law Society, Law Association of Tanzania, East Africa Law Society, International Third World Legal Studies Association and African Society of International and Comparative Law.
Wilbert who is a full member of the Tanzania Institute of Arbitrators and an Accredited Mediator, Negotiator and Arbitrator in Tanzania. He has acted an arbitrator in several domestic disputes and as an advocate in numerous domestic and international arbitration disputes, the latter involving ICSID, ICC and UNICTRAL rules of procedure and appeared as expert witness on Tanzania law on an international arbitration challenge before the Swedish Court of Appeal. He is a contributor in many Global Arbitration Review publications and co-author on chapter on enforcement of foreign arbitral awards and similar articles in publications of Getting the Deal Done
He is ranked Tier 1 in General Business Law by Chambers & Partners which cites him as being “highly praised by market commentators for his breadth of experience and strength in the market.” His expertise is affirmed also by Legal 500 and IFLR1000 who list him as a leading corporate lawyer in Tanzania.
He has a Masters degrees in Law from both the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Columbia University in New York, USA, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Northeastern University in Boston, USA.
Yemi Candide-Johnson SAN
Yemi Candide-Johnson is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the Senior Partner at Strachan Partners. He is continuously engaged as lead counsel in ongoing major and high profile commercial and public policy disputes across the courts of Nigeria and has been either counsel or arbitrator in several domestic and international commercial arbitrations in the maritime, petroleum banking and construction industries. Yemi also has remarkable experience in advising on complex commercial transactions as well as advising foreign investors on potential investment in Nigeria.
Yemi is a former President of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, which is Africa’s foremost dispute resolution institution and the Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company.
He has chaired and sat as co-arbitrator in a number of arbitrations across construction, petroleum and public matters. He successfully defended the Government on the use of the newly introduced vehicle registration documents and drivers’ license. He represents the defendant in a Million Dollar Royalty claim by Vitamalt West Africa against Vitamalt Nigeria. He has advised an international consortium in the billion-dollar reclamation and development of the Eko Atlantic City.
Yemi continues to represent clients’ interest on major real estate developments in FCT, Abuja. He also advises investors on farm-in negotiations for Nigerian “marginal oilfields” and petroleum bidding rounds.
Yemi leads the team representing an oil and gas company in an arbitral dispute relating to the validity of data admitted in a redetermination process in respect of equity participation in oil blocks over which parties hold joint interests.
Successfully represented the Plaintiff in an action seeking to compel the Securities and Exchange Commission to exercise transnational regulatory powers over a company listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.
Yemi Akisanya
In his first four years after graduation and call to the Bar, Mr. Akisanya (Yemi) gained experience in general corporate commercial law practice with the firms of Odujirin and Adefulu, in Lagos, Nigeria and Sullivan and Cromwell, in New York, USA, respectively. Clients served included multinational corporations, government parastatals and other major institutions.
Prior to that, he had also had a measure of experience in civil litigation and criminal prosecutions, as a junior State Counsel during his National Youth Service year, which he served in the Office of the Oyo State, Nigeria, Ministry of Justice.
Yemi spent most of his professional career thereafter in the Law Department of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (“MPN”), an ExxonMobil subsidiary. He retired (elective voluntary early retirement) from MPN in March 2002, after over twenty years of service, the last seven of which were spent as Senior Counsel and Company Secretary and, for a brief period, Acting General Counsel.
During the period in MPN, he gained wide, hands-on experience in domestic and International Major Transactions relating to Gas Pipelines, Power Purchase Agreements, Gas Supply Agreements, Power Plant EPCs, ROWs, LNG, NGLs and other major contracts such as Joint Operating Agreements, Joint Venture Arrangements and Agreements, Farm-out/Farm-in Agreements, Technical Support Agreements, other EPC Contracts, Production Sharing Agreements, land settlements and acquisitions, and AMI (Areas of Mutual Interests) Contracts, both in Nigeria and overseas.
He also advised, and participated, often in a (legal) leadership role, in matters involving Asset Acquisitions/Disposals, Project Financing, Taxation, Independent Power Plant (“IPP”) and related projects, Statutory and Regulatory Compliance, Environmental Law with particular focus on Oil Spillage, New Business (Exploration, Development and Production) Ventures and Host/Community Relations.
To date, he has continued to focus on the area of Oil, Gas and Power, specializing in IPPs, Power Sector Regulation and related venture development and finance. In the area of Oil and Gas, ‘Yemi has a special focus on marginal field operations, legal support and advisory to indigenous E & P operators and oil service companies, local content development and the resolution of disputes through Mediation and Mediation Advocacy.
He is generally recognized for the depth of his experience in the Energy (Oil and Gas) Sector and has advised government, as well as public and private companies and individuals on a full range of international corporate and commercial matters within the sector, including taxation, statutory & regulatory compliance, project development, new business venture structuring and development, joint ventures and other kinds of business transactions and arrangements.
‘Yemi Akisanya is a CEDR Accredited Mediator and a SCMA (Standing Conference of Mediation Advocacy) Certified Mediation Advocacy Trainer. Apart from his private practice in Mediation and Mediation Advocate, he is on the Panel of Neutrals of the Lagos Multi Door Court House (“LMDC”).
He is also a member of the 12-member Dispute Resolution Panel of the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (“NERC”), with a focus on Mediation. He has had remarkable success and recognition as a credible mediator, mediation advocate, negotiator, bridge builder and peacemaker.
‘Yemi is a regular speaker and facilitator at conferences, seminars and workshops in the foregoing areas, especially in the area of Negotiations and Alternate Dispute Resolution, with a special focus on Mediation and Mediation Advocacy. He is a member of faculty of the NCMGI-Unilag College of Negotiation, where he teaches Environmental & Public Policy Dispute Resolution.
Mr. Emeka Onyeka, Esq, LLB, B.L, LLM, PGD.Arb, FCIArb (UK), FICIArb, FIMC.
Emeka Onyeka is a graduate of the University of Jos, Nigeria, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, Queen Mary, University of London UK and, Pan-Atlantic University (EDC/LBS), Ajah – Lagos, Nigeria. He is also an Alumnus of the famous, Roma Tre University, Italy with Certificate in International Commercial and Investment Arbitration.
His practice areas are; Arbitration and ADR, Labour Law, Immigration, Banking and Financial Services, Energy and Natural Resources, Personal Injuries and Claims, Telecommunication, Construction, Marine, Aviation and Real Estate..
With qualitative legal education acquired through well rounded domestic and international continuous professional training programs coupled with many years of experience, reputation and the resources to work with. He has been involved in several dispute settlements including multi-billion Dollars and Naira litigation and Arbitration claims and, at different times have appeared as Counsel to parties and, appointed as Sole, Co-arbitrator and Presiding Arbitrator on several Domestic and International Arbitration Tribunals.
He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as well as, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Notary Public for Nigeria, Approved Tutor and Assessor in the Faculty of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK, Ex-member of the National Executive Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK, Nigeria Branch, Life Member of the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria., Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)., Fellow, Institute of Construction Industry Arbitrators., Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants, Member, African Arbitration Association (AAA) and, Member, International Bar Association (IBA).
He is listed as Neutral at different Multi-Door Court Houses, the Managing Partner in the law firm of Emeka Onyeka & Company, Port Harcourt and, Vice Chair, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigerian Branch, Port Harcourt Chapter.
Hon. Justice Charles Kajimanga
Hon. Justice Charles Kajimanga was a Judge of the Supreme Court. He was appointed to the Supreme Court on 8th December, 2015. Justice Kajimanga holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Zambia and a Master of Laws degree from Cornell University in the United States of America. He was admitted to the Bar in 1984.
Prior to this appointment, Justice Kajimanga served as a Judge-in-Charge of the Lusaka High Court General List. Since joining the High Court in 2002, Justice Kajimanga has served as Judge on the High Court General List from 2002 to 2003 and Commercial Division from 2003 to 2014. He served as Judge-in-Charge of the Commercial Division from 2010 to 2014. He also served as Chairperson of the Small Claims Court Committee and spearheaded the establishment of the Small Claims Court in Zambia.
Justice Kajimanga began his career as Corporation Counsel of the Legal Services Corporation in 1985, a position he held until 1987 when he became Legal Counsel/Board Secretary of the Zambia Cooperative Federation Limited, a position he held until 1995. Justice Kajimanga became a Partner at Charles and Charles Associates, a firm of Advocates in 1995. He was Managing Partner at Kajimanga and Company from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Justice Kajimanga taught as a part-time Lecturer at the University of Zambia in Company Law and Business Associations in 2004 and also part-time Lecturer in Commercial Transactions at the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education from 2005 to 2008.
Justice Kajimanga is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London). He was conferred with the status of Chartered Arbitrator in 2018, the first Zambian to have attained this status. He also holds a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration. Justice Kajimanga is also a member of the London Court of International Arbitration Africa Users Council. He was the first Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Zambia Branch, a position he held from 2011 to 2015. He is a contributor of a chapter in a book titled ‘Arbitration in Africa: A Review of Key Jurisdictions’ (London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2016)
Nike Esan, PhD
Nike Esan is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in both international and domestic arbitration. As an in-house counsel managing the litigation and arbitration portfolio of Antan Producing Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of NNPCL and successor of Addax Petroleum, she has amassed a wealth of expertise in dispute management. Nike has adeptly handled intricate multi-million/billion-dollar arbitration proceedings under major arbitral rules such as the London Maritime Arbitration Association Rules, LCIA Arbitration Rules, and ACA Arbitration Rules. Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Nike imparts her extensive knowledge and insights as an adjunct lecturer at the Department of Minerals, Petroleum, Energy Economics, and Law, University of Ibadan. There, she teaches postgraduate students on international arbitration. Additionally, she serves as a distinguished Member of the Body of Neutrals at the Oil and Gas Alternative Dispute Settlement Centre, NOGEC – NUPRC. Nike Esan's academic journey includes earning her degree from OAU, Ile-Ife, and pursuing advanced studies at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee. She furthered her education at the University of Aberdeen, where she earned her PhD in international investment law, focusing particularly on Stability Guarantees in Investment Treaty Arbitration. Nike's unwavering commitment to the field of arbitration is exemplified by her recent contribution to Jus Mundi's Arbitration Toolkit for In-house Counsel.
Lady Justice Monica K. Mugenyi
A Ugandan judge with close to 30 years’ experience largely in the public sector; including 12 years of a blend of national and regional judicial service, and another 14 years as a senior transactional and courtroom lawyer in Uganda.
As Principal Judge of the East African Court of Justice (2015 – 2020), the only woman to hold that position to date, Lady Justice Mugenyi presided over and managed disputes lodged in the First Instance Division of that Court. As a Division Judge before that, she handled a broad range of cases in the broad area of public international law.
She previously served as a Judge of the High Court of Uganda, as well as Manager Corporate Services of the Uganda Road Fund; Legal Officer of a World Bank Project on Privatisation & Utility Sector Reform in Uganda, and a Senior State Attorney at the Attorney General’s Chambers of Uganda.
She has first-hand experience in the role of the judiciary in regional integration, specifically, the harmonization of regional jurisprudence within the East African Community sub-region. She does also have substantial experience in the legal aspects of foreign direct investment and private sector development, having participated as a Legal Team Leader in the negotiation and closure of cross-border privatization and divestiture transactions in Uganda.
Justice Mugenyi is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of the UK (FCIArb), and holds a Master of Laws Degree in International Trade Law from the University of Essex, UK. She does also hold a Postgraduate Diploma, Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre of Uganda, as well as a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Makerere University, Uganda.
Justice Mugenyi currently serves as a Justice of the Court of Appeal/ Constitutional Court of Uganda, an office she assumed in December 2020 following the conclusion of her term as Principal Judge of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).
She does also serve as the Chairperson of the EADB (East Africa Development Bank) Staff Appeals Committee, a body that formally determines staff disputes that the Bank’s informal dispute resolution mechanism is unable to resolve.
Michael Edem Akafia
Michael has a multi-disciplinary background in Law, Economics and Finance and was promoted to Vice President and Head, Legal & Compliance of Gold Fields Ltd’s West Africa operations in March 2015, after previously serving as the Legal Manager. He has been the Company Secretary of all Gold Fields entities in West Africa since November 2010.
Prior to joining Gold Fields, he was the Head of Legal and Company Secretary for SIC Financial Services Ltd (SIC-FSL), an investment bank with US$80 million assets under management at the time. He was a member of the IMC that run SIC-FSL for 7 months prior to handing over to a new CEO in 2010.
Before that he was an Associate with Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah law firm, where he worked in the corporate, commercial as well as the litigation & dispute resolution practice groups. In the litigation department, he represented clients at all levels of the court system including the Supreme Court.
Michael was licensed by the SEC as an Investment Advisor’s Representative, having passed the Ghana Stock Exchange’s Securities Industry Course. Michael has also been admitted by the Chartered Institute of Taxation as a Tax Practitioner. He previously lectured business law and jurisprudence at the Zenith University College on part-time basis.
Michael studied International Commercial Litigation at the University College London (Summer School), for an LLM in International Dispute Resolution at the Queen Mary University of London, an MBA(Finance) at the University of Ghana Business School, Environmental Law at the University of Pretoria, Qualifying Certificate in Law at the Ghana School of Law, LLB at the University of Ghana School of Law and BA (Econs & Geog) at the University of Cape Coast.
Michael served as an arbitrator at the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Law Competition, Vienna and Hong Kong. He made it to the prestigious Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Africa (recognizing the most influential General Counsel in Africa) in 2015 and 2017. Michael is a notary public.
Hon. Dr. Wilfred Mutubwa, C.Arb
Hon. Dr. Wilfred Mutubwa has been recognised as one of the top 50 arbitrators in Africa and as a future leader in arbitration. The chartered arbitrator and founder of Dr Mutubwa Law is the immediate past chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Kenya), leading a community of more than 2000 arbitrators.
He was one of the youngest lawyers to be admitted to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of the UK and is listed in leading global arbitration organisations, including at the London Court of International Arbitration and in South Africa, Rwanda, and Mauritius.
He teaches arbitration across the world and locally at the Kenya School of Law, training thought leaders, magistrates, judges, and fellow arbitrators. He has trained more than 500 professionals, including a Chief Justice and judges.
Popularising mediation as a way of dispute resolution in Kenya and the establishment of court-annexed mediation is one of the highlights of his career. In commercial, construction, and conveyancing disputes, Dr Mutubwa is at home.
The law graduate of Moi University, who attained his PhD in international economic law last year, credits his impatience and hunger for swift execution of projects for his success.
His greatest investment, though, is in relationships. Commitment to growing arbitration in Kenya and the region is his proudest contribution to law.’
On lessons learned after 16 years of legal practice, he emphasises that reputation is the selling point of any legal practitioner and that half the job is to show up.
Besides work, Dr Mutubwa is the patron of Western Jaguars, a hockey team in the national league that he helped found.
Chasing money, he says, interferes with passion. If he weren’t a lawyer, he would be a musician or a teacher.
His start was characterised by low income and few cases. But thanks to the changing landscape of dispute resolution in Kenya, his firm has about 30 arbitration cases going on at any given time
Paul Ngotho HSC, FCIArb, C. Arb
Paul Ngotho is a full-time arbitration practitioner, author and tutor. He holds an LL.M in International Dispute Resolution from the University of London.
He is a CIArb accredited tutor and examiner of the various International Arbitration courses. He is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Nairobi, where he specialises in arbitration courses.
He has arbitrated a wide range of disputes including real estate, construction, engineering, shipping and joint ventures in ad hoc and administered arbitrations. His experience extends to working as a sole, wing and presiding arbitrator. He has chaired a 5-person arbitral tribunal under Order 46 of the Civil Procedure Rules. He is on the arbitrator panels of numerous Kenya, regional and international arbitral institutions.
Paul is a regular speaker in conferences in Africa and abroad on arbitration law, ethics, diversity and ISDS reforms as well as the practical issues like quantification of damages and expert evidence. His articles in these areas have been published in peer reviewed journals and cited in numerous professional and academic writings including LLM and PhD dissertations in Kenyan and foreign universities. He has authored four books on arbitration and has more in the works.
Away from arbitration, Paul sings in a men’s church choir, writes poems and grows avocados.
“…a very detailed person who is very passionate about anything that he does" Chambers & Partners 2020 Ranking.
Contacts: +254 728130925, ngothoprop@yahoo.com & www.ngotho.co.ke
Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe is the Managing Partner. He is one of the lawyers in the Dispute Resolution and Corporate/Advisory Group of the firm. Over the years, he has garnered valuable experience particularly in areas of Commercial Litigation, Tax Advisory and Capital Market Operations.
Lateef has demonstrated a depth of knowledge across a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial transactions. He has led the team on several Bond issuances (both public and private) and other money and capital market transactions in which clients have raised billions of Naira.
A fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Nigerian Branch, he has served on the Executive Committee of the Institute between 2016 - 2018 and 2021 -2023. He was also the chairman of the Young Members Group of the Institute between 2010 and 2014.
Renowned for providing creative and innovative solutions to clients in areas where the law is considered to be novel and/or complex, Lateef has been part of the team of lawyers representing a number of foreign entities on tax matters in an area of law considered to be recondite in Nigeria. In recognition of his work on tax law, he is currently the Membership Officer for Africa of the IBA’s Committee on Taxation, a role in which he represents the interests of Africa in the committee, co-ordinates the activities of the taxation community, develops content for the Committee as far as Africa is concerned.
He is a past chairman of the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association and a member of the Body of Benchers, being the highest body of distinction in the legal profession in Nigeria.
Yemi is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in banking, finance, law, arbitration, and corporate consultancy. He holds a Master of Law (LLM) degree, and the Oxford University/CIArb UK Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration.
His banking career started at Citibank Nigeria, where he rose to become an Executive Director, and culminated as the MD of Sterling Bank Plc.
Prior to his foray into Banking and Finance, he had a stint as a Consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers. He also taught law at the University of Benin and Lagos State University.
He is presently the Chairman of the following companies: Sterling Financial Holdings, Baobab Bank, Lenox and Blair Group, and the Board of Trustees, Association of Banks’ Legal Advisers and Company Secretaries (ABLACS). He also sits on the board of Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC). He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Adeyemi Adeola & Co., a law Firm with a special focus on International Commercial Arbitration, Banking and Finance.
Yemi is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and the Institute of Credit Administration of Nigeria. He is also a Member of the Disciplinary Tribunal, Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Yemi is a JFK Scholar.
Meet Yejide Osunkeye, the principal partner at YBO Legal, a leading law firm in Nigeria. With over 20 years of experience in the legal industry, Yejide is a seasoned legal practitioner, mediator, arbitrator, and advocate.
Yejide's expertise and experience speak for themselves. She holds an LLB from the University of Jos, Nigeria, and an LLM from the University of London. She honed her skills and gained invaluable experience at Chief Rotimi Williams' Chambers for twelve years before starting her own law firm.
Yejide is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and serves as the immediate past Honourable Branch Secretary of the CIArb, a position she held for four years. She is also a member of the Panel of Neutrals of the Lagos Multidoor Court house, where she mediates and arbitrates regularly both in-person and virtually.
Yejide's exceptional skills as an arbitrator and counsel have earned her a solid reputation, and she has extensive experience under institutional rules including UNCITRAL, ICC and KIAC rules and in ad hoc proceedings. Additionally, she is a CEDR UK accredited mediator, and has assisted various disputants to resolve their commercial disputes outside the court system.
Yejide's impressive resume doesn't stop there. She is a member of several institutions, organizations and arbitral bodies including the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), African Arbitration Association (AFAA), Arbitral Women (AW), Equal Representation in Arbitration (ERA) pledge, Society for Corporate Governance (SCGN) and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).
As a testament to her success, Yejide serves as Company Secretary to some private companies and also sits on the Board of a number of private companies and foundations.
Based in Lagos, Nigeria, Yejide is married with two children. When you partner with Yejide Osunkeye, you're partnering with a legal and ADR expert who is committed to helping you achieve success.
PROFILE OF PRINCE LATEEF OLASUNKAMI FAGBEMI, SAN
When, on the 16th of July, 1959, the family of Prince (as he then was), Salaudeen Olagunju Adeyeye Fagbemi of Oba’s Compound, Ijagbo, Kwara State of Nigeria had a baby boy born to its royal premises, there was no record of celestial fireworks to herald the birth of the boy, named and known as Abdulateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi. There was similarly no record that he was born in the library of the nearest High Court within the jurisdiction. Yet, on the day, was a true star, and great gift to the legal profession born in to the world.
The parents only accepted the gift as a mark of Allah’s benevolence, and a harbinger of honours to the family. Olasunknami! How prophetic the name turned out to be. A few years after the boy was born, the Patriarch of the family became the Onijagbo, the paramount Ruler of Ijagbo, in Oyun Local Government of Kwara State of Nigeria. The boy, Abdulateef, steadily soon showed that this royal pedigree notwithstanding, he came to life with his own bag of talents, and capacity to engage and impact the world on his own terms.
Prince L. O Fagbemi (SAN) started his primary school education at Ansar- u- Deen Primary School Ilorin, and later proceeded to Offa Grammar School, Offa for his secondary education.
Prince L.O Fagbemi (as fondly called by his friends and associates), exhibited early a great degree of brilliance and love of scholarship that translated into academic excellence right from childhood.
He later proceeded to University of Jos, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree LL.B. (Hons.), graduating with a Second Class upper Division in 1984.
He was at the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island Lagos where he passed his Bar examinations and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985.
After being called to the Nigerian Bar, Prince L.O. Fagbemi SAN joined the law firm of Chief Afe Babalola, (SAN) for the mandatory National Youth Service Programme. He later became an integral part of this famous law firm and left no one in doubt from the beginning that he is destined for the highest place in the legal profession.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in spite of his demanding schedules in office and his various engagements within and outside jurisdiction, proceeded to the famous Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, and obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.), degree. Prince L.O Fagbemi SAN rose to be the Head of Chambers of Afe Babalola (SAN) & Co.
As the famous saying goes that “small mind talks about people, ordinary talks about events, great mind talks about ideas” Prince L.O Fagbemi SAN habitually concerned himself with ideas, pursuit of excellence in law practice, commitment to duty and hard work. All these sterling qualities did not go unnoticed by those who are at the top hierarchy in the legal profession and thus, he was conferred with the highest rank in the practice of law in Nigeria on the 9th day of September 1996, when he was conferred with the rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), at a record time of 11 years at the bar, a record yet to be equaled not to talk of being beaten.
Prince L.O Fagbemi (SAN) realising the fact that getting to the top might be easier, but remaining on top could be difficult, did not rest on his oars as such; he has continued with his old traits of hard work, commitment and unparalleled dedication to duties.
He started his law firm in year 2000 when he commissioned Temitope Chambers, 22 Fajuyi Road, MKO Abiola Estate, Ekotedo Ibadan. As at now, an Abuja office has been opened at Rivers House, Central Area, Abuja and plans are in top gear to add some additions to these law offices.
Prince L. O. Fagbemi (SAN) has traversed all hierarchy of courts in Nigeria, a great advocate who pays attention to details and the finest points of law, and procedure in his cases; he has received unqualified commendation from justices, judges, legal writers and academic commentators. Most notably, he was the lead counsel to former Governor Rotimi Chibuike Ameachi, and led all the legal tussle between the Governor and the People Democratic Party, culminating in the unprecedented judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which pronounced Ameachi as the validly elected Governor of Rivers State, in 2007 even though he was unlawfully disallowed from “participating” in the Governorship election.
He is a member of the Nigerian Bar association, International Bar Association, Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, Body of Senior Advocates and the Nigerian Body of Benchers. He is presently a Board Member, Faculty of Law University of Ibadan, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK (Ibadan Chapter) and the Chairman of the premier tertiary institution in Nigeria the Yaba Polytechnic.
Prince L.O. Fagbemi SAN loves golf, and hence he is a member of Golf Club Ibadan. He is an ardent reader of law literatures. He enjoys listening to good music and has his favourite musicians like Yusuf Olatunji, Haruna Ishola and Ayinla Omowura. He equally loves Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and King Sunny Ade. He is a widely travelled man who has visited all the continents of the world.
Prince L.O Fagbemi (SAN) is an accomplished dancer, loves philosophy and reflection.
He is married to Hajia Fati Fagbemi and he is blessed with two lovely children.
Miannaya Aja Essien, SAN, Chartered Arbitrator, FCIArb., Notary Public, is an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Lagos. She obtained her LL.B (Hons.) and LL.M. respectively in 1984 and 1991 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in August 1985.
She was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2007. She became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) in 2007 and a Chartered Arbitrator in 2015. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Construction Industry Arbitrators.
She is the Managing Partner of Principles Law Partnership (www.principleslaw.com ) a firm of legal practitioners, notaries public and arbitrators with offices in Port Harcourt and Lagos. She is a past chairperson of the Section on Legal Practice of the Nigerian Bar Association.
She is a member of the adjunct faculty of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja teaching civil litigation; and an approved Tutor of the faculty of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom) teaching all aspects of domestic and international commercial arbitration. She is a past chairperson of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigeria Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She is a Panel member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
She is a dispute resolution specialist, is experienced and actively involved (both as counsel and arbitrator) in the resolution of complex commercial disputes across the oil and gas, commercial, financial and insurance sectors. She acts regularly as party appointed arbitrator or chairperson of various arbitral tribunals.
She is a member of council of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria and is on the board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration. She is a member of several associations including the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Law Association (Nigerian Branch), the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, LCIA (African Users' Council) and ICCA. She is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.
She has contributed several scholarly articles to legal publications, journals and books and is a regular resource person at seminars, workshops and conferences.
Isaiah Bozimo has built a strong reputation in commercial arbitration and dispute resolution, championing its growth in Africa. As the former Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, he ushered in forward-thinking legal reforms, including the Delta State Arbitration Law of 2022. He was instrumental in shaping Nigeria’s current Arbitration and Mediation Act.
Now a Partner at Broderick Bozimo & Company, Isaiah leverages his vast experience to represent a diverse clientele, from Governments and State entities to corporations and individuals locally and globally. He has earned respect for effectively resolving both domestic and international commercial disputes.
His portfolio is replete with involvement in prominent cases: a ₦1 billion claim with the Delta State Government, a ₦2 billion claim related to an international trade centre, and a $300 million gas supply dispute under ICC Arbitration.
Recognised by Who’s Who Legal and the African Arbitration Academy, Isaiah is a Chartered Arbitrator and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). He is a panel member for several esteemed arbitration centres, including the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, the Arbitration Foundation for Southern Africa, the Lagos Court of Arbitration, and the Kigali International Arbitration Centre.
His contribution to the field extends to insightful publications. Notably, he has contributed to the CIArb Guidance Note on Remote Dispute Resolution Proceedings, the Delos Guide to Arbitration Places, and the New York Convention Guide. Isaiah remains a driving force in discussions surrounding effective commercial dispute resolution in Africa.
BRIEF PROFILE:
I was born on the 16th day of October, 1966 at Umuahia, in the present day Abia State and was called to the Nigeria Bar, after successfully completing the Nigeria Law School, on the 14th day of December 1989.
Between the months of October 1989 and August 1990 I did my National Youth Service in the Ministry of Justice of Plateau, Jos and upon completion of the program remained in active private legal practice traversing most of the Northern states, Lagos and of course Abuja until the 23rd of December 2019, when I moved a substantial part of my legal practice to Abuja.
My interest in the Alternative Dispute Resolution processes commenced as far back as 1992 when I was involved in arbitration as a junior counsel in the Law offices of Messrs. C. Senlong & Co and thereafter T.Obot & Co; the firms I worked in up until 1996 when my then firm, OKEY AKOBUNDU & Co. was birthed. The firm later metamorphosed to OA&C-LEGAL, and has remained so.
Having engaged in the practice of alternative dispute resolution even in matrimonial causes, but without the requisite training, I enrolled for the entry course into the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, United Kingdom, Nigeria Branch and became an Associate upon my successful completion of the examination.
The advantage of the said course and the impact it had on my practice of ADR, particularly arbitration compelled me to go in for the membership course of the Institute in 2005 and got upgraded to the status of a
I was successfully awarded a Diploma in Arbitration on 29th March 2012 by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and subsequently admitted as a Fellow of the Institute on 18TH May 2013.
I have currently undergone several other trainings and examinations within and outside the country, particularly in South Africa and England. I currently hold a Doctorate degree in Commercial Arbitration and I both teach and practice the subject.
I have been involved in several arbitrations and am at the moment on the list of neutrals at the Abuja and Plateau State Multi-Door Court Houses and the Federal High court ADR Centre. I am also a Fellow of the Institute of Construction Industries Arbitration, Nigeria.
My passion for arbitration and ADR is high and gets better with time and practice.
Okey Akobundu; Ph.D, FCIArb(UK), FICIArb(NIG)