On Monday July 1, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) announced the election and re-election of the members of its International Court of Arbitration for a second three-year term (2024-2027), from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027. The Court comprises 191 members representing 119 jurisdictions.
The ICC International Court of Arbitration is an institution for the settlement of international commercial disputes. It operates under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Arbitration involves entrusting the resolution of a dispute to one or more independent and impartial arbitrators chosen by the parties. It removes the dispute from the hands of the courts, thus avoiding the time-consuming and cumbersome procedures of state litigation. This method of dispute resolution offers the parties considerable gains in terms of speed, flexibility and cost.
Claudia Salomon, the first woman to preside over the Court in its 100-year history, has been reappointed President of the International Court of Arbitration for a second three-year term, starting on July 1, 2024.
The election of the Court’s members by the ICC World Council took place on June 11 in Paris.
For the term running from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027, the new Court is made up of the President, 19 Vice-Presidents and 170 members from 119 countries. Seven new vice-presidents and 121 new members have been appointed. The new members represent 84 countries, including 12 jurisdictions not previously represented: Angola, Azerbaijan, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Moldova, Oman, Uganda, Uruguay and Zambia.
Members of the ICC Court of Arbitration are appointed by the ICC World Council, on the recommendation of local ICC offices, known as national committees and groups, or on the proposal of the Court’s Chairman. The Council comprises representatives of the global business community (national committees and direct members), who meet annually.
To ensure generational, gender and geographical diversity, the Court comprises 35 members and vice-chairmen from Africa, 61 from Asia-Pacific, 22 from the Middle East, 62 from Europe, 26 from Latin America and eight from North America. Women make up around 51% of the Court, with 97 women and 94 men.
Once appointed, members of the Court must remain independent of ICC national committees in the performance of their duties.
Below are the biographies of 34 lawyers elected to the Court. The 35th biography is unavailable.
Vice-Presidents
Isaiah Bozimo (Nigeria)
Isaiah Bozimo is a partner at Broderick Bozimo and Company, a leading Nigerian law firm specialising in arbitration and litigation.
A former representative of the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum, Isaiah Bozimo has extensive knowledge and experience in commercial arbitration and dispute resolution. From July 2021 to May 2023, he served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Delta State, Nigeria, contributing significantly to key legal reforms, including the Delta State Arbitration Act 2022 and the new Arbitration and Mediation Act of Nigeria.
Representing a diverse client base including governments, corporations and individuals, Isaiah Bozimo has built a reputation for his ability to effectively resolve complex commercial disputes, both in litigation and arbitration. His landmark litigation includes cases that have shaped Nigeria’s legal landscape, such as the establishment of the doctrine of lender liability and the creation of a precedent on the standing of judgment debtors in garnishment proceedings.
His arbitration experience includes successfully representing the Delta State Government in a €1 billion claim, leading a team handling claims of over €2 billion relating to an international trade center, and acting as co-counsel in a major gas supply dispute worth $300 million.
Isaiah’s significant contributions to arbitration have been recognized by reputable institutions such as Who’s Who Legal and the African Arbitration Academy. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and sits on the arbitration panels of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA) and the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC).
Isaiah Bozimo holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Queen Mary University of London; Barrister-at-Law, Nigerian Law School, 2006; LL.M, London School of Economics & Political Science, 2005. And LL.B (Hons), University of Central Lancashire, 2003.
Samaa Haridi (Egypt/USA)
A trilingual lawyer trained in both civil and common law, Samaa Haridi is a partner at King & Spalding, an American multinational business law firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Samaa Haridi has over 20 years’ experience representing clients worldwide in international commercial and investment arbitration, under the rules of all major arbitration institutions.
Samaa Haridi, it is explained, has been recognized by her clients as “spectacular”, “exceptional”, “energetic and determined”, “magnificent lawyer” and “truly, truly phenomenal” (Chambers USA). In addition, it is reported, esources also recognize her as a “first-class arbitration lawyer, one of the best in the region” (Who’s Who Legal) and a “global leader” whose “reputation is soaring” (Who’s Who Legal). She is one of fifteen international arbitration practitioners in North America recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader – Arbitration.
Samaa Haridi frequently acts as arbitrator in international trade and investment disputes. She currently serves on the boards of several other arbitration organizations, including as a member of the ICCA Board of Directors and former Senior Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Arbitration Committee.
Samaa Haridi is a member of the Bars of New York, California and England & Wales. She is fluent in French and Arabic and has a good knowledge of Spanish.
Members and alternates (*Alternate members are those whose names are followed by an asterisk)
Sylvie Bebohi Ebongo (Cameroon)
A member of the Paris (France) and Cameroon bars, Sylvie Bebohi Ebongo is the co-founder of HBE Avocats, a Paris-based business law firm specialising in dispute resolution through arbitration and other dispute resolution methods, as well as advice and litigation in the fields of business law, foreign investment law, international trade law, maritime and transport law and Ohada law. Sylvie Bebohi Ebongo is also a managing partner of HBE Avocats Cameroun.
Sylvie Bebohi Ebongo holds a doctorate (Ph.D) in private law from the University of Picardie Jules Verne, with first class honours and unanimous congratulations from the jury. She is also a graduate of the Paris Court of Appeal Bar Training School (CAPA).
She holds a doctorate in law, having defended a thesis on specific issues relating to the enforcement of arbitration awards. She was awarded the ERSUMA-OHADA 2015 prize for the best thesis in business and community law.
Sylvie Bebohi Ebongo holds a doctorate (Ph.D) in private law from the University of Picardie Jules Verne, with first-class honours and unanimous congratulations from the jury. She is also a graduate of the bar training school of the Paris Court of Appeal (CAPA).
She holds a doctorate in law, having defended a thesis on specific issues relating to the enforcement of arbitration awards. She was awarded the ERSUMA-OHADA 2015 prize for the best thesis in business and community law.
Sylvie Bebohi Ebongo also holds a certificate in investment arbitration (Georgetown University Law and International Law Institute – International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes), a certificate in mediation, negotiation and dispute management (Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy, Singapore Management University) and a certificate in international trade law from the training centre of the International Labour Organisation, the University of Turin and the Institute of European Studies (IUSE).
In addition to a university degree halfway between fundamental private law and business law, she has professional experience as a lawyer in auditing and consultancy firms.
Sylvie Bebohi Ebongo acts for individuals, businesses and institutions. She assists her clients in setting up businesses, in the pre-contractual phase (negotiation, contractual drafting, dispute resolution strategy) and in the performance of their contracts. She regularly provides her expertise in the pre-litigation phase of dispute management.
The Cameroonian lawyer has a recurrent practice in arbitration, where she acts as arbitrator, counsel or secretary to the arbitral tribunal, whether in commercial or investment arbitration. She is a member of the panel of arbitrators at the Joint Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA-OHADA), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) and the Ouagadougou Centre for Mediation and Conciliation (CAMC-O). She is also developing a strong practice in post-arbitration litigation, particularly in proceedings to set aside or enforce arbitral awards within and outside the OHADA area.
Passionate about alternative dispute resolution (ADR), Sylvie Bebohi Ebongo takes a keen interest in mediation and other dispute resolution methods that can help resolve disputes amicably. She is therefore able to assist or intervene in commercial or investment mediation.
A specialist in the law of the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), in which she has worked for many years, she provides legal support to foreign investors wishing to set up in the OHADA area.
Julius Nkafu* (Cameroon)
Mediator and barrister in England, Wales and Cameroon, Julius Nkafu is a founding consultant of Nkafu Arbitration Services (NAS), with principal offices in Yaoundé and London. He advises and assists numerous clients before courts and tribunals in a variety of commercial and civil disputes.
A specialist in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), Julius Nkafu has extensive expertise in arbitration and mediation, particularly in international contexts. He represents clients before courts and tribunals. He has over 20 years’ legal experience.
A recognized expert in international arbitration, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London and a course director, his legal practice covers various fields, including energy, oil & gas, maritime, international trade, commercial, civil and corporate agreements.
He is an expert in dealing with Business Email Compromise (BEC) disputes, offering advice to clients affected by such fraudulent activities. In addition, Julius Nkafu has in-depth knowledge of international administrative law, and provides advisory services to individuals and entities on compliance with the regulations of international development organizations.
Julius Nkafu gives lectures and assessments on international arbitration. He has in-depth knowledge of arbitration laws and rules, whether in an institutional or ad hoc setting.
Julius Nkafu obtained his first law degree from the University of Yaoundé́ in Cameroon. He continued his legal training by obtaining a CPE and LLM in International Business Law in London. In addition, he holds postgraduate certificates in transnational oil and gas and education from London institutions.
Julius Nkafu is a member of panels of arbitrators at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA), the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). He is also a member of the Sanctions and Appeals Council of the African Development Bank Group.
Tsegaye Laurendeau (Ethiopia)
Tsegaye is a partner specializing in international arbitration at Signature Litigation, a Gibraltar-based law firm specializing in complex commercial disputes and investigations.
With over 14 years of international arbitration experience as a lawyer, Tsegaye Laurendeau has advised and represented companies, states and public entities in arbitrations conducted under the arbitration rules of several of the leading arbitration institutions, including the London Court of International Arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, with a particular focus on disputes in the oil and gas, energy, mining, construction and telecoms sectors.
Tsegaye Laurendeau has also developed expertise in arbitrations involving complex corporate structures, financial products, accounting, tax and quantum issues.
Tsegaye Laurendeau began her career in the project finance group of a Magic Circle firm (an informal term describing the five most prestigious multinational law firms based in London), acting for international financial institutions and corporations in the financing and development of major energy and infrastructure projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and in sub-Saharan Africa.
Tsegaye Laurendeau is recognized in The Legal 500 UK 2024 as a recommended lawyer in the International Arbitration category, and is described as “a force in litigation”, who is “commercial in his approach to problem solving” and “open and honest about the prospects of success in any case”. Mr. Tsegaye is also listed in The Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist UK, which features the UK’s top arbitration practitioners. Tsegaye is recognized as a “future leader” in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide. His peers and clients call him “one of the best arbitration lawyers of his generation”.
Tsegaye Laurendeau has also been named “ADR Personality” by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC). He is a member of the Court and Arbitration Committee of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, and one of the founders of AfricArb, an organization of lawyers with a common interest in arbitration and Africa, seeking to participate in the development of arbitration in Africa.
Prior to joining Signature Litigation, Tsegaye Laurendeau was a partner at international arbitration firm Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes, and before that a member of Shearman & Sterling’s international arbitration group, where he practiced for over ten years, first in Paris and then in London from 2015.
Tsegaye is admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of England and Wales and to the Paris Bar. He is fluent in English and his mother tongue is Amharic and French. He is also fluent in Spanish.
Salimatou Diallo (Guinea)
Salimatou Diallo is Managing Partner and Founding Partner of ADNA, one of the first independent, integrated firms to offer multi-sector expertise in French-speaking Africa. The firm was founded by 4 partners in 2021.
A member of the Conakry, Paris and New York bars, her practice focuses primarily on complex project development and financing, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate and commercial law and other matters, mainly in the energy and mining sectors in French-speaking Africa, advising both national and international development finance institutions (DFIs) and sponsors.
Holder of a doctorate in international law from the University of Paris I, Panthéon Sorbonne (2022); a Master’s degree in international economic law from the same university ; and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the American University of Washington DC, Salimatou Diallo began her career in the Paris offices of the major British and international law firm Hogan Lovells, then Herbert Smith Freehills, where she was promoted to “Of Counsel”, a title granted to a lawyer in the US legal profession who often has a relationship with a law firm or organization, but is neither an associate nor a partner.
After 10 years working on African projects, in particular cross-border transactions in all sectors, negotiating contracts and structuring partnerships with African government bodies, Salimatou Diallo decided in 2013 to establish “SD Avocats”, her own independent law firm in Conakry .
Salimatou Diallo is ranked among the top lawyers by Chambers Global and IFLR1000.
Sylvia Kasanga (Kenya)
A member of the Kenyan Senate since 2017, Sylvia Mueni Kasanga began her career as an architect 19 years ago. Since 2003, she has been founder and managing director of Sycum Solutions Company, an architecture and construction management firm. She is also a respected arbitrator, a member and council member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Kenya and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK.
An ardent promoter of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, she notably sponsored the Kenyan Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill.
Adama Soro (Ivory Coast)
A member of the Côte d’Ivoire Bar since January 2001, Adama Soro is managing partner of Soro, Bako & associés.
Specializing in business law, corporate law, national and international commercial contracts, labor law and banking law, Adama Soro is also well versed in infrastructure, mining and energy law.
Adama Soro holds a Master 2 in business law and taxation,́ obtained from the Facultés Universitaires Privées d’Abidjan (FUPA) and a DU-LLM in in-depth international business litigation from the Université́ Paris-Est Créteil, Val-de-Marne, (UPEC).
An arbitrator on the list of arbitrators of the Ohada Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) and the Court of Arbitration of Côte d’Ivoire (CACI)I, Adama Soro has a solid background in arbitration law acquired at the CACI, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the University of Paris-Est Créteil.
For many years, he was a local legal consultant for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Côte d’Ivoire (UNIDO), and specifically supported́ the creation and legal structuring of Ivorian SMEs in the textile, agri-food and cashew nut sectors into export consortia.
Yasmine Lahlou (Morocco)
Fluent in English, French and Italian, Yasmine Lahlou has over 20 years’ experience in international arbitration and litigation. Since 2009, she has been a partner at Chaffetz Lindsey, a New York law firm specializing in international litigation, with a focus on Latin America and covering both common law and civil law systems.
Yasmine Lahlou, who has represented a number of clients in arbitration proceedings, practised in Paris for over four years with Castaldi Mourre & Partners, before joining Clifford Chance in New York in 2005.
Yasmine Lahlou is currently Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Litigation and International Arbitration Committees. She is a member of the Editorial Board of the International Court of Arbitration’s Dispute Resolution Bulletin. She is also a member of the Peer Review Committee of the American Journal of International Arbitration at Columbia University Law School.
Yasmine Lahlou is co-chair of the International Chamber of Arbitration’s working group on fast-track provisions. A member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, a member of Africa Arbitration’s Advisory Board and a past member of ArbitralWomen’s Board of Directors, she is also the former Co-Chair of the Middle East Committee of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Section of International Law,
In the “Who’s Who Legal 2024 Arbitration” report, Yasmine Lahlou was named as one of 23 “Global Elite Thought Leaders” in North America, a title reserved for the top 2.5% of practitioners who are considered “the best by their peers and clients, achieving the highest number of research recommendations”. In addition, Yasmine Lahlou has been named number one on Who’s Who Legal 2019: Future Leaders – Arbitration for the Americas, and has been recognized in Chambers USA and Super Lawyers. “Yasmine Lahlou is a highly regarded practitioner with an “exceptional ability to read a situation and understand her client’s needs”. She is intelligent, competent and listens to her clients.” (The Who’s Who Legal 2018: Future Leaders – Arbitration).
Guled Yusuf (Somalia)
Guled Yusuf is a partner in Allen & Overy’s international arbitration group. He has extensive expertise in international commercial arbitration and investment treaties, as well as in public international law.
He has represented companies, governments and international organizations in institutional and ad hoc arbitration proceedings, as counsel and advocate, including arbitrations under the rules of the ICC, the London Court of International Arbitration, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.
Guled Yusuf has particular expertise in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors, as well as in disputes relating to the European and African continents. He regularly advises clients on a wide range of international law issues, including inter-state disputes, international investment law, international trade law, treaty interpretation, border delimitation, international human rights law and sovereign immunity.
Guled Yusuf has been appointed by the Federal Republic of Somalia to the Panel of Conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. He is also Somalia’s principal delegate to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, notably in Working Group III (Reform of Investor-State Dispute Settlement).
Previously, Guled Yusuf was Chairman of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) Users’ Council Committee for Africa, a member of the SIAC Users’ Council Executive Committee and a member of the SIAC Youth Committee. He was also a member of the Arbitration Committee of the New York City Bar Association.
Guled Yusuf has been listed in all the major legal directories for several years. He is currently designated by Legal500 as a “Next Generation Partner” in the fields of international arbitration and public international law.
Paula Duarte Rocha (Mozambique)
A partner at MDR Advogados, Paula Duarte Rocha specializes in a wide range of areas, advising both private companies, whether domestic or foreign investors, and public companies. She also has extensive experience and an outstanding track record in banking transactions and project financing. She is recognized for her practice in international transactions and regulatory matters.
Paula Duarte Rocha advises economic operators and contracting authorities on public procurement and public-private partnerships.
Since 2002, Paula Duarte Rocha has been registered as an arbitrator with the Arbitration, Conciliation and Mediation Centre of Mozambique (CACM), with a particular interest in commercial arbitration, either as party-appointed arbitrator or as president of the arbitral tribunal, having also been the national rapporteur for tax matters in Mozambique for the International Bar Association (2012-2014).
Since January 2014, Paula Duarte Rocha has been a consultant on Mozambique issues for the Portuguese law firm “Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados”.
She is a member of the Mozambique Internationalization Committee of the Commercial Arbitration Centre.
A member of the Mozambique Bar Association, Paula Duarte was President of the Mozambican Bar Association’s National Commission for Internships and Entrance Examinations (2014), then a member of the Mozambican Bar Association’s National Council (2016).
Paula Duarte graduated in law from the Polytechnic University of Mozambique in 2001. She also attended arbitration courses at the Center for Arbitration, Conciliation and Mediation in 2002, as well as courses on international oil and gas law, contracts and negotiations (Association of International Petroleum Negotiators – AIPN, Institute for Energy Law of the Centre for American and International Law and Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation – RMMLF).
Sami Houerbi (Tunisia)
Since 2008, Sami Houerbi has been the founder of the Houerbi law firm. A specialist arbitration lawyer with over 25 years’ experience, he practices international commercial arbitration in the fields of energy, international distribution, joint ventures, construction and foreign investment, and international dispute resolution.
From 2005 to 2021, Sami Houerbi was Director of Arbitration and ADR at the ICC International Court of Arbitration for the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa. He was responsible for organizing capacity-building training and creating strategic partnerships with all legal stakeholders, including government representatives, in-house counsel, lawyers and judges…
From 1999 to 2005, he was Deputy Legal Counsel at the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), where he was responsible for managing and supervising hundreds of international arbitration proceedings.
Since 2006, Sami Houerbi has regularly acted as counsel and arbitrator in ad hoc and institutional international arbitrations under the aegis of the ICC, the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Iran Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Centre, the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and the Swiss Rules, with proven experience in the enforcement of international awards.
Sami Houerbi has contributed to several publications in the field of international arbitration. Most recently: “Wolters Kluwer – Arbitration in Africa: A Practitioner’s Guide: Author of the chapter on North Africa”.
Sami Houerbi began his legal career in 1992 in French and German law firms in Munich (Germany) and Paris (France). He is fluent in French, Arabic, English and German.
Sami Houerbi holds a postgraduate diploma in international law from the University of Paris II and an LL.M in German law from the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich.
Jean Chiazor Anishere (Nigeria)
Jean Chiazor Anishere is one of Nigeria’s leading maritime lawyers. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1985 (now Obafemi Awolowo University); a Master of Laws, LL. M from the University of Lagos, Akoka, in 1994, and a Masters in Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University, 1995. She also holds a Certificate of Merit in Maritime Transport (Anatomy of Maritime Transport) from the Cambridge Academy of Transport, UK, obtained in 1996. Admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1986, Jean Chiazor was sworn in as a Notary Public by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1990.
A maritime legal consultant to the Maritime Committee of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Jean Chiazor Anishere trained the first batch of cabotage enforcement officers for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. A founding member of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Committee, in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute for the bi-annual maritime seminar for judges, Jean Chiazor was also co-chair of the Nigerian Admiralty and Procedure Law Reform Committee in 2020.
She is also currently co-chair of the ICC-Africa Centenary Conference Planning Committee; member of the International Bar Association; chair of the Nigerian Bar Association Welfare Committee; member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK; council member of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping; member of the Institute of Directors in Nigeria and the UK; legal counsel/member of Women in Energy, Nigeria (WIEN); legal counsel/member of Women in Commonwealth Business Network, Nigeria (CBWN); Vice-President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN); member of the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA).
A former President of the Women in Shipping and Trade Association (WISTA-Nigeria), Jean Chiazor is also the former President of the Organization of African Women in the Maritime Sector (WIMA-Nigeria); former Continental President, Financial Secretary of the Board of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN); African Women in the Maritime Sector (WIMAFRICA) and United Nations/African Union Single Representative for African Women in the Maritime Sector (WIMAFRICA);
Jean Chiazor is also a best-selling author, having already written five volumes of Essays in Admiralty – a comprehensive collection of essays and scholarly papers focusing on maritime law, published by one of the UK’s leading maritime publishers – Petrospot UK. Jean Chiazor’s books are also available in British Council libraries.
She is also the editor of “Admiralty Law Reports of Nigeria”, volumes 1 – 32 (a collection of judgments on admiralty matters in Nigeria, from the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court of Nigeria) with a full index of cases published to date.
The Cambridge International Biographical Centre named her International Woman of the Year 1997-1998 in recognition of her services to the law, and International Professional of the Year 2005 for excellence in legal practice.
Lino Diamvutu (Angola)
A founding partner of LWD ADVOGADO in Angola, Lino Diamvutu has also been a member of the panel of arbitrators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) since January 2023. He was appointed by the Republic of Angola to represent the country in this institution.
Previously, Lino Diamvutu was an independent arbitrator for 12 years. A professor at the Faculty of Law, Agostinho Neto University, Angola, he was also head of the legal department at ENSA – Seguros de Angola, Angola’s leading insurance company. He was also legal advisor to the National Directorate of Civil Aviation.
Lino Diamvutu holds a doctorate in law from the University of Lisobonne, Portugal, and a Master 2 in law from the Free University of Brussels.
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya (Zimbabwe)
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya is a partner in the International Litigation and Arbitration Department of Foley Hoag, an American law firm with lawyers practicing in all areas of business law.
Within the firm, Tafadzwa Pasipanodya chairs the Africa Practice Group. For almost twenty years, she has represented sovereign states from all over the world before arbitration tribunals in investor-state arbitrations concerning natural resources, mining, the environment, infrastructure and health policy.
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya also works in Foley Hoag’s Global Business and Human Rights practice, advising companies, states and intergovernmental organizations on various aspects of business operations, including human rights, sustainable development, the environment and the negotiation of public-private partnerships.
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya has also advised states in disputes against other states concerning the law of the sea, maritime delimitations, territorial claims, human rights and environmental rights before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the tribunals of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other bodies. She has also represented foreign states in US federal court proceedings.
As a member of the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Tafadzwa participates in the judicial supervision of ICC arbitration proceedings, notably by reviewing and approving arbitral awards and deciding on the challenge of arbitrators.
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya’s expertise in international litigation and arbitration has been recognized by Global Arbitration Review (GAR), which named her in its 2023 guide “45 Under 45”, by Latinvex, which ranked her among the top 28 female arbitration lawyers working on Latin American matters worldwide, and by Africa Arbitration Academy, Africa Arbitration and the Association of Young Arbitrators (AYA), which ranked her among the top 30 arbitration practitioners in Africa. She has also been recognized by Chambers & Partners, Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration, Legal 500: USA, Legal 500: Latin America, and Lawyer Monthly.
Prior to joining Foley Hoag, Tafadzwa Pasipanodya worked with several intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on the prosecution of alleged genocidaires in Rwanda, natural resources and conflict in Angola, caste discrimination in Nepal and India, US-Africa policy, Roma and prisoner health in Romania, and post-conflict reconstruction in Sri Lanka.
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya holds a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law, obtained in 2008, a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University School of International and Public Affairs, obtained in 2004, and a Bachelor of Laws from Macalester College, magna cum laude, obtained in 2001.
Atinoukê Amadou (Benin)
A member of the Paris Bar, Atinoukê Kayeyemi AMADOU is the founder of the Ọya law firm. She mainly advises French, West African and Central African companies on business law.
Atinoukê Kayeyemi began her career in international law firms such as CMS Francis Lefebvre, Ernst and Young, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, LPA-CGR Avocats (formerly Lefebvre Pelletier et Associés), but also in companies such as Deloitte SA Luxembourg, or public bodies such as the Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin (CAMeC-CCIB).
A doctor of law, she was the first female technical advisor to the Permanent Secretary of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), and also held the position of special advisor to a former Beninese Minister of Justice. Atinoukê Amadou advises the public and private sectors, mainly in the fields of energy and infrastructure, industry, new technologies and media.
Her position as technical advisor to the OHADA secretariat has given her expertise in the institutional understanding of the organization and its law, enabling her to advise the governments of OHADA member states, particularly in bringing their national law into line with OHADA provisions.
Bobson Coulibaly (Burkina Faso)
A member of the Montreal and Burkina Faso Bars, Bobson Coulibaly is a partner in SCP Yanogo Bobson, a business law firm based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A specialist in mining, energy and commercial law, she has advised various multinationals in West Africa, notably in Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger and Mali. In this context, she has assisted clients in negotiating commercial contracts in compliance with OHADA regulations.
In addition, Maître Bobson Coulibaly has acted as a specialist lawyer for a number of multinational companies in connection with numerous sales and acquisitions. She also advises clients on investments in French-speaking Africa.
In the mining sector, Maître Bobson Coulibaly has been involved in numerous transactions involving contract negotiations, the creation of new companies and joint ventures between international mining companies and local businesses. She is legal advisor to numerous mining companies operating in Burkina Faso.
Maître Bobson COULIBALY is also active in the energy sector, and has been involved in all recent transactions linked to the financing of solar power plants in Burkina Faso, where she has also participated in the drafting of laws and regulations.
A member of the team recruited by the World Bank to assist the Burkina Faso government in revising its Mining Code and the decrees applicable since 2010, she regularly assists the Burkina Faso Chamber of Mines.
Maïtre Bobson Coulibaly holds a degree in business administration from McGill University, Canada; a law degree from the University of Montreal; and master’s degrees in law and economics from the universities of Rotterdam (Netherlands), Bologna (Italy) and Vienna (Austria).
Mamadou Diarra (Mali)
Maître Mamadou Gaoussou Diarra has been a member of the Mali Bar Association since 1995. He has a good knowledge of the legal and institutional business environment in Mali, and of the diplomatic world in the sub-region and internationally. He also has practical and theoretical experience of arbitration.
In addition to his mastery of OHADA law, which governs business activity in 16 member countries, Mamadou Diarra has proven expertise in the mining sector. He advises numerous multinationals, and is involved in most of Mali’s major mining projects, either on behalf of titleholders or subcontractors.)
Mamadou Diarra is also familiar with the legal environment in the field of new technologies and telecommunications in Mali and the sub-region. In this capacity, he has participated in all the key phases of the development of the current legislative and regulatory framework, in various capacities, and took part in the privatization process of Mali’s incumbent telephone operator, 51% of whose shares were sold to Maroc Télécom. He was also involved in finalizing the transaction for the third license.
Currently, Mamadou Diarra is a consultant in charge of assisting the Malian government with the procedure for awarding the 4th global license to operate telecoms networks in Mali.
Between 2013 and 2016, Mr. Mamadou Diarra also held ministerial positions in the Malian government, most recently as Minister for Investment and the Private Sector. Former Deputy Secretary General of the Malian Bar Association, and former President of the Malian Young Lawyers’ Association, Maître Mamadou G. DIARRA has been awarded the Order of Merit. DIARRA was decorated Commander of the French National Order of Merit in 2016.
Amani Khalifa (Egypt)
An arbitration specialist, Amani Khalifa is a partner in the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Global Projects Litigation practice. Based in Riyadh, she handles large-scale, complex construction disputes relating to projects in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Amani Khalifa is licensed to practice law in Egypt, England and Wales, and New York State.
Named one of the top 45 arbitration practitioners under 45 by Global Arbitration Review, Amani Khalifa is a Cassation Judge in the Kingdom of Bahrain, seconded to the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution. She is also Vice-President of the Arab Users’ Council of the London Court of International Arbitration. She is an arbitrator on the Basketball Court of Arbitration, an independent tribunal recognized by the International Basketball Federation, and hears corruption cases for the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
In addition, Amani Khalifa frequently acts as arbitrator in infrastructure disputes throughout the MENA region.
Victoria Barth* (Ghana)
Victoria Barth is Managing Partner of Sam Okudzeto & Associates, a leading law firm in Ghana. At the firm, she also heads the Litigation and Dispute Management team, overseeing the conduct of both contentious and non-contentious litigation to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients.
She has over 20 years’ experience in legal practice, specializing in civil litigation and dispute resolution.
Victoria Barth has been at the forefront of several landmark trials, conducting the required analyses and appearing before Ghana’s superior courts to represent her clients. Over the course of her career, she has represented a number of local and international clients, including the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Enterprise Group PLC, Enterprise Life Assurance Company Ltd and Enterprise Funeral Services Gh Ltd, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and Standard Chartered Bank Ghana.
Victoria Barth was lead counsel for the Ghanaian government in the case of BxC v MiDA, in which she successfully opposed an application to restrict the execution of the multi-million dollar concession for the management, operation and investment in Ghana’s electricity distribution sector.
After her strong defence of the dealership, she also led the execution of a multi-million dollar guarantee in favour of the client.
Victoria holds a law degree from the University of Southampton (UK), a postgraduate diploma from the Legal Practitioners Course – College of Law, Guildford (UK) and a Certificate of Qualification from the Ghana School of Law.
She began her career in 2002 as an Assistant Public Prosecutor in the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Department. She joined Sam Okudzeto in 2003 as a junior associate. She was elected Partner in 2013 and Managing Partner in 2018.
Victoria Barth teaches trial advocacy and legal ethics at the Ghana School of Law and is a member of the ICC International Chamber of Commerce’s “Addressing Issues of Corruption in International Arbitration” working group. She is also currently a non-executive director of Prudential Bank Ltd and SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana.
Funmi Roberts * (Nigeria)
Funmi Roberts is the founder and senior partner of Funmi Roberts & Co, a leading law firm. Described as an astute leader, she was valedictorian of her first undergraduate degree, Master of Laws and Nigerian Law School. She gained extensive experience as a lawyer specializing in corporate commercial law. She has used her considerable leadership, strategic and organizational skills to take Funmi Roberts & Co. from a single Ibadan-based firm to an internationally recognized law firm, with subsidiaries in Ibadan and Lagos, a focal point in Abuja, and several international collaborating law firms.
An expert in dispute resolution, Funmi Roberts is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and was a member of the National Executive Council, the highest decision-making body of this umbrella organization of lawyers in Nigeria. She was also a member of the council of the organization’s business law section.
In addition, Funmi Roberts is a member of the International Bar Association; Arbitral Women, an international non-governmental organization of women international dispute resolution practitioners; the Association of Maritime Arbitrators of Nigeria; the Society for Corporate Governance in Nigeria; the International Arbitrators Panel of the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC); and the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Professionals.
She is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Commission on Arbitration and Amicable Dispute Resolution, a member and tutor of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), a trainer, accredited mediator and member of the Global Mediators of the UK-based Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR).
A member of the Board of Directors of the Oyo State Multi-Gate Courthouse and the Lagos Court of Arbitration, among others, Funmi Roberts is also Chairman of the National Committee on the Repeal and Re-enactment of the law governing arbitration in Nigeria, namely the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.
Noella Lubano* (Kenya)
A partner at Oraro & Company Advocates, Noella Lubano is described as a recognized expert in dispute resolution and arbitration. She specializes in asset tracing and recovery, commercial litigation, employment disputes and shareholder disputes. She is also renowned for her expertise in international arbitration, insolvency and restructuring.
Ranked by Chambers Global in the “Dispute Resolution” category, her clients, it is explained, praise her for her “extreme professionalism and accessibility”, while others assert that “her level of subject knowledge, particularly of corporate law issues, is exceptional”. Legal 500 also recognized her in the 2021 and 2020 rankings as a Next Generation Associate, with sources saying she is “responsive, conducts very good, well-thought-out research, and is approachable and witty”.
Noella Lubano was recently recognized by the Nairobi Legal Awards as one of the top 10 female lawyers in the “Litigation Practitioners” category, and as one of “Africa’s 50 Most Promising Young Arbitrators 2020” by the Association of Young Arbitrators.
Noella Lubano, it is reported, is an eloquent speaker who has spoken on a variety of international arbitration topics at the International Arbitration Conference in Kigali (Rwanda) in 2017, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in 2018 and Nairobi (Kenya) in 2019. She has also shared her legal knowledge around the world, including in the UK and Austria.
Noella Lubano holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Cape Town, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
Fatma Amira Abdallah* (Tunisia)
University lecturer and lawyer specialized in arbitration and amicable dispute resolution (ADR). She works in the arbitration, mediation, negotiation and litigation department of ABDELLY & ASSOCIATES. She advises on commercial and investment arbitrations. She has advised governments and investors in a number of complex arbitrations before the International Court of Arbitration, including disputes in the mining, oil and gas, industrial, infrastructure and corporate sectors. Her areas of expertise include arbitration, mediation, contract law, investment law, corporate law, international trade law and business litigation.
Fatma Amira Abdallah is also a university lecturer in arbitration law, corporate law and civil law. She also supervises final year dissertations at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Carthage in Tunis.
Fatma Amira Abdallah holds a Master’s degree in contract and investment law from the Tunis Faculty of Law and Political Science, where she graduated top of her class.
Fatma Amira Abdallah* (Tunisia)
University lecturer and lawyer specializing in arbitration and amicable dispute resolution (ADR). She works in the arbitration, mediation, negotiation and litigation department of ABDELLY & ASSOCIATES. She advises on commercial and investment arbitrations. She has advised governments and investors in a number of complex arbitrations before the International Court of Arbitration, including disputes in the mining, oil and gas, industrial, infrastructure and corporate sectors. Her areas of expertise include arbitration, mediation, contract law, investment law, corporate law, international trade law and business litigation.
Fatma Amira Abdallah is also a university lecturer in arbitration law, corporate law and civil law. She also supervises dissertations at the Institut des Hautes Études Commerciales de Carthage in Tunis.
Fatma Amira Abdallah holds a Master’s degree in contract and investment law from the Faculty of Law and Political Science in Tunis, where she graduated top of her class.
Chloé de Jager* (South Africa)
Based in Johannesburg, Chloé de Jager is a senior associate with the British international law firm Pinsent Masons,
Chloé de Jager is a past representative of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Young Arbitration and ADR Forum (YAAF) for the Africa chapter. She specializes in construction law and advises clients in the energy, extractive industries and infrastructure sectors, focusing on international and domestic arbitration, as well as alternative dispute resolution.
She holds a Master degree in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution from Kings College London, with expertise in major infrastructure projects.
Mohamed Abdel Raouf* (Egypt)
Mohamed Abdel Raouf is a partner and head of the international arbitration group at ABDEL RAOUF law firm in Cairo, Egypt.
A former director of the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) and associate professor at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Mohamed Abdel Raouf specializes in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, as well as in commercial contracts, investment agreements, construction, real estate and sports-related disputes.
Mohamed Abdel Raouf holds a doctorate in private law from the University of Montpellier I, France. The subject of his thesis was “L’arbitre international et les contrats d’État” (published).
Dr. Abdel Raouf Dr. Abdel Raouf is a member of the Advisory Board and former Vice-President of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), Vice-President of the Board of Directors and member of the Advisory Committee of the CRCICA, member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), arbitrator on the list of arbitrators of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), conciliator appointed by the President of the World Bank Group to sit on the list of conciliators maintained by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Mediator accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), President of the Egyptian branch of the Chartered College of Arbitration (CCA), Mediator accredited by the CCA, Conciliator appointed by the President of the World Bank Group to sit on the ICSID Panel of Conciliators, CEDR-accredited mediator, Chairman of the Egyptian branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), member of the Arbitration Committee of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) and member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA).
Mohamed Abdel Raouf is ranked by Chambers and Partners in its Global Rankings as one of the “most sought-after” and best arbitrators in Egypt.
Vincent Kizito Beyuo (Ghana)
Vincent Kizito Beyuo is the managing partner of Beyuo Jumu & Co, a law firm based in Accra.
A lawyer for nearly 30 years, Kizito Byuo’s practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, as well as litigation and arbitration. He has advised a large number of clients, both domestic and international, ranging from large multinationals to small start-ups, on a wide range of transactions. He continues to represent international aid agencies, multinational and national companies, financial institutions, including leading banks, in a number of high-profile disputes before the trial and appellate courts in Ghana, in areas such as corporate governance, company law, employment, real estate and other commercial contracts.
As a solicitor for barristers, he has represented the General Legal Council, the body responsible for the legal education and licensing of barristers, in all manner of legal actions. He represented an international financial institution in relation to its immunity from legal proceedings in the courts of Ghana. He has also been involved in litigation before the Ghanaian courts concerning the immunity of a South American state and its military assets in Ghana.
As regards arbitration practice, Kizito has acted both as counsel and as sole or co-arbitrator. He has been involved as local co-counsel in an ICC arbitration concerning the wrongful termination of an infrastructure contract and as co-counsel in other international arbitration cases. He has been appointed sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator in several domestic arbitrations involving commercial disputes in Ghana.
Kizito sits on the Board of the Ghana Prisons Service as a representative of the Ghana Bar Association and also sits on the Board of Governors of the Accra University of Professional Studies. He is a former member of the Rules of Court Committee, a body established under the Constitution of Ghana to make rules and regulations concerning the practice and procedure of all courts in Ghana and specified tribunals and bodies.
After studying at the University of Ghana, he enrolled at the Ghana School of Law and was called to the Bar in 1993. He first worked at Tetteh and Co. and remained there until 2008, when he set up his own firm, Beyuo & Co. A year later, Beyuo & Co. merged with Fountain Chambers to form Beyuo Jumu & Co, of which he is still the managing partner.
Charles Nairac (Mauritius)
A national of Mauritius, the United Kingdom and France, Charles Nairac has been a partner in the international arbitration department of White & Case LLP since 2001. Based in Paris, Charles Nairac advises on commercial arbitration and investor-state arbitration, particularly in the construction and energy sectors.
In this capacity, it is explained, he has resolved difficult cross-border disputes in Africa and Latin America, the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe, supporting a wide range of clients, from governments to family business owners.
In addition, it is reported, Charles Nairac also accepts appointments as arbitrator and recently acted as party-appointed arbitrator in a complex construction dispute concerning a project in Central Asia.
Prior to joining White & Case LLP in 2001, Charles Nairac began his career in mergers and acquisitions and finance with a specialist law firm and was in-house counsel to a French bank in Singapore.
Charles Nairac is recognised in leading legal directories such as Chambers, The Legal 500, the International Who’s Who of Construction Lawyers and the Global Arbitration Review 100. He also teaches international arbitration at Sciences-Po Paris, the University of Paris I, the University of Paris II and the University of Nancy.
He is a member of a number of internationally recognised organisations, including Africa International Legal Awareness (Advisory Board), Paris, the Home of International Arbitration, IBA (Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Subcommittee), the ICC Task Force on “Financial Institutions and International Arbitration” and “Maximising the Probative Value of Witness Evidence”.
Kamal Sefrioui (Morocco)
Kamal Sefrioui is a partner in charge of international arbitration at the Sefrioui law firm in Paris. He has been a member of the Paris Bar since 2001 and of the Geneva Bar since 2012.
He specialises in Arab law, construction contracts, international arbitration, government contracts and public international law. In this capacity, he has represented States and State entities in numerous international arbitrations (ICC, PCA, ad hoc, IATA) involving State responsibility, force majeure, international sanctions, armed conflicts, government contracts and complex infrastructure projects, construction and engineering, aviation, defence, energy, international investment and commercial matters, and corruption. He has acted as counsel in a $300 million construction arbitration governed by Libyan law (2015-2018); counsel in a €60 million defence arbitration governed by Swiss law (2013-2016)… Counsel in a $100 million shipbuilding arbitration governed by English law (2013-2015); Counsel in a $70 million energy arbitration governed by Chadian law (2013-2017); conseil dans plusieurs arbitrages aéronautiques (acquisitions et financement d’aéronefs) et maritimes (accidents en mer, chartes-parties) ; conseil dans plusieurs arbitrages fondés sur des traités de 100-150 millions d’euros impliquant des expropriations ; conseil dans de nombreux arbitrages fondés sur des traités impliquant des destructions pendant les troubles militaires et les révolutions arabes.
Kamal Sefrioui est titulaire d’une Maîtrise en droit international de l’université Paris II Panthéon-Assas (2002) ; d’un Master en histoire des relations internationales de l’université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth (2005) et d’un diplôme d’études stratégiques et géopolitiques du centre d’études et de recherches stratégiques de l’université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth (2005). Il est également diplômé de l’institut des hautes études de défense nationale, en France, en 2006.
Thierry Ngoga Gakuba (Rwanda)
Re-elected as a member of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Thierry Ngoga is also Chairman of the ICC Africa Commission.
A partner at Legal Line Partners in Rwanda, he specialises in arbitration, commercial litigation, risk and compliance, particularly in the fields of construction and engineering, finance and banking, holdings, investment, manufacturing and joint ventures. For the past 13 years he has focused on commercial law, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, business development and policy formulation (legal reform).
Since 2012, he has also been the Registrar and Project Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Project at the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC). Prior to that, he was the Centre’s Registrar for 4 years.
Over the last 19 years of his career, Thierry Ngoga has acted as counsel and has been appointed expert, co-arbitrator, sole arbitrator and chairman in CIMAC, KIAC, ICC and ad hoc arbitrations under Rwandan, English, Nigerian, Moroccan, Zambian and Swiss law, with seats in Kigali, Casablanca, Nigeria, London and Paris.
He has co-administered KIAC’s arbitration proceedings (appointing tribunals, advising them and sharing best practice with the parties on complex legal issues arising from the arbitration proceedings) and has been actively involved in KIAC’s business development strategy. In addition, Thierry Ngoga recently acted as arbitrator in an international arbitration between a company from an East African partner state and a company from a North-East African state, in the context of an agreement in the pharmaceutical industry (Swiss law).
Thierry Ngoga was trained in Rwanda and Switzerland, where he obtained a law degree, a diploma in legal practice and a diploma in international arbitration as an arbitration practitioner (ArbP).
A former Commonwealth Commission Fellow in 2010, he was Executive Secretary (CEO) of the Rwanda Bar Association and in-house counsel at the country’s Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Internal Affairs.
He is currently a member of the board of the Rwanda Society of Authors, a member of the International Bar Association’s committee on international trade in legal services and was also a member of the board of Transparency International Rwanda.
Thierry Ngoga is a member of the Advisory Board of the Queen Mary University of London School of International Arbitration. Previously, he was the first Registrar of KIAC, Director General of the Rwandan Bar Association and in-house legal adviser.
Priyesh Daya (South Africa)
Admitted to the High Court of South Africa and a Partner at Webber Wentzel, one of South Africa’s leading law firms, Priyesh Daya is an expert in all aspects of dispute resolution, with a particular focus on commercial and corporate disputes. He also advises on arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. His clients include private companies and public parastatals and he has worked in a wide range of sectors, including mining, oil and gas, and financial services.
Priyesh Dayaposs has extensive expertise in the telecommunications, construction and engineering sectors. He has conducted workshops, seminars and presentations on construction dispute resolution, the Companies Act and the King Code on Corporate Governance (focusing on compliance and stakeholder relationship management, including alternative dispute resolution).
Priyesh Daya holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, obtained in 1996; a Diploma in Company Law (Hons) from Rand Afrikaans University, where he also obtained a Higher Diploma in Employment Law and a Higher Diploma in Tax Law.
Priyesh Daya also holds a Certificate in Entertainment Law from the University of Johannesburg (2006).
He is a member of the King Committee on Corporate Governance (King III) task team responsible for chapters on compliance and stakeholder relationship management, including alternative dispute resolution, and has been a member of the Law Society of South Africa’s Corporate Law Committee and the Law Society of the Northern Provinces since 2006.
Juvenalis Ngowi (Tanzania)
Based in Tanzania, Juvenalis Ngowi has over 20 years of legal experience. He is a founding partner and head of litigation and dispute resolution at East African Law Chambers, now Dentons EALC East African Law Chambers, a subsidiary of Dentons, the world’s largest law firm. His exceptional legal skills have earned him recognition as one of Tanzania’s leading commercial lawyers.
Before setting up the firm in 2005, he worked for five years at a leading law firm.
Since 2013, he has dedicated himself to the practice of arbitration and is a member of prestigious organisations such as the Tanzanian Institute of Arbitration and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
As an experienced arbitrator, Juvenalis Ngowi has successfully managed many complex and high value commercial disputes in both the public and private sectors. He is an expert in a number of areas including competition law, construction, mining disputes, mergers and acquisitions, land law, real estate, banking and finance, and employment matters.
In addition, he has extensive knowledge and experience in the construction industry, having handled disputes arising from a variety of causes of action. His expertise extends to issues such as contract variations, terminations, payment claims, breach of contract, subcontracts and safety on construction sites.
Known for his legal acumen, Juvenalis Ngowi sits as an arbitrator on numerous panels of renowned arbitration institutions. These include the National Construction Council (Tanzania), the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), the Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC), the ADGM Arbitration Centre and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). He is also an accredited member of the Federation for Integrated Dispute Management and a member of the SADC Panel of International Commercial Arbitrators.
Juvenalis Ngowi also teaches international arbitration law at a Tanzanian university.
Juvenalis holds an MBA from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Patson Wilbroad Arinaitwe (Uganda)
Patson Wilbroad Arinaitwe is a senior partner at Signum Advocates, a young and dynamic law firm based in Uganda. A UK and Ugandan trained lawyer, he has expertise and experience in the areas of projects and infrastructure, commercial dispute resolution (particularly corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration), employment and pensions.
In this capacity, he has worked with market leaders to structure and advise on some of Uganda’s major infrastructure projects in the energy, oil and gas, health and transport sectors.
In dispute resolution mandates, Patson Wilbroad Arinaitwe has represented a number of local and international entities before all jurisdictions on a wide range of commercial disputes in various sectors, including energy/oil and gas, mining, transport, insurance, banking and finance, manufacturing, agriculture and others. He has also been involved in a number of domestic and international arbitrations at the London Court of International Arbitration and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
In 2022, Patson Wilbroad Arinaitwe was recognised as one of the top 30 arbitration practitioners in Africa by the Arbitration Academy of Africa and The Young Arbitrators Association of Africa. He also participated in the Africa Arbitration Academy’s flagship 2022 training programme, organised by leading international law firms and arbitration institutions in London, UK. As part of this, in 2015 he was seconded to international law firm Mayer Brown International LLP in its London office and to Blackstone Chambers in London as part of the prestigious International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) programme, with a particular focus on the African market. There, he worked on both non-contentious and contentious matters under the guidance of leading lawyers and jurists.
Prior to joining Signum as a partner, Patson Wilbroad Arinaitwe was a senior associate at S&L Advocates (DLA Piper Africa). There, he advised a number of national and international clients on matters relating to projects and infrastructure, energy, banking and finance, employment and pensions, commercial litigation and more. He has advised on a number of projects, including the design, financing and construction of a $400 million specialist hospital in Uganda, and acted for a regional energy company in structuring the financing, construction and establishment of a $5 million aviation fuel plant in northern Uganda. He was also the lead legal consultant, in association with Castalia Advisory Group, for the provision of advisory services to the Government of Uganda, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, in developing a framework for private sector participation in the electricity transmission segment in Uganda. He has also advised several project companies and sponsors on the structuring, financing and licensing of several renewable energy projects in Uganda.
Patson Wilbroad Arinaitwe is a member of the Uganda Law Society, the East African Law Society, the Energy Institute (UK), Young ICCA, the arbitration knowledge network for young practitioners and students operating under the auspices of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA). He is also a member of the Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG), an association sponsored by the London Court of International Arbitration for practitioners, students and young members of the arbitration community.
Patson Wilbroad Arinaitwe holds an LLM in Oil and Gas Law (Honours) from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, and an LLB (Hons) from Uganda Christian University, Moukono, Uganda.
Mulopa Ndalameta (Zambia)
Mulopa Ndalameta is a partner at MAY and Company, a Zambian-based law firm. He specialises in commercial dispute resolution and has over 10 years’ experience as a litigator in various courts. He has successfully represented a wide range of clients, both local and international, before arbitral tribunals and superior courts in Zambia.
Mulopa Ndalameta is an expert in commercial arbitration, particularly in sectors such as mining, consumer products, agriculture and commodities trading. He has worked with esteemed clients such as Rio Tinto, Pick n Pay, IHS Towers and Standard Chartered Bank Plc.
An alumnus of the African Arbitration Academy and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Mulopa Ndalameta specialises in construction law and is the Zambian representative of the Africa Construction Law Platform, a pan-African initiative set up by construction law practitioners in Africa and the diaspora to promote thinking in the field of construction law and practice in Africa.
Khaled Abou El Houda (Senegal )
Khaled Abou El Houda has been a member of the Senegal Bar since 1999. He has also been practising in Côte d’Ivoire since February 2018, when his application for authorisation to open a secondary law firm was accepted by the Bar.
Described as an excellent practitioner of business law, Mr Houda has developed proven and recognised expertise in the fields of banking, finance, restructuring operations, mergers and acquisitions, and the financing of major infrastructure, energy and mining projects.
He holds a Master’s degree in Business Law from the University of Aix-Marseille and a Master’s degree in Business Law, Banking and Finance, from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. He is a registered arbitrator with the Joint Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) in Abidjan and the Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation Centre (CAMC) in Dakar, as well as a registered member of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (CIMAC).
Khaled A Houda speaks French, English and Arabic, and has assisted clients from various African countries (Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger and Togo); Europe (United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands); America (Canada and the United States); Asia (India, United Arab Emirates and China); and Oceania (Australia).
Khaled A Houda is a member and Secretary General of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Senegal (ICM SENEGAL) and of the American Chamber of Commerce in Senegal (AMCHAM SENEGAL).
His legal skills have earned him recognition from Chambers Global, Who’s Who Legal and International Financial Law.
Yamina Kebir (Algeria). Biography not available.
