ESQ Legal Practice Magazine JUNE 2014 EDITION | Page 48

DOMESTIC ARBITRATION IN
NIGERIA: CAN FOREIGN
COUNSEL STILL RUN
THE RACE?
Oghogho Akpata and Adewale Atake
Partners, Templars

T

he Starting line
Party autonomy is a
fundamental feature of
arbitration globally. The
concept of party autonomy is
rooted in the understanding
that parties to an arbitration
process should be able to
determine the conduct of their
arbitration proceedings.
Arbitration and awards thereof
are essentially private
arrangements by the parties,
which the State simply puts
into effect through subsequent
enforcement.
autonomy is a fundamental
feature of arbitration globally.
The concept of party autonomy
is rooted in the understanding
that parties to an arbitration
process should be able to
determine the conduct of their
arbitration proceedings.
Arbitration and awards thereof
are essentially private
arrangements by the parties,
which the State simply puts
into effect through subsequent
enforcement.
One key manifestation of party
autonomy is the choice of
48 I EsQ legal practice

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