arbitration / adr news

The African Arbitration Association Awards seek to recognise and celebrate the important contribution of African jurisdictions, African arbitration, and ADR practitioners and institutions to the practice and development of international dispute resolution.  

The AfAA Awards took place on 5th November 2022, to highlights the achievements and significant contributions of the awardees to the development of arbitration in Africa, thus driving the effort to make Africa a preferred destination for business and arbitration activities.  This year, the AfAA Award Committee invited nominations in seven categories as described below: 

ADR Practitioner of the year  

This is awarded to the arbitrator/ADR practitioner who is adjudged to have made outstanding achievements in, or contribution to, the development of arbitration/ADR in Africa. An outstanding achievement will be considered as one which has made a positive impact and contributed to the development of arbitration/ADR, including helping to inspire young practitioners in arbitration/ADR to fulfil their true potential, achieve excellence in their career and launch their careers as practicing arbitration/ADR practitioners. Peer recognition of such a practitioner’s achievement in terms of expertise, leadership, exceptional provision of arbitral/ADR services, proven track record of helping young practitioners rise in their careers, regular publications, organisation of knowledge sharing networking platforms and generally creating awareness of arbitration/ADR within Africa will be relevant factors. 

Young Arbitrator/ADR Practitioner of the year  

The AfAA Young Arbitrator/ADR Practitioner of the year is awarded to a young arbitration/ADR practitioner under the age of 40 who is adjudged to have made outstanding achievements in, or contribution to, the development of arbitration/ADR in Africa, and to have made consistent efforts in the field, having acted at least once as counsel or as neutral in arbitration/ADR proceedings during the past year. Nominees are to have demonstrated consistency in speaking engagements, writing articles and papers, leadership positions in the field and generally creating awareness of and promoting arbitration/ADR in Africa.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Champion  

The AfAA Diversity Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Champions Award is awarded to an African institution/organisation/group which has shown outstanding achievement in, or contribution to, the advancement and promotion of DEI in the arbitral/ADR community of their African region of operation. Nominees should be shown to have played a particular role in: promoting diversity and inclusion;  consistently ensuring equal representation in terms of gender, geography, language and age in allotting speaking slots at its conferences; and  consistently ensuring equal representation in arbitration/ADR appointments and in the publication of data on arbitration/ADR appointments, with a view to promoting transparency as it relates to DEI. 

Publication of the Year  

The Publication of the Year Award is awarded to an individual author or co-authors for contribution to the enhancement of international arbitration in Africa through written publications on international arbitration in Africa or related topics published in 2020 and/or 2021.

Innovation in Arbitration/ADR Award 

The Innovation in Arbitration Award is awarded to an African national/organisation for innovative ideas, systems, structures or methods of doing business that have contributed to promoting arbitration/ADR in Africa and preparing for the future of arbitration/ADR. It includes the use of technology, innovative systems, innovative partnerships and innovative training programs, or any novel concepts that have been put into, or can be in the future put into, practice towards the development of arbitration/ADR in Africa.

African Jurisdiction of the Year Award  

The African Jurisdiction of the Year award is awarded to an African jurisdiction (state) which has made exceptional progress to the continuing development of international arbitration and ADR in Africa. This will include the promotion of Arbitration/ADR both locally and internationally; encouraging the appointment of qualified African ADR practitioners; encouraging diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) in ADR services; possessing transparent and user-friendly ADR frameworks, development of ADR services and/or professional bodies within the jurisdiction, rendering of arbitration/ADR services of global standards, and recognition either locally or internationally for such progress. 

Arbitral Institution of the Year Award 

The Arbitral Institution of the Year award is awarded to an arbitral institution which is adjudged to have been the stand-out arbitral institution headquartered in Africa having regard to the work and organisation of that institution, the initiatives and improvements undertaken by that institution, the user experience of that institution, the demonstrated achievements of the institution in environmental, social and governance metrics and any other relevant factor which has distinguished that institution in the context of ADR in Africa and beyond. 

By the close of the nomination period, valid nominations were received in only five Award categories. 

For ADR Practitioner of the Year the shortlisted nominees were: 

·        Dr David Kariuki Muigua 

·        Godwin Omoaka 

And the WINNER was Dr David Kariuki Muigua 

For Arbitral Institution of the Year the shortlisted nominees were: 

·        Africa Arbitration Academy  

·        Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration 

·        Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators 

And the WINNER was the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration 

For Innovation in Arbitration the shortlisted nominees were: 

·        Abayomi Okubote 

·        Africa Arbitration Academy 

·        Abdulakeem Ibrahim 

And the WINNER was the Africa Arbitration Academy 

For Publication of the Year the shortlisted nominees were: 

·        Azubike Okoye 

·        Clara Kasser-Tee 

And the WINNER was Azubike Okoye 

For Young Practitioner of the Year the shortlisted nominees are: 

·        Abayomi Okubote 

·        Isaiah Bozimo 

·        Diane Okoko                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              And the WINNER was Abayomi Okubote