Spotlight on Africa's arbitration excellence

The expertise of the lawyers involved in arbitration in Africa was clearly evident at the annual Africa Arbitration Awards where Toheeb Amuda was named as the Young Arbitration Practitioner of the Year.

The winners of the 5th Africa Arbitration Awards were announced on 20 September at an event hosted alongside the 11th East Africa International Arbitration Conference (EAIAC). For the last ten years, the annual arbitration forums have provided a platform for thousands to network, build partnerships and acquire new skills.

“The Africa Arbitration Awards forms part of our vision of building international arbitration capacity, expanding our networks as we promote, profile and celebrate Africa’s success in international arbitration,” read a statement from the conference organisers. “In its fifth year, the Africa Arbitration Awards aim to celebrate, recognise, and honour outstanding practitioners and leaders in the Africa arbitration ecosystem.”

This year’s winners are:

The Young Arbitration Practitioner of the Year award is given to an arbitration practitioner under 40 who has demonstrated consistent efforts, leadership, innovation, and excellence in the arbitration community.

Amuda is the managing partner at Lawvocate Attorneys, a firm of lawyers, investment consultants, and arbitrators based in Lagos, Nigeria. He is a qualified lawyer with experience in international arbitration and commercial litigation. Amuda holds a Master of Laws degree in International Business Law with Distinction from the University of Law, London, United Kingdom.

“Receiving the Young Arbitration Practitioner of the Year award is a significant honour for me. It recognises my continuous efforts to excel in the field of arbitration and my contributions to the development and promotion of this field. I am encouraged to do more,” he said. “For younger lawyers, this award represents a beacon of opportunity, highlighting the potential for meaningful contributions to the field of arbitration, and should inspire them to pursue consistency and commitment in promoting arbitration and ADR in Africa and the world at large.”

Amuda’s legal practice has seen him involved in a wide array of commercial and investment arbitrations under the rules of prominent international bodies such as the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, London Court of International Arbitration, International Chamber of Commerce, Dubai International Arbitration Centre, American Arbitration Association/International Centre for Dispute Resolution, Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration Lagos, and United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, as both counsel and tribunal secretary.

He has also represented clients in litigation before various Nigerian courts and has assisted in litigation in the courts of England and Wales.

“The award is an acknowledgement of the cumulative work I have undertaken throughout my career. This includes acting as counsel in various high-profile cases, speaking engagements, writing articles and papers and a commitment to mentoring younger practitioners in the field,” Amuda shared.

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