The research project aimed at creating a sustainable culture of arbitration as a mechanism for dispute resolution in African States is organizing a two-day conference on the theme: Rethinking the Role of Courts and Judges in Supporting Arbitration in Africa, scheduled on June 22-24, 2016, at the new headquarters of the Lagos Court of Arbitration in Lagos (NIGERIA).

The conference organizers include Dr Emilia Onyema, Associate Dean, Learning & Teaching at the School of Law SOAS, University of London, United Kingdom and Hon. Justice Edward Torgbor, Professor of Law, former Judge at the high court in Kenya and specialist practizing arbitrator and mediator based in Nairobi, Kenya.

This conference is the second in a series of four planned conferences. This conference will examine the role of African courts and judges in supporting arbitration. The first conference examined the effectiveness of arbitration institutions in Africa and the papers from that conference are available for download at: http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/20421/

This Lagos conference will be attended by prominent members, arbitration institutions and practitioners within and outside Africa; the judiciary; domestic and foreign investors; domestic and international legal community; funding agencies; commercial parties and their advisors; academics and researchers; and the general public with an interest in commercial dispute resolution.

The OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration is participating at the conference. Its experience and unique role as an arbitration institution for all of the OHADA Member States will be discussed.

The language of the conference will be English with simultaneous translation in French/English.

Registration for the conference is free and is now open at: www.researcharbitrationafrica.com

For further information, please contact:

Dr Emilia Onyema
Email: eo3@soas.ac.uk