A new executive committee led by Mr Tolulope Aderemi has emerged to lead the Committee on International Commercial Arbitration and ADR of the International Law Association, Nigerian Branch (ILA Nigeria).
Adeyemi takes over from Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour SAN who was the pioneer Chairperson of the Committee. Other member of the new executive include Vice Chairperson, Ofonime Enoh, Foluke Akinmoladun (Secretary), Deinma Dibi (Programs Officer), Mobolaji Oriola (Treasurer) and Shola Soyele (Media and Publicity Officer).
The new executive members emerged at the International Arbitration Conference organized by the Committee on International Commercial Arbitration and ADR of the International Law Association, Nigerian Branch (ILA Nigeria). The event which held at the Lagos Arbitration Court and had in attendance more than 200 participants both in person and online. The theme was “Recent Trends and Opportunities in International Commercial Arbitration.
Aderemi, the new Chairman is a partner with the law firm, Perchstone & Graeys LP who has been involved in several high profile domestic and international energy and construction arbitration matters. He promised that new executive members will do all within its power to advance the course for improved administration of justice and advocacy for change.
“With the continuing growth of electronic commerce, increase in low volume high value claims, our focus will be to train lawyers to unlearn skills antithetical to the interest of parties and the overall practice or arbitration. It is time to work with businesses and move from dispute resolution to conflict avoidance/management.” he said.
Aderemi also commended the former chairperson, Mrs Rhodes-Vivour, for her tireless sacrifice and dedication to the development of the ILA.
In her own presentation titled “Recent trends and opportunities in International Commercial Arbitration, Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour highlighted a wide range of gaps that still need to be addressed if Nigeria and other African countries are to become preferred arbitration seats.
She listed these to include dismantling barriers such as undue delays in the arbitration process, financial hurdles, as well as technology and infrastructure challenges that limit virtual hearings. She emphasized the progress made in international commercial arbitration which has increased role for African arbitrators and women in arbitration matters across the world.
Experts and stakeholders also called for greater devotion to independence, impartiality, integrity, as well as, mentoring of the next generation in order to sustain the legitimacy of the practice of arbitration in Nigeria.
Other dignitaries and leading arbitrators present at the event included the President of ILA Nigeria, Prof. Fidelis Oditah, (KC), (SAN), President of the Mauritius Branch of the ILA, Steven Sengayen, Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Isa Hayatu Chiroma, (SAN), Tunde Bosere (SAN), Clement Ighodarho Osuya, Nadia Ameh, Ignacio Dais amongst others,
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