Lawyers from global law firm Baker McKenzie and Nigerian law firm Funmi Roberts & Co. took part in a packed two-day virtual training workshop in October 2020, covering legal and regulatory issues of importance to the resolution of disputes in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

The workshop, entitled the Disputes Management in Africa Infrastructure Projects, was a collaboration between the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre, the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN) and numerous global and regional law firms, including lawyers from Baker McKenzie in London, Dubai and Johannesburg and Funmi Roberts & Co. in Lagos. The workshops benefitted legal practitioners who deal with disputes in the oil and gas sector, and was also beneficial to law firms that wished to enhance their practice in oil and gas disputes.

Topics covered in the workshops included:

1. Regulatory and compliance issues in the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry
2. Managing risk in Oil & Gas construction projects in the wake of COVID-19 and the Nigerian oil market’s decline
3. Balancing political and contractual risk in Africa
4. Liquidated Damages Explained in Oil & Gas Construction Projects
5. Fast Track Arbitrations in Oil & Gas Construction Projects

The training was delivered by a faculty of international law, engineering, project management and arbitration experts and discussed various aspects of dispute resolution in construction projects in the oil and gas sector. Baker McKenzie senior associates also presented a mock mediation case study at the workshop, followed by a presentation on mediation styles.

The full list of speakers follows:

Day 1:

1. Andy Moody - Partner, Baker McKenzie London
2. Andrew Mackenzie - Partner, Baker McKenzie Dubai
3. Darryl Bernstein - Partner, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg
4. Feyisara Obayemi - Company Secretary and Head, Legal Services of Midwestern Oil & Gas Company Limited
5. Funmi Iyayi - Managing Director, LACIAC
6. Funmi Roberts - Partner, Funmi Roberts & Co.
7. H.E. The Honorable Mr. John Munyes EGH Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Petroleum & Mining (Keynote address)
8. Kate Corby - Partner, Baker McKenzie London
9. Engr. Kayode Akiode - Total, FNSE (ACEN representative)
10. Kemi Oladipo - Partner, Funmi Roberts & Co.
11. Yindi Gesinde - Partner, Baker McKenzie London

Day 2:

1. Dr Adeyemi Agbelusi - Principal Partner, Berean Associates, Nigeria
2. Anjuli Patel - Senior Associate, Baker McKenzie London 
3. Funmi Iyayi - Managing Director, LACIAC
4. Jackie Lafleur - Senior Associate, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg
5. Judith Mulholland - Senior Associate, Baker McKenzie London
6. Laura Pattison - Associate, Baker McKenzie London 
7. Oliver Poynton - Associate, Baker McKenzie Amsterdam
8. Rich Molesworth - Senior Associate, Baker McKenzie London
9. Rui Lopes - Senior Associate, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg
10. Sally Kotb - Counsel, Baker McKenzie Dubai
11. Sjef Janssen - Senior Associate, Baker McKenzie Amsterdam