Dedicated Lawyers
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Satisfied Clients
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Successful Cases
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Personal Injury Cases
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Welcome to the Association of Young Arbitrators Website
We are a team of young lawyers with a passion for arbitration and an interest in developing young arbitrators and to “give them a face in the arbitration space”. Our cardinal objective is to showcase our members who are passionate about arbitration and ensuring that it is open for young lawyers and ensuring we bridge the gap and the perception that arbitration is only open to senior practitioners.
AYA is open to all arbitration practitioners under the age of 40 with professional links to Nigeria. The AYA team in Nigeria is lead by its president and founder, Abayomi Okubote and an Executive Council. AYA also has a board of advisers and consultants consisting of leading African and international arbitration practitioners, including Hogan Lovells partners Michael Davison and Nathan Searle.
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Areas of Practice
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Arbitration Competition
The core objective of the competition is to provide young arbitration pr...
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Arbitration Conference
The Association of Young Arbitrators (AYA) invites young arbitration pra...
Read MoreOur Legal Team Attorneys
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ABAYOMI OKUBOTE
Executive Council
ANITA OMONUWA
Executive Council
DR. ADEMOLA BAMGBOSE
Executive Council
FEMI GBEDE
Executive Council
KATE OKOH
Executive Council
MAXIME SONDA
Executive Council
MERCY OKIRO
Executive Council
MOFIYINFOLUWA ENITAN
Executive Council
NGO-MARTINS OKONMAH
Executive Council
SOLOMON EBERE
Executive Council
Our Latest Case Details
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What Some of Our Clients Say
“The AYA mentoring programme has created a fantastic platform to explore more career opportunities available to young African lawyers interested in commercial arbitration. I have been introduced to some domestic and regional arbitration institutions, which may assist in providing the needed professional support to fully explore my potentials. My mentor has been immensely supportive in providing constructive guidance on the right steps to follow towards achieving my professional aspirations. Generally, my experience so far has been thought provoking, insightful and remarkable.” Mentee: Joy Oti Mentor: Rashida Abdulai (CEO, Strand Sahara, London)Joy Oti
“Working as an Advisor, Rule of law in an international government organisation, which aims to support the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria, saw me grappling with the applicability of ADR in the Nigerian Criminal Justice System. My mentor - Mr. John Fellas, Partner with Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, New York, gave an interesting idea on how arbitrators can be involved in the plea bargaining process. He suggested the use of retired judges (acting as neutral arbiters for the purpose of the plea bargaining procedure) who will have a great deal of credibility in offering an assessment of what may happen if no plea bargain is reached or in comparing a potential plea deal with the likely outcome at trial. This interesting perspective on such a sensitive topic was among the many benefits that the AYA mentorship programme gave to me. I am happy to have met Mr. Fellas and the knowledge I gained in the programme has positively impacted my job in no small measure.” Mentee: Kate Okoh Mentor: John Fellas (Partner, Hughes Hubbard & Reed, New York)Kate Okoh
“After being paired with Michael Polkinghorne as a mentee, I was happy to find that we have common grounds. Michael’s arbitration practice involves dispute in the areas of energy, project finance, and infrastructure. He also had a transactional background in energy and infrastructure development fields. Having cut my legal teeth in these areas at Olaniwun Ajayi LP in the early years of my career as a transactional lawyer, the initial conversation with Michael was as smooth as a waveless sea. He made me feel at home right from the start. We communicated via emails and on the phone. He always makes sure he responds to my emails. His was an open and direct access. I could call his phone anytime. He made that clear from the beginning also, and I thought that was awesome. Out of his volition, Michael introduced me to Ank Santens, White & Case LLP's dispute partner in New York, through whom I got connected with Paul Friedland, and met Damien Nyer. Damien was just as unassuming as Michael. Through the AYA mentorship program, I have not only benefitted and learnt from one of the doyens of global arbitration, I have gained a friend. Thank you, Michael.” Mentor: Michael Polkinghorne (Partner, White & Case, Paris)Femi Gbede
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Free Consultation
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