Biography
Barrister (England and Wales)
PhD in Literature
Barrister (England and Wales)
PhD in Literature
University of Oxford
École Normale Supérieure (Ulm Street)
Paris-Sorbonne University (Paris IV)
University of Toulouse II
Obioma Ofoego is a barrister practising in all areas of international dispute resolution, including investment arbitration, international commercial arbitration, and disputes involving international organisations. A specialist advocate, he has appeared before international tribunals in disputes governed by international law as well as common law and civil law systems. He works in English, French, and Spanish.
Obioma has advised and represented States, multinational corporations and private clients, including in multiple high-profile, multi-billion dollar disputes. His expertise encompasses disputes across all industry and market sectors, with a specific focus on energy, mining, construction and infrastructure and banking. He has also developed a niche practice in disputes relating to the hotel industry.
Before joining the firm, Obioma practised as a commercial barrister at a leading set of chambers in London, and thereafter at Dentons and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in Paris. He has genuine legal experience in government, having been seconded as an assistant legal adviser to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He has been named one of the 50 most promising young arbitration practitioners in Africa and has been featured in the ICSID's Young ICSID Profiles series.
Educated at Oxford University, the École Normale Supérieure de la rue d’Ulm, the Sorbonne-Paris IV and Toulouse-II, Obioma also holds a doctorate in literature and has served as an advisor on education policy to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
EXPERIENCE
XX Representative Cases
Counsel to an African State in the causation and quantum phases of one of the longest-ever ICSID arbitrations, in relation to a dispute arising out of the acquisition of a shareholding of a bank, defeating a claim of US$ 12 billion. French language.
Counsel to a mining company in two commercial emergency arbitrations and subsequent arbitration proceedings arising out of standby letters of credit issued by a West-African bank. French language.
Counsel to companies of one of Europe’s leading energy groups in investment treaty proceedings against the Russian Federation arising out of measures taken by the Russian Federation after February 2022.
Counsel to a US national in an investment treaty arbitration against a South-East Asian country in a dispute arising out of the State’s decision to cancel a project to construct a coal-fired power plant.
Counsel to a European company in a construction dispute involving the design and construction of a power plant under an EPC Contract in northern Europe.
Counsel to an oil major in a commercial arbitration arising out of a post-M&A cross-border dispute.
Counsel to a Dutch renewables company in an investment arbitration arising out of Italy's decision to revise its incentives scheme.
Counsel to a leading international hospitality company in a commercial arbitration arising out of a dispute concerning the construction and management of an historic hotel in West Africa.
Counsel to a leading international hospitality company in seven parallel emergency arbitrations against seven separate European hotel companies from the Russian Federation.
Counsel to a U.S. company in two commercial arbitrations concerning indemnification claims relating to alleged infringement of standard essential patents.
Counsel to a specialised agency of the United Nations in respect of a commercial arbitration (pro bono). UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts.
EXPERIENCE
10 Representative Cases
Counsel to an African State in the causation and quantum phases of one of the longest-ever ICSID arbitrations, in relation to a dispute arising out of the acquisition of a shareholding of a bank, defeating a claim of US$ 12 billion. French language.
Counsel to a mining company in two commercial emergency arbitrations and subsequent arbitration proceedings arising out of standby letters of credit issued by a West-African bank. French language.
Counsel to companies of one of Europe’s leading energy groups in investment treaty proceedings against the Russian Federation arising out of measures taken by the Russian Federation after February 2022.
Counsel to a US national in an investment treaty arbitration against a South-East Asian country in a dispute arising out of the State’s decision to cancel a project to construct a coal-fired power plant.
Counsel to a European company in a construction dispute involving the design and construction of a power plant under an EPC Contract in northern Europe.
Counsel to an oil major in a commercial arbitration arising out of a post-M&A cross-border dispute.
Counsel to a Dutch renewables company in an investment arbitration arising out of Italy's decision to revise its incentives scheme.
Counsel to a leading international hospitality company in a commercial arbitration arising out of a dispute concerning the construction and management of an historic hotel in West Africa.
Counsel to a leading international hospitality company in seven parallel emergency arbitrations against seven separate European hotel companies from the Russian Federation.
Counsel to a U.S. company in two commercial arbitrations concerning indemnification claims relating to alleged infringement of standard essential patents.
Counsel to a specialised agency of the United Nations in respect of a commercial arbitration (pro bono). UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts.