Hon. Justice Martha K. Koome, EGH, became the first female Chief Justice of Kenya on May 21, 2021, marking a historic milestone in the country’s judiciary. She is the 15th Chief Justice and the 3rd President of the Supreme Court of Kenya. Prior to this, Justice Koome had an extensive judicial career, including serving as a Judge of Appeal and overseeing the Criminal Division. Her contributions include developing Court of Appeal Practice Directions and standardizing the Court’s registry operations.
Before her judicial career, she practiced law for 15 years, specializing in conveyancing, commercial law, and family law. Throughout her career, she has been a staunch advocate for women’s and children's rights. She served as Chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Kenya) and was a member of the African Union’s Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Notably, Justice Koome played a significant role in Kenya’s constitutional reform process and the review of the Children’s Act. Her efforts earned her recognition from the United Nations as a defender of human and children's rights, with a runner-up nomination for UN Person of the Year in 2020.

Additionally, Justice Koome has held key leadership roles in various legal associations, including the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association and the East African Law Society. She holds an LLB from the University of Nairobi, a postgraduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law, and an LLM from the University of London.

Hon. Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji, born on January 30th, 1965, in Lagos State, has had an illustrious legal career that spans decades of dedicated service and legal expertise. He holds an LL.B from Ahmadu Bello University (1985), a B.L from the Nigerian Law School (1986), and an LL.M from the University of Lagos (1990).

Justice Faji began his legal career during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a Pupil Counsel at Aliyu & Co Legal Practitioners, Adamawa State, in 1986. He subsequently gained diverse experience in legal practice, serving in various prominent law firms, including Olumuyiwa Law Associates, Wole Olufon & Co, and Olajide Oyewole & Co. His expertise in legal consultancy and company secretarial services further deepened his professional acumen, culminating in his work with Jimi Oduba, S.A.N, where he served as Assisting Counsel to the Principal Counsel and Head of Chambers.

Justice Faji's background demonstrates a strong foundation in litigation, corporate law, and legal consultancy, leading to his esteemed position on the Federal High Court bench.

Professor Fabian Ajogwu, OFR, SAN, FCArb is the President/Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb). He is also a Professor of Corporate Governance at Lagos Business School. An alumnus of both Said Business School at Oxford University and Lagos Business School, he holds a doctorate in Law from the University of Aberdeen, an MBA from IESE Business School, University of Navarra, and Law degrees from the University of Nigeria and the University of Lagos.

Professor Ajogwu is the Founder of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators. He is also associated with several prestigious organizations, including the African Leadership Initiative West Africa, Henry Crown Global Leadership of the Aspen Institute, the AIFA Reading Society, the Society for Art Collection, the Oxford Philosophical Society, the Royal Institute of Philosophy London, and the Royal African Society, UK. Currently, he serves as the President of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators.

His service includes positions on the Governing Council of the Pan-Atlantic University, the General Council of the Bar, and the Council of Legal Education (Nigerian Law School) as the statutorily designated Distinguished Legal Author. He is a member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration and the London Court of International Arbitration.

Professor Ajogwu has acted as Lead Counsel to governments and corporations in several high-profile cases, particularly in the areas of energy, telecommunications, finance, and policy. He has authored numerous influential books, including "The Law & Practice of Private Equity," "Ship Acquisition & Finance: Law & Practice," "Corporate Governance & Group Dynamics," "Corporate Governance in Nigeria: Law and Practice," "Commercial Arbitration in Nigeria: Law and Practice," "Fair Hearing," "Mergers & Acquisition in Nigeria: Law and Practice," "Law & Society," and "Decoupling Ownership from Management of Companies." Additionally, he has co-authored several books, such as "Outcomes-Based Governance: Modern Perspectives to Corporate Governance" with Professor Mervyn King SC, "Petroleum Law and Sustainable Development" with Dr. Oscar Nliam, "Legal & Regulatory Aspects of Commerce," "Trade & Investments in Nigeria: Legal & Regulatory Aspects," "Oral and Written Advocacy: Law & Practice" with Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, and "Collecting Art: A Handbook" with Dr. Jess Castellote.

Professor Ajogwu’s law practice areas include Corporate Governance, Dispute Resolution, Energy & Natural Resources, Communications Technology, Financial Services and Maritime.

Emilia Onyema is an independent arbitrator with experience as presiding, co, and sole arbitrator, and acts as legal expert witness in international arbitration. She is a Professor of International Commercial Law at SOAS University of London where she teaches and publishes on international commercial arbitration, international investment law, and commercial law in a global context. She is qualified to practice law in Nigeria, as a Solicitor in England & Wales, and she is listed on several arbitrator panels.

She convenes the SOAS Arbitration in Africa conference series, leads the SOAS Arbitration in Africa biennial survey research project, co-authored the African Promise; conceived the SOAS counsel in arbitration training project; is the Director of the SOAS Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre; and the founder of the Arbitration Fund for African Students (AFAS). She actively publishes and speaks on topics relevant to her research interests. Some of her publications include, International Commercial Arbitration and the Arbitrator’s Contract (Routledge, 2010); Rethinking the Role of African National Courts in Arbitration (Kluwer, 2018), and “African Participation in the ICSID System: Appointment and Disqualification of Arbitrators” She received the CPR Institute award for Outstanding Contribution to ADR in 2024. Her current research focuses on energy contracts for sustainable development.

He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya; Professor of law, at the University of Nairobi, Faculty of Law; Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) He served as the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Regional Trustee for Africa from 2019 to 2022.

He has on various occasions been appointed by leading arbitral institutions including the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb-Kenya), the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) among other institutions, as both as a sole arbitrator and a member of arbitral tribunals in arbitrations involving commercial disputes.

He became the first winner of the Inaugural CIArb (Kenya Branch) ADR Lifetime Achievement Award 2021. He was also the winner of the ADR Practitioner of the Year Award 2021 given by the Nairobi LSK and the ADR Publisher of the Year 2021 awarded by CIArb Kenya. He is rated by Chambers and Partners as one of the best dispute resolvers in the country. He has published in the areas of ADR and Access to Justice, Environment, and Natural Resources.

Professor Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN, is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators. He is the President of the International Law Association (Nigerian branch) and holds several prestigious positions, including UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar. He is also the director of the Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Development at Afe Babalola University, Nigeria. He has authored numerous publications on energy, environment, and human rights law, with his book "Environmental Law in Arab States" receiving the 2023 ASIL Certificate of Merit. Professor Olawuyi has advised prominent organizations like the World Bank and UN agencies, served on the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and provides legal counsel at McNair International, Qatar. He has held key roles in the Nigerian Bar Association and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and holds degrees from Oxford, Harvard, University of Calgary, Igbinedion University, and the Nigerian Law School. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy, and holds leadership roles in several international law and environmental law organizations.

Professor Abiola Sanni is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG). He is a thoroughbred professional with a robust multi-disciplinary background who has served in different capacities at the national and state levels. He is a member of the Presidential Fiscal Policy Tax Reform Committee (2023 till date), served as the Chairman of the National Tax Policy Review Committee (NTPRC) in 2016, and Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC) in 2017. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, and a life member of the Nigerian Society of International Law. He is the editor of Introduction to Nigerian Legal Methods, a leading introductory legal text in Nigerian Universities and the West African sub-region. He is the author of Introduction to Nigerian Business Law; and the founder and publisher of the Nigerian Revenue Law Reports (NRLR) and African Tax Law Reports (ATLR), the first law reports devoted to tax cases in Nigeria and Africa respectively.

Florence Shako is a legal academic, advocate, and consultant who undertakes research in access to justice and business and human rights issues. She graduated with a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also received a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi, Kenya where she graduated at the top of her class. Florence is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and the Senior Partner at Mitullah, Shako, and Associates Advocates, a boutique law firm in Nairobi, Kenya that embraces social justice values.

She is the current Vice Chairperson of Women in Alternative Dispute Resolution (WADR), a professional association of women in the field of alternative dispute resolution. She is also the Kluwer Arbitration Blog Representative for the London Court of International Arbitration.

Wolemi Esan is the Deputy Managing Partner at Olaniwun Ajayi LP and has been described by Chambers Global as “… a standout lawyer with a tremendous reputation in the market.”

He belongs to a select group of Nigerian lawyers proficient in both contentious and non-contentious practices.

Wolemi’s non-contentious practice has a particular emphasis on advising on various aspects of energy and infrastructure asset development, privatization, acquisition, financing, and operations. Additionally, he provides guidance on complex corporate and commercial transactions, including financing transactions and mergers and acquisitions across Nigeria’s economic spectrum. In contentious matters, Wolemi represents clients in arbitration (both domestic and international) as well as litigation in superior courts in Nigeria.

He is ranked as a leading lawyer in Nigeria by most of the leading independent legal directories, including Chambers Global, IFLR 1000, and Legal 500, and also holds the distinction of being a Jeremy Bentham Scholar of University College London.”

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Chan (陳曉彤) is an Experienced Dispute Resolution Lawyer based in Hong Kong, specializing in international commercial arbitration and both Hong Kong and cross-border litigation. She practices at Stevenson, Wong & Co., one of Hong Kong’s largest independent law firms, which is in a joint alliance with AllBright Law Offices in Mainland China. Elizabeth is qualified to practice law in Hong Kong, New York, New Zealand, and England & Wales.

A recognized thought leader at the intersection of technology and law, Elizabeth hosted the first-ever virtual reality arbitration gathering in January 2022. She is a frequent writer and speaker on technology-related legal topics, including dispute resolution in the metaverse, crypto-related valuation issues, and the role of generative AI in legal decision-making. She also contributed to drafting the pioneering Guidelines on Using AI in Arbitration for the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center (SVAMC) (published in 2024).

His Imperial Majesty King (Dr.) Baridam Suanu Timothy Yormaadam, affectionately known as the Duke of Ogoniland, has a distinguished professional background that encompasses significant roles in banking, corporate management, and traditional leadership.

His banking career includes positions at Zenith Bank PLC, Allstate Trust Bank, and Bank of the North (Unity Bank PLC), where he advanced to a managerial role before resigning to fulfill his ancestral duties. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director at Barec & Bareb Vision Nigeria Ltd, Executive Director of Finance at Ogoni Royal Resources and Energy Limited (OGREE LTD), and Registrar at Abbie Culinary Art Academy & Hospitality. Additionally, he is the Spokesperson for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the Chairman of the Peace & Livelihood Support Organization, a non-governmental organization focused on community support.

In the realm of traditional leadership, His Majesty holds numerous esteemed positions, including Chairman of the Bangha Council of Traditional Rulers and Elders, Nyokhana Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Khana Traditional Rulers Council. He is also a permanent member of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, and serves as Treasurer of the African Indigenes Governance Authority, among other significant roles within traditional governance bodies.

This blend of banking expertise, corporate leadership, and traditional governance underscores His Imperial Majesty's commitment to community development and social responsibility.

Dr. BITHO is an attorney and the Founder of BITHO LAW, a law firm specializing in business law in Paris. He acts as an arbitrator or counsel in arbitration matters. Dr. BITHO has nearly two decades of experience in the United States, France, and Togo. He specializes particularly in commercial and investment arbitration, as well as in legal engineering related to business law, including cross-border infrastructure and energy projects, project financing, international investment, and OHADA business law. Dr. BITHO also assists English-speaking foreign investors navigating the complex African legal landscape, as well as African companies that wish to expand within Africa or internationally. He is the author of two theses: one from the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne (France) on "Protection of Trade Secrets in International Commercial Arbitration," and the other on "Piercing the Corporate Veil in LLC" from Austin Law School in Texas (USA). Dr. BITHO is also a university professor and an author.