Banwo & Ighodalo Wins Arbitration Moot Competition

Corporate law firm Banwo & Ighodalo has won the maiden
edition of the Lagos Court of Arbitration Young Arbitrators Network
(LCA-YAN) inaugural International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Competition.

Strachan Partners was runner-up.

The competition held last Friday at the Lagos Court of
Arbitration (LCA) headquarters in Lagos.

Banwo & Ighodalo’s team beat participants from commercial
law firms across the country including Dikko & Mahmoud, Moshood
Shehu & Associates, SPA Ajibade, AELEX, Babalakin & Co.
Sterling Partnership and Punuka.

Other participants were Olisa Agbakoba Global, Broderick Bozimo
& Company, Perchstone & Graeys, Streamsowers & Kohn,
Wole Olanipekun, White & Case and M. A. Banire &
Associates.

The competitors comprised a four-man team of three lawyers of
between one and three years post-call and a senior law student from
higher institutions including Lagos State University and Obafemi
Awolowo University, among others.

Their performances were graded by a panel of judges including
Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu SAN, Mr Etigwe Uwa (SAN), Mrs. Obasa
Akpata, and Mr. Kolawole Mayomi of SPA Ajibade and Co.

Co-chair of YAN Prince-Alex Iwu explained the objectives of the
competition thus: “Our moot is targeted at young arbitrators. The
objective is to expose young arbitrators to issues in international
commercial law, such as the convention on International Sale of
Goods. At a time that you have to look high up to find those
lawyers who are exposed to and interact and engage in international
arbitration, we felt that it was important to organise a moot to
give young lawyers and students exposure to international
arbitration’’.

Mayomi hailed the organisers and competitors, saying: “I think
they are doing well, because arbitration is gradually taking root
as the preferred means of dispute resolution particularly for
commercial disputes.

“If two contracting parties have a dispute to resolve, they want
to resolve it and get on with their contract. The mere fact that
there is a dispute does not necessarily mean that the contract has
come to an end.

“We’ve also discovered that young lawyers are not properly
schooled in the art of arbitration at the university and law school
because it requires special skills that also need developing.

“So, the essence of a competition like this is to raise a new
generation of lawyers who are arbitration-savvy, it’s a case of
‘catch them young’ or ‘teach them young’ so to speak, that this is
a better, more cost-efficient way to resolve disputes, you don’t
necessarily need to have your matter locked up in court.”

One of the participants, a 400-level law student of Lagos State
University (LASU), Agu Mesioma Emmanuel, relived his
experience.

“I was head of one of the teams that was attached to the
Strachan Partners and our duty was to meet with them, draft the
memorial, research, practise and then compete.

“I competed alongside two full-time lawyers and we qualified for
the finals. It was a very challenging experience appearing in the
preliminaries with lawyers against other lawyers. It was also
inspiring. This kind of pressure brings out the best in one.

“This competition has been a great influence. Prior to this
event I had very little knowledge of arbitration and the
opportunities therein. So, this competition really opened my eyes,
especially working with Strachan Partners as they are very good
with arbitration.”

Secretary to the board of LCA Aderonke Alex-Adedipe said the
competition was a success.

“I was particularly impressed with the students. The competition
has shown that the level of our students’ education is not as poor
as critics suggest,” she added.

Corporate law firm Banwo & Ighodalo has won the maiden
edition of the Lagos Court of Arbitration Young Arbitrators Network
(LCA-YAN) inaugural International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Competition.

Strachan Partners was runner-up.

The competition held last Friday at the Lagos Court of
Arbitration (LCA) headquarters in Lagos.

Banwo & Ighodalo’s team beat participants from commercial
law firms across the country including Dikko & Mahmoud, Moshood
Shehu & Associates, SPA Ajibade, AELEX, Babalakin & Co.
Sterling Partnership and Punuka.

Other participants were Olisa Agbakoba Global, Broderick Bozimo
& Company, Perchstone & Graeys, Streamsowers & Kohn,
Wole Olanipekun, White & Case and M. A. Banire &
Associates.

The competitors comprised a four-man team of three lawyers of
between one and three years post-call and a senior law student from
higher institutions including Lagos State University and Obafemi
Awolowo University, among others.

Their performances were graded by a panel of judges including
Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu SAN, Mr Etigwe Uwa (SAN), Mrs. Obasa
Akpata, and Mr. Kolawole Mayomi of SPA Ajibade and Co.

Co-chair of YAN Prince-Alex Iwu explained the objectives of the
competition thus: “Our moot is targeted at young arbitrators. The
objective is to expose young arbitrators to issues in international
commercial law, such as the convention on International Sale of
Goods. At a time that you have to look high up to find those
lawyers who are exposed to and interact and engage in international
arbitration, we felt that it was important to organise a moot to
give young lawyers and students exposure to international
arbitration’’.

Mayomi hailed the organisers and competitors, saying: “I think
they are doing well, because arbitration is gradually taking root
as the preferred means of dispute resolution particularly for
commercial disputes.

“If two contracting parties have a dispute to resolve, they want
to resolve it and get on with their contract. The mere fact that
there is a dispute does not necessarily mean that the contract has
come to an end.

“We’ve also discovered that young lawyers are not properly
schooled in the art of arbitration at the university and law school
because it requires special skills that also need developing.

“So, the essence of a competition like this is to raise a new
generation of lawyers who are arbitration-savvy, it’s a case of
‘catch them young’ or ‘teach them young’ so to speak, that this is
a better, more cost-efficient way to resolve disputes, you don’t
necessarily need to have your matter locked up in court.”

One of the participants, a 400-level law student of Lagos State
University (LASU), Agu Mesioma Emmanuel, relived his
experience.

“I was head of one of the teams that was attached to the
Strachan Partners and our duty was to meet with them, draft the
memorial, research, practise and then compete.

“I competed alongside two full-time lawyers and we qualified for
the finals. It was a very challenging experience appearing in the
preliminaries with lawyers against other lawyers. It was also
inspiring. This kind of pressure brings out the best in one.

“This competition has been a great influence. Prior to this
event I had very little knowledge of arbitration and the
opportunities therein. So, this competition really opened my eyes,
especially working with Strachan Partners as they are very good
with arbitration.”

Secretary to the board of LCA Aderonke Alex-Adedipe said the
competition was a success.

“I was particularly impressed with the students. The competition
has shown that the level of our students’ education is not as poor
as critics suggest,” she added.