Africa
The Combar Africa Committee is an initiative to develop and foster improved working relationships and promote common professional development between members of the English and Welsh Commercial Bar and their counterpart practitioners and academic lawyers in (and interested in) Africa.
The Africa Committee supports the prestigious flagship programme of International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) and offers the young African lawyers selected for the programme an opportunity to spend time in a Combar set during their time in London.
COMBAR Africa will be at a number of events this year. Please see details below for forthcoming and previous events.
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JAW 2026
5-7 May 2026 – COMBAR Africa is supporting Johannesburg Arbitration Week 2026 – Showcasing Arbitration in Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre – Register here
COMBAR Africa is proud to be a co-sponsor for the opening reception for this year’s JAW 2026. COMBAR Africa members will be attending and speaking and COMBAR Members are encouraged to attend.
Johannesburg Arbitration Week (JAW) 2026 is a flagship initiative that positions South Africa as a leading arbitration hub on the African continent and a key player in the international dispute resolution arena.
Join the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA) and their co-hosts, comprising leading solicitor firms, bars, and other stakeholders, in unpacking the issues and challenges in the fast-paced world of commercial arbitration.
The Johannesburg Arbitration Week (JAW) taking place in May 2026 will pay particular attention to key initiatives that are shaping and transforming dispute resolution within the African region.
| 5 – 7 May 2026 |
| Sandton Convention Centre, Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa |
| 08:00 – 17:00 |
| Full Registration Fee: R 8 000.00 excl VAT – REGISTER HERE |
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CAW 2026
11 May 2026 – COMBAR Africa will be at Cameroon Arbitration Week – Register for CAW 2026
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LONDON 2026
4 June 2026 – COMBAR Africa will be in London – The Rule of Law: Essential for Africa’s economic development or another Western Trojan Horse?
Speakers: Professor Emilia Onyema, Julius Nkafu, Jamsheed Peeroo, Ebun Azeez
This talk will take place at the International Arbitration Centre, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm with drinks and canapés to follow on the terrace.
Address: 190 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AG
The event will be hybrid and recorded. RSVP here for in-person and online attendance.
The event is open to COMBAR members and their pupils and invited guests only.
A ZOOM link will be circulated closer to the event.
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24 -25 September – COMBAR Africa is at the East Africa International Arbitration Conference in Abuja, Nigeria
COMBAR Africa is at the East Africa International Arbitration Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, this week – 24 – 25 September 2025
COMBAR Africa is proud to be sponsoring the cocktail reception which is taking place tomorrow, 25th September 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
COMBAR Africa’s Abdul Jinadu, Nania Owusu-Ankomah, FCIArb and Teniola Onabanjo will be speaking at the conference; and Nania and Andrew Onslow KC will be participating in an associated LCIA training programme.
More information and details, including how to register may be found here:
Dubai Arbitration Week (DAW) 2024
12th November 2024 – “Trade, Investment and Related Arbitration Between Africa and the Arab World” at the DIFC Academy
The SOAS Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre in association with COMBAR with support from Fatima Balfaqeeh Law Firm hosted an event at the DIFC Academy.
The event covered a comprehensive exploration of the burgeoning cooperation, trade, and investment relationships between Africa and the Arab World on the topic “Trade, Investment and Related Arbitration Between Africa and the Arab World”.
13th November 2024 – COMBAR & HKA – “Is arbitration fit for the purpose of resolving African disputes?” – The Capital Club, DIFC
COMBAR Africa and HKA are jointly hosting an event at the Capital Club in Dubai running from 3pm to 5pm Dubai time (11 GMT).
The event will debate “Is arbitration fit for the purpose of resolving African disputes?”. Abdul Jinadu – Member of the English Bar and international practitioner and arbitrator will be moderating.
Panellist’s:
– Dr.Mohamed Sameh Amr – Professor and Chair of the International Law Department at Cairo University; Founding and Managing Partner of Amr & Partners Law Firm
– Jamsheed Peeroo – Member of the English and Mauritius Bar, and international practitioner
– Igor Corelj – Principal at HKA
– Stefan Brill – HKA Partner – Africa
The event is in-person only and will not be recorded.
Drinks and canapé will be served from 4pm.
For late registrations please email admin@combar.com directly, thank you.
8th October 2024 – COMBAR Africa Drinks Reception Douala Cameroon
The COMBAR Africa Committee hosted a drinks reception at the SAWA Hotel in Douala, Cameroon during CAW/AAA. they welcomed new and old friends from the region.
COMBAR Africa would like to thank Julius Nkafu for organising and hosting the event and to all those who attended to make it a special event, including the Judges from the Supreme Court of Cameroon, the Deputy Sec Gen of ICSID, the former Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Chief Bayo Ojo and the President of the Cameroon Bar, Mbah Eric Mbah. The incoming Chairman of CIArb Kenya, Kenneth Wyne and Chief Gbola Akinola SAN representing CIArb Nigeria.
11th June 2024 – COMBAR Africa – Ghana Bar Association seminar
The COMBAR Africa Committee are hosting the Ghana Bar Association with a seminar on “Crypto and Fintech disputes and regulation: the UK experience and lessons for Ghana”
The seminar will take place at Keating Chambers and guests are requested to arrive at 4.30pm; the seminar will start at 5pm.
There will be a 1-hour panel session followed by drinks and canapé.
COMBAR Members only, pupils welcome.
If you are interested in attending, please email admin@combar.com
Venue: Keating Chambers, 15 Essex Street, Outer Temple, London, WC2R 3AA.
The COMBAR Africa Committee and the team at JMiles & Co. will be hosting a drinks reception in Nairobi in advance of the 8th ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration.
The reception will start at 17:00 on 28th May 2024 and is expected to finish at 20:00.
Please register your interest at admin@combar.com
13th October 2023 – Africa Breakfast Meeting – Cape Town –“How to Africanise African Arbitration: What needs to be done”.
The COMBAR Africa Committee hosted a successful breakfast meeting in Cape Town during the African Arbitration Association Conference. Any COMBAR Members attending the AfAA were invited to attend.
The meeting was held at the Regency Hyatt Cape Town and discussed “How to Africanise African Arbitration: What needs to be done”.
Africa Committee Members
Co-Chairs: James Goldsmith KC (One Essex Court) and Jamsheed Peeroo (36 Stone)
Yash Bheeroo (3VB)
Jane Davies Evans (3VB)
Monica Feria-Tinta (Twenty Essex)
Thomas Francis (4-5 Gray’s Inn Square)
Karim Ghaly KC (39 Essex Chambers)
Anna Greenley (Devereux Chambers)
Abdul Jinadu (Keating Chambers)
Julius Nkafu (Great James Street Chambers)
Teniola Onabanjo (3VB)
Andrew Onslow KC (3VB)
Nania Owusu-Ankomah (Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah) Ghana Honorary Overseas Member
Iain Quirk KC (Essex Court Chambers)
Ololade Saromi (Five Paper)
Joel Semakula (Landmark Chambers)
Anyone wishing to make contact with the Africa Committee or to find out more about its work is invited to contact the Combar Administrator or the Co-Chairs, Andrew Onslow KC (3VB) or Abdul Jinadu (Keating Chambers).