IBA Women business lawyers meet in Nigeria
Women business lawyers in Africa and around the world under the auspices of the International Bar Association (IBA) will be meeting in Lagos next week to discuss several issues on challenges and best legal practices in Nigeria.
The event, which takes place on Monday November 2, 2015 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos is the second outing of the IBA Women Business Lawyers Initiative and will feature notable industry experts who will stimulate debates on developing issues around Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in Nigeria, the implementation of ADR laws, Investment treaty arbitration, foreign direct investment and International arbitration in oil and gas transaction.
With the surge of ADR practice in Nigeria and other regions of Africa, due to overburdened courts and investors’ demand for greater security, several regional Multi-Door Courthouses (MDCs) and a few key Arbitration Centres, such as the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) have been established to provide speedy resolution of disputes – with special regard to commercial disputes. To this end, many commercial contracts now contain ADR or arbitration clauses, which are further enforced by the courts.
Aimed at supporting and enabling female practitioners on the continent particularly in Nigeria, to develop their international practices and enhance their awareness of global legal standards, the orgainsers have put together a robust programme that covers fundamental parts of ADR processes in Nigeria; implementation of Arbitration laws, improving current arbitration practice and investment treaty agreements, addressing the challenges of harassment and abuse in the workplace, mastering the rules of evidence, balancing multiple roles in client-service delivery, amongst other things.
Speakers at this year’s event, include Titilola Akinlawon SAN of Akinlawon & Ajomo, Prof Ayo Atsenuwa of the Legal Research and Resource Development Centre, in Lagos, Dr. Gbolahan Elias SAN of G Elias & Co, Caroline Etuk of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, ‘Doyin Rhodes-Vivour, of Doyin Rhodes-Vivour & Co., Olufunke Adekoya SAN of ÆLEX Legal Practitioners and Arbitrator, Olufunmi Oluyede, IBA LPD Council Member and Chair, IBA Crimes Against Women Subcommittee of the Criminal Law Committee and a host of others.
At the end of the event, the panel of highly experienced speakers would amongst other things, address critical issues on international arbitration and how laws and contractual terms can adequately protect foreign investors and domestic parties in disputes; while proposing solutions to current challenges.