Emilia Onyema

Emilia Onyema, is a Professor of International Commercial Law at SOAS University of London. She holds a PhD in international commercial arbitration from Queen Mary University of London. She is qualified to practice law in Nigeria and as a Solicitor in England & Wales; and she is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She accepts appointment as an independent arbitrator as well as an expert witness. She has long standing experience as presiding, co and sole arbitrator in international commercial arbitration cases. Her research and teaching focus on international commercial arbitration, international investment law, law and development,  with regional focus on Africa.

For past and present publications and research papers, please click here.

For past, present and future speaking engagements, please click here.

My arbitration style

In Emilia Onyema’s role as presiding or sole arbitrator, she seeks to actively engage the parties and their counsel, asking relevant questions. She also prefers to set out in good time a clear agenda and timeline for the various stages of the proceedings with built-in flexibility.

As presiding arbitrator, it is important for her to ensure that all tribunal members participate and contribute a fair amount of work to the discussions and drafting tasks of the tribunal. She listens carefully to the parties and their counsel and her fellow arbitrators.

As co-arbitrator, Emilia Onyema, works with the full tribunal and ensures that tasks allocated to her are done in good time and she engages with discussions and asks relevant questions. She shares her views with the tribunal with confidence, insight and deep perception.

Emilia Onyema, takes her personal mandate and obligations as an arbitrator very seriously and discharges her responsibility with due care.

As Expert

Emilia Onyema, has extensive experience with writing expert opinions within the field of her expertise in international arbitration.

My Fees

Fair and competitive rates are charged either on an hourly basis or ad valorem.

Publications

Rethinking the Role of African National Courts in Arbitration provides a thorough overview of the relation of courts and arbitration in the African continent. This book documents the Second SOAS Arbitration in Africa Conference held in Lagos in June 2016.

Read more

 

The Transformation of Arbitration in Africa offers an in-depth analysis of the role arbitration centres based in African cities play throughout the continent. Given the dynamic growth of African economies and the expansion of cross-border trade and commerce, the need for readily accessible African arbitral institutions has become increasingly urgent.

Read more