B&I young arbitrators emerge tops at LCA-YAN Arbitration Moot Competition
The Lagos Court of Arbitration Young Arbitrators Network (LCA-YAN) held its Inaugural International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition on Friday, July 28, 2017 at the Lagos Court of Arbitration. The LCA-YAN is an LCA-sponsored association for practitioners, students and young members of the arbitration community.
The LCA-YAN Moot provided unique opportunities for young practitioners and students to gain exposure to diverse issues in international commercial arbitration including emergency arbitration, joinder of parties and several other contemporary issues in international commercial arbitration.
The competition which had participants from several law firms including AELEX, Aluko & Oyebode, Babalakin & Co., SPA Ajibade & Co., Streamsowers & Köhn, Punuka, Perchstone and Graeys ; Banwo Ighodalo amongst others was robust and very engaging. Law students from tertiary institutions around the country also participated in the competition.
At the end of the one-day competition, the law firm of Banwo Ighodalo emerged the winner of the LCA-YAN Inaugural Commercial Arbitration Moot 2017. Other winners are Chioma Duru of Strachan Partners who won the price of best advocate at the LCA-YAN Commercial Arbitration Moot 2017. John Ojelabi of the Lagos State University emerged best student advocate.
B&I’s team beat participants from commercial law firms across the country including Dikko & Mahmoud, Moshood Shehu & Associates, SPA Ajibade, AELEX, Babalakin & Co. Sterling Partnership and Punuka. The representative of Strachan Partners was runner-up.
Other participants were Olisa Agbakoba Global, Broderick Bozimo & Company, Perchstone & Graeys, Streamsowers & Kohn, Wole Olanipekun, White & Case and M. A. Banire & Associates.
The competitors comprised a four-man team of three lawyers of between one and three years post-call and a senior law student from higher institutions including Lagos State University and Obafemi Awolowo University, among others.
Their performances were graded by a panel of judges including Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu SAN, Mr Etigwe Uwa (SAN), Mrs. Obasa Akpata, and Mr. Kolawole Mayomi of SPA Ajibade and Co.
Co-chair of YAN Prince-Alex Iwu explained the objectives of the competition thus: “Our moot is targeted at young arbitrators. The objective is to expose young arbitrators to issues in international commercial law, such as the convention on International Sale of Goods. At a time that you have to look high up to find those lawyers who are exposed to and interact and engage in international arbitration, we felt that it was important to organise a moot to give young lawyers and students exposure to international arbitration’’.
Mayomi hailed the organisers and competitors, saying: “I think they are doing well, because arbitration is gradually taking root as the preferred means of dispute resolution particularly for commercial disputes.
“If two contracting parties have a dispute to resolve, they want to resolve it and get on with their contract. The mere fact that there is a dispute does not necessarily mean that the contract has come to an end.
We’ve also discovered that young lawyers are not properly schooled in the art of arbitration at the university and law school because it requires special skills that also need developing.
“So, the essence of a competition like this is to raise a new generation of lawyers who are arbitration-savvy, it’s a case of ‘catch them young’ or ‘teach them young’ so to speak, that this is a better, more cost-efficient way to resolve disputes, you don’t necessarily need to have your matter locked up in court.”
One of the participants, a 400-level law student of Lagos State University (LASU), Agu Mesioma Emmanuel, relived his experience.
“I was head of one of the teams that was attached to the Strachan Partners and our duty was to meet with them, draft the memorial, research, practise and then compete.
“I competed alongside two full-time lawyers and we qualified for the finals. It was a very challenging experience appearing in the preliminaries with lawyers against other lawyers. It was also inspiring. This kind of pressure brings out the best in one.
“This competition has been a great influence. Prior to this event I had very little knowledge of arbitration and the opportunities therein. So, this competition really opened my eyes, especially working with Strachan Partners as they are very good with arbitration.”
Secretary to the board of LCA Aderonke Alex-Adedipe said the competition was a success.
“I was particularly impressed with the students. The competition has shown that the level of our students’ education is not as poor as critics suggest,” she added.