Olumide Olusoga Sofowora, SAN, C.Arb

Apart from the drafting of legal documentation and offering legal advice in our practice areas, lawyers in the Firm have appeared and continue to prosecute and defend cases in many Divisions of the Federal and States High Courts on matters relating to Admiralty and Maritime Law, Industrial, Corporate and Commercial Law, Banking and Insurance Law, Intellectual Property Law, Energy and Natural Resources Law, and have also successfully registered Judgments obtained in Foreign Jurisdictions in the said Courts.

We have also appeared and still have several cases pending in the Federal and States High Courts including but not limited to Lagos State, Oyo State, Ogun State, Ondo State, Edo State, Rivers State, Plateau State and Abuja – The Federal Capital Territory as well as in several Divisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on matters relating to Corporate and Commercial Law (Banking, Insurance, Commercial Transactions generally – Sale of Goods, Hire Purchase, Breach of Contracts, Recovery of Debts etc.), Land Law, Employment Law, Defamation Law, Domestic or Family Law Matters – Probate/Administration of Estates, Divorce, Maintenance of Spouse, Custody of Children etc., Landlord and Tenant Matters etc.

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Olumide Sofowora, SAN, C.Arb. is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Chartered Arbitrator. He obtained his LL. B. (Hons.) degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in July 1981 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1982. He later proceeded to the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London) in September 1983 for a Master’s degree in law which he obtained in September 1984. Upon returning to Nigeria later that month he started legal practice in the Lagos, Nigeria Law Firm of Adenugba Adesina & Co. (Solicitors & Advocates) in October 1984 and set up his own Law Firm – Olumide Sofowora’s Chambers, Lagos, Nigeria which firm is engaged in General Legal Practice in July 1989. He was appointed a Notary Public for Nigeria in 1992 and upon attending the Special Fellowship Course for Intellectual Property Professional organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) in December 1997, he was admitted a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in August
1998. He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2013.

Practice Description:
Olumide Sofowora is engaged in General Legal and Arbitration Practice and the practice areas
include and are not limited to:
Arbitration and ADR,
Admiralty and Maritime Law,
Civil and Commercial Law Litigation and Appellate Law Practice,
Corporate and Commercial Law including Advisory, Compliance and Regulation,
Insurance and Marine Insurance,
Industrial and Intellectual Property,
Energy & Natural Resources Law,
Employment and Labour Law,
Private and Property Law,
Public Law,
Technology, Telecommunications and Media.

Practice Industry Expertise:
Over the last several years Olumide Sofowora SAN, C.Arb. has devoted more time and attained notable expertise in Arbitration and ADR Practice apart from his main Litigation Practice. That led to his attaining the status of Chartered Arbitrator from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) in 2017. He has also acquired notable expertise in Admiralty and Maritime Law Practice and as a stakeholder in Admiralty and Maritime Law Practice in Nigeria was in 2010 appointed into the Committee to review the Admiralty Jurisdiction Procedure Rules 1993 which was presented for use by the Nigerian Federal High Court in March 2011.

Practice Overseas Expertise:
Olumide Sofowora Esq., SAN, C.Arb. has been involved in a lot of Maritime Arbitration Practice under the LMAA terms mainly with respect to marine cargo claims and claims for demurrage. Upon attaining the status of Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) in 2017, he was admitted a member of the CIArb Panel of Arbitrators.

Practice Matters:
Apart from the details of the General Law and Arbitration Practice as listed above, Olumide Sofowora SAN, C.Arb.’s recognition and vast experience in Arbitration continues to lead to his appointment as Presiding Arbitrator, Sole Arbitrator, Member of Arbitral Panels or Counsel to Parties in Arbitral proceedings locally or internationally in matters involving Maritime Law, Marine Insurance, Insurance, Oil & Gas Real Estate, Telecommunications and Intellectual Property. In Admiralty & Maritime Law Matters he has been Counsel for Parties in several cargo and demurrage claims involving arrest of vessels, Marine Insurance claims, collision of vessels etc

Practice Client List:
As an Arbitrator, appointments have been from several Nigerian Corporate bodies and high net worth individuals or third Party appointments by the Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) (Nigeria Branch) or the Lagos Multidoor Court House where he is a member of the Panel of Neutrals. As Counsel in Admiralty and Maritime Matters, he has represented several Corporate Clients including Banks and Insurance Companies, notable Nigerian and international Traders including Importers and Exporters of goods and commodities including base oil and chemicals, and Protection and Indemnity Clubs in the U.K. and The Netherlands.

Career History:
Apart from being a Practicing Arbitrator and Litigation Expert, Olumide Sofowora Esq., SAN, C.Arb. being an Accredited Faculty Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) for over 15 years also trains intending Arbitrators and assesses Arbitrators wanting to attain Membership and Fellowship status on behalf of the Institute in Nigeria. He also Mediates several disputes as may be referred to him by the Lagos Multidoor Court House (an adjunct Arbitration and ADR facility set up to support the High Court of Lagos State for the resolution of disputes) where he is a member of the Panel of Neutrals. Upon attaining the status of Chartered Arbitrator
of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) in 2017, he was admitted a member of the CIArb Panel of Arbitrators.

Education and Admissions:
LL.B. (Hons.) University of Lagos, Nigeria July 1981
B.L. (Barrister at Law and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) July 1982
LL.M. London School of Economics and Political Science September 1984
FCIArb. Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.) August 1998

Associations Membership:
1. Nigerian Bar Association
2. International Bar Association
3. Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K.)
4. Lagos Court of Arbitration
5. Nigerian Maritime Law Association
6. Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria
7. LSE Alumni Association
8. University of Lagos Alumni Association

Recognition Awards:
1. Senior Advocate of Nigeria 2013
2. Chartered Arbitrator 2017
3. Nominated by Global Law Experts as Arbitration Law Firm of the Year in Nigeria 2020
4. Received accolade for 2020 from Corporate America Today as Arbitration Lawyer in Nigeria
5. Received recognition from M&A Today in Global Award 2020 as Arbitration Lawyer inNigeria
6. Winner Leaders in Law 2020 Global Awards for Arbitration Expert of the year in Nigeria
Most of the Awards in 3-6 above have been received yearly since 2017 and also from:
7. Lawyer International as Arbitration Lawyer in Nigeria for 2019
8. Global 100 as Arbitration Lawyer of the year in Nigeria for 2019
9. In 2005 received the Alumni Achievers Award from University of Lagos Alumni Association for constant and robust impact in Legal Practice and Service and contribution to nation Building

Personal Life outside the Law:
Outside the Law, Olumide Sofowora Esq., SAN, C.Arb. is very active in Church activities particularly in the Diocese of Lagos (Church of Nigeria) Anglican Communion where he serves as the Deputy Chancellor of the Diocese. He is also a Life Member of the Nigeria-Britain Association (a Socio-Cultural/Friendship Association of Nigeria and the U.K.). He was an Executive Council Member of the Ogun State University Development Foundation (The Funds Raising and Management Committee of a Nigerian State owned University) as well as Member of several Social, Recreational and Dining Clubs in Lagos, Nigeria.

Personal Life Citizenship:
Olumide Sofowora Esq., SAN, C.Arb. continues to support worthy causes and contributes to the development of his local Ikenne-Remo Community in his home State of Ogun, in Nigeria for which Community he continues to render Legal Advice and handle Litigations on a pro bono basis.

Writing Speaking Engagements:
Olumide Sofowora Esq., SAN, C.Arb. as an Accredited Faculty member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators delivers lectures at many Training Sessions or Seminars of the Institute as well as presents papers or speaks at Seminars and Conferences organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria Branch) or the Nigerian Maritime Law Association as well as other local or international Seminars and Conferences where he is invited to speak or present papers.

Written Publications:
Papers presented at Seminars:
1. “Recent Developments in Arbitration in Nigeria” - Presented at the London International Commercial Arbitration Conference for West Africa held at the Hilton Hotel, Canary Wharf, London in September 2013.
2. “The Limits of Judicial Intervention in Commercial Arbitration” - Presented at the London International Commercial Arbitration Conference for West Africa held at the Hilton Hotel, Canary Wharf, London in July 2014.
3. “Mareva Injunctions” -Presented at the Monthly Seminar for Judges of the High Court of Lagos State in May 2014.
4. “Electronic Evidence in Admiralty Practice” – Presented at the 14th Maritime Seminar for Judges held under the auspices of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in June 2016.
5. Is a Floating House or Houseboat a Vessel or Dwelling House? A Comparative Study of the Recent Definitions of “Vessel” in Admiralty Law” - Presented at the One Day Maritime Law Seminar of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association in July 2019.

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