ESQ Legal Practice Magazine JUNE 2014 EDITION | Page 43

disputes. Today, parties
typically choose English law
and English jurisdictions
(courts or arbitration) because
English law is widely
perceived to be so sophisticated that it provides solutions
for complex business disputes.
African Judges must continue
to project a pro-arbitrations
stance, and to support
arbitration with efficient,
speedy and just determination
of arbitration related cases.
Arbitration institutions must
continue to sensitise the
business community to the
desirability of arbitrating
Africa related disputes in
African centres, not just
because it potentially saves
time and costs, but also
because those centres are
excellent centres for conducting arbitrations.

African lawyers have to develop skills and expertise in international
arbitration as a process, and also in those commercial transactions
that typically go to arbitration when disputes arise – energy, infrastructure, finance, agency and distributorship, construction, shipping etc. Legal education institutions have to develop their capacity
to impart knowledge and skills in these areas.
services, such as the Lagos
Multi-Door Courthouse
(LMDC). Many more lawyers
and Judges are undergoing
formal arbitration training,
and qu