Adeyemi (‘Yemi) A. Akisanya, Esq.,
LL.B (Hons.), LL.M (Lond.),
Solicitor, Advocate & Notary Public
CEDR Accredited Mediator
SCMA Mediation Advocate
SCMA Certified Mediation Advocacy Trainer

Adeyemi (‘Yemi) Akisanya is a CEDR Accredited Mediator; a full member of the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates (“SCMA”), UK; an SCMA Certified Mediation Advocacy Trainer; and Member of the Advisory Board, SCMA Nigeria.

Apart from his private practice in Mediation, Negotiation, and Mediation Advocacy, he is on the Panel of Neutrals of the Lagos Multi-Door Court House (“LMDC”), as well as the Lagos Court of Arbitration. He is also a member of the Dispute Resolution Panel of the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (“NERC”). He has handled numerous mediations, and facilitated negotiations, on various matters ranging from community relations, land acquisitions and title disputes, custody and settlement issues arising in divorce and marital disputes, to corporate commercial transactions in various sectors. He has specialized expertise in Energy (Oil, Gas & Power), Joint Ventures, Disputes in Business/Commercial Contracts, Financing, and Relationships (Personal and Corporate), Title Rectification, Building & Construction Contracts, as well as Government Relations. In all of these, he has been highly successful and recognized 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 application of ADR solutions in the areas mentioned, with a special focus on the conciliatory and consensual approach that Mediation, Med-Arb, and Mediation Advocacy offer.
‘Yemi Akisanya obtained the LL.B, with honors, from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in July 1976 and an LL.M, in September 1979, from the London School of Economics and Political Science, (then, as of the University of London), UK. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1977, as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (#SCN 003257D) and enrolled as a Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the instrument of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as of May 22, 2014.
He has worked with the Oyo State (of Nigeria) Ministry of Justice, (1977-1978); the law firm of Odujinrin and Adefulu, in Lagos, Nigeria, (1979-1980); the law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell, in New York, the USA, (1980-1981), and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (“MPNU”), an ExxonMobil subsidiary, (1981-2002).

He took elective early retirement from MPNU in March 2002, after almost twenty-one years of service in various capacities, including Senior Counsel, International Transactions Counsel, Company Secretary, and Acting General Counsel. ‘Yemi Akisanya is presently engaged in a private law practice as Principal of Adeyemi-Akisanya Associates, a highly-skilled, service-oriented boutique firm of Legal Advisors and ADR Practitioners, with specialized expertise in Joint Ventures, Projects, Transactions & Financing in Energy (Oil, Gas & Power); Dispute Resolution Advisory and Practice (Mediation, Mediation Advocacy, Negotiation, & Conflict Management); General Corporate, Regulatory, and Ethical Laws Compliance (US FCPA, UK Bribery Act – and other such local and international legislation,- & Local Content); and Properties (Documentation, Due Diligence, Title Rectification & Perfection), as its core areas of practice.
‘Yemi is generally recognized for the depth of his experience in the 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 that sector and the other sectors in its core areas of practice. In the Oil and Gas Sector, he has a special focus on providing legal support and advisory to indigenous and marginal field E&P operators and oil service companies, advising especially on local content development and compliance. He brings this experience to bear fruitfully in his mediations and negotiations, whether as a Mediator, Negotiator or as a Mediation Advocate.

His memberships include member, Nigerian Bar Association [Section on Business Law]; member, the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators; member, and member of the Board of Governors, the Petroleum Club, Lagos, Nigeria; member, LSE Lawyers’ Alumni Group; Life Fellow, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation; member, Lagos Court of Arbitration; member, Lagos Chamber ofCommerce International Arbitration Center (LACCIAC); member, Attorney Mediators Association of Nigeria; Trustee and member of the Organization of Expert Conflict Resolvers; member, Trustee, and Honorary Secretary, the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON).

MRS. CHINWE ODIGBOEGWU
Legal Practitioner, Arbitrator, Mediator, Mediation Advocate, and Trainer

Mrs. Chinwe Odigboegwu is a Legal Practitioner, Accredited Mediator and Mediation Advocate, Arbitrator, Certified Trainer and Notary Public for Nigeria.

Mrs. Odigboegwu is a natural teacher, renowned for her ability to communicate with people of various ages, cultures, and educational backgrounds. Her adult teaching days dated back to 2004 when she lectured adult federal government workers on two courses – “Business Law” and “The Law and Practice of Meetings” – at the Federal Training Centre (FCT), Maiduguri during her one-year compulsory national service (NYSC) many years ago. Now, she creates time to train Mediators and Mediation Advocates as often as possible.

Mrs. Odigboegwu is:

• a Member of the Nigerian Bar Association
• an Accredited Mediator of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, UK (CEDR);
• a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb);
• a Certified Trainer in Mediation and Negotiation of the Bond University, Australia;
• a Trainer with Dispute Resolution Project International (DRPi),
• a Member of the Panel of Neutrals and Trainer at the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC)
• a Member of the Panel of Neutrals of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA);
• a Trainer with the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG); and 
• a Member and Certified Trainer with the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates, UK (SCMA).

Mrs. Odigboegwu has vast experience in dispute resolution (litigation, arbitration, mediation and other forms of ADR). She is very knowledgeable in various areas of Nigerian law and has built considerable experience in business management, beyond providing legal support as In-House Counsel. 

She is currently an In-House Counsel holding a Senior Management position (Senior Commercial Legal Manager) with Guinness Nigeria Plc. (Diageo). Prior to her current role, she was Head, Litigation and Dispute Resolution with Nigerian Bottling Company – NBC (Coca-Cola Hellenic).  Before NBC, she worked with the top-tier Commercial Law firm of Banwo & Ighodalo (B&I) where she rose through the ranks to become a Senior Associate and Team Leader of the Firm’s Litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practice Group, and supported its Intellectual Property, Energy (Oil & Gas), Maritime & International Trade, and Corporate, Securities & Finance Practice Groups.

Mrs. Odigboegwu Chinwe is married with children, including a set of twins. She is passionate about youth development, and enjoys singing and public speaking. She is often called upon to speak at seminars and conferences, particularly regarding dispute resolution and career development. Mrs. Odigboegwu is a recipient of prestigious awards, including:

• The ESQ ‘Nigerian Legal Awards’ ’40 Leading Nigerian Lawyers Under 40 years’ Category (identified as one of the ‘40 under 40’ lawyers who will shape the future of the legal profession in Nigeria);

• The Coca-Cola Hellenic Group Legal Team’s Extra Mile Lawyer Award.

Adeyinka Aroyewun (Mrs.) LLM; MBA; MCIArb;
CEDR UK Accredited Mediator; IMI Certified Mediator.

Mrs. Adeyinka Aroyewun is an internationally accredited mediator of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), UK; a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK and an IMI Certified Mediator.  She is currently the Director of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, the first court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in Africa. 

She had both her Masters’ in Business Administration (MBA) and Masters in Law (LLM) from the University of Lagos and has over 14 years mediation experience in general commercial; Industrial Relations; Financial/Banking; Property; Employment and family matters and 34 years post call experience spanning over various aspects of business and law. 

She received Arbitration and Mediation training from the National Judicial College and the International Law Institute both in the United States of America. She attended the revered faculty training course of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution in London and was among the first set of ADR trainers to attend the NCMG College of Negotiation/Bond University, Australia, ADR tutors program. She was trained in the UK as a certified Mediation Advocate by the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates, UK.  She is a member of the CEDAR Foundation International ADR Trainers Network, UK and a certified trainer on the World Bank project for the expansion of ADR mechanisms and institutions in Nigeria managed by the ADR Centre in Italy.

Adeyinka is an accomplished speaker and author on ADR and Mediation in particular and has been invited widely to deliver papers on ADR. She was a resource person at the Kenyan Judiciary Retreat in Kenya organized to explore different models of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms for the Kenyan Judiciary.  She has trained the members of the Nigerian National Assembly, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions on ADR and various aspects of legislative responsibility. 

As part of the World Bank project for the expansion of ADR mechanisms and institutions in Nigeria, Adeyinka led the NCMG ADR Consultancy team to train Judges, lawyers and staff of the Abia and Kaduna Multi-Door Courthouses in ADR and the Multi-Door Courthouse concept. She also led the NCMG ADR Consultancy team to train Judges and lawyers in preparation for the establishment of the Enugu Multi-Door Courthouse. She was part of the training team to prepare for the establishment of the Ogun  and Oyo States Multi-Door Courthouses.

She lectures Mediation and Restorative Justice at the prestigious University of Lagos/NCMG College of Negotiation and is a faculty member of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, UK; the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS); the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse and the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates.  She was the Moderator of the third session with the topic, “Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges in Modern Dispute Resolution” at the West, Central, and East Africa edition of the Global Pound Conference Series in June 2016, an initiative of the International Mediation Institute, The Hague, Netherlands.

Adeyinka is a professional ADR Consultant and is the lead consultant for the Lagos State Judiciary Restorative Justice Program.  She was appointed by the DFID/British Council as Lead Faculty in the first Mediation Skills Training Programme for the Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre in 2012 where 60 mediators were trained, assessed and mentored in a professional mediation skills training programme. 

Adeyinka provided professional and consultancy services for the Component 2 Implementation Plan (CIP) 2.2 “Improving efficiency and respect for human rights in the traditional justice system” of the DFID British Council/Justice For All Project which included developing and implementing a training programme for traditional rulers in Lagos State on ADR and human rights.  

She sits on the Governing Council of the University of Lagos/NCMG College of Negotiation and the Edo State Multi-Door Courthouse. She is on the Panel of Neutrals of the National Communications Commission, Nigeria; the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse and is on the mediator database of the Compliance Advisory Ombudsman of the International Finance Corporation.

OSARIEME OLUBUNMI EZEKIEL

Ms. Ezekiel is Managing Partner at Oakwell Partners, a multidisciplinary commercial and dispute resolution law firm. She has a BA (Hons) in English, an LLB (Hons) Degree, a Masters in Business Administration and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. 

She has held strategic positions in major financial services institutions in Nigeria comprising Treasury, Marketing, Credit, Legal Advisory, Company Secretarial, Compliance, Administration, Corporate Affairs, Debt Recovery, in a banking career that spanned over twenty years. She has immense experience in corporate governance and compliance issues having worked as Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of a Commercial Bank in Nigeria for several years. She is currently the Managing Partner at Oakwell Partners, a commercial law firm, specialising in multi-disciplinary contracts, cross-border transactions and alternative dispute resolution. She advises on several reclamation and new city development projects. She also consults for various corporate organisations. 

Osarieme is a passionate practitioner and advocate of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and qualified as a CEDR UK accredited Mediator in 2004. She mediates in civil disputes in areas such as commercial, construction, banking, financial services, family, oil & gas, employment, real estate, community, etc. She is also certified by the International mediation Institute (IMI). She is on the panel of Neutrals of the Lagos Multi-door Court House (LMDC), the Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse (ESMDC) and the NCC (Nigerian Communications Commission). She is also on the Faculty of the University of Lagos/NCMG College of Negotiation, as well as the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates (SCMA) Nigeria. Osarieme is a Dispute Resolution Practitioner on the panel of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and on the panel of Neutrals of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK and Nigeria and has arbitrated in a privatisation dispute.

Osarieme is not only on the training Faculty of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) but is also an active neutral at the LMDC, mediating scores of disputes in diverse areas, particularly during the Lagos Settlement Week in the Ikeja and Lagos Judicial Divisions, when loads of victim-offender mediation take place. 

Osarieme also worked on the LMDC/British Council UN Project on mediation, training and monitoring mediators, to improve access to justice for indigent people.

She has attended several advanced training programmes in mediation and attended the Advanced Mediation Skills Training at the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University, California.

She is a frequently invited to speak on ADR at national conferences, workshops and forums, including the National judicial Institute, the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Section on Business Law (SBL) of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), the Nigerian Bar Association etc.

Her firm Oakwell Partners has consistently over the last three (3) years, organised annual ADR: Mediation Conferences, to promote the use of mediation particularly in the business community.

Osarieme facilitates learning for several professional bodies and corporate organisations. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the IBA and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.  

Osarieme is a natural leader and a team builder.

JOSEPHINE AKINWUNMI(MRS)

Josephine Akinwunmi(Mrs) is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators(UK), a CEDR(UK) Accredited Mediator, a certified SCMA Mediation Advocacy trainer, a legal practitioner who holds two degrees from the University of Lagos and a licenced Human Resources Practitioner.

Mrs Akinwunmi belongs to a number of professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (UK), the International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria (National Commission on Arbitration and ADR), the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (where she serves on the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Committee) and the Nigerian Bar Association.

She is the Principal Partner of Josephine Akinwunmi & Co, a firm of Legal Practitioners in Lagos, specializing in Corporate Practice and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Josephine Akinwunmi is on the Panel of Neutrals and a faculty member of the Lagos Multidoor Court House, and her passion for mediation has seen her involved in a number of cases, most of which have been successfully handled and resolved. She is also a member of the Panel of Neutrals of the Lagos Court of Arbitration.

She was a member of the two committees that successfully launched the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris 2012 Rules of Arbitration in Nigeria and the Mediation Rules in Nigeria in 2014.

Mrs Akinwunmi is known for her high sense of commitment, diligence and integrity, and is also a Notary Public for Nigeria.

MORENIKE

Morenike is a multi-disciplinary practitioner excelling in contentious and non-contentious matters. She handles large, paper-heavy litigation as well as smaller trials and arbitrations. She particularly enjoys complicated and intellectually stimulating work, and solving knotty problems. 

She has acted for a number of managers, private equity houses, banks and private institutions. She has gained exposure to a variety of complex structures and tax efficient vehicles. 

Morenike is the Managing Solicitor of Adigun Ogunseitan & Company, a niche Law firm in Lagos, Nigeria. She qualified and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 and brings her experience of over 2 decades in civil litigation into her practice as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practitioner. 

She is a Fellow and Approved Faculty Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Morenike is also a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) accredited Mediator. She is a Tutor and Neutral at the Lagos Multi Door Courthouse (LMDC) Lagos State, Nigeria, where she has successfully mediated several court and party referred commercial matters. Morenike and is also a faculty member of the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates (SCMA) Nigeria, and Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Morenike holds an LLM from the University of Lagos and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Dispute Resolution from the University of Dundee.

She is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Commission of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Nigeria, Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG), and Trustee of the Association of Succession Trust and Estate Planning Practitioners (ASTEP).