Kamal Shah

Kamal is the head of Stephenson Harwood's Africa and India groups. He specialises in complex, cross-border international arbitration, litigation and fraud and asset recovery. Kamal is highly regarded by his peers and clients for his Africa and India experience, as well as in his abilities in multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Sherina Petit

Sherina Petit is a dispute resolution partner at Stewart’s Law and heads the firm’s International Arbitration department and India practice.

She specialises in international arbitration, litigation and ADR across a broad range of industries representing clients across the globe in numerous ad hoc and institutional arbitrations. In addition, Sherina regularly sits as an arbitrator in international arbitrations, is a published writer and speaker on international arbitration and is an expert on India-related matters.

Sherina is on the LCIA Board of Directors, the LCIA Remuneration Committee, the Chair of the EFILA board, the ICC Indian Arbitration Group, the SIAC Users Council and the SIAC Users Council’s Regional/National Committee for the United Kingdom

Morray Mclaren

Moray has been advising law firms for over 20 years. A lawyer by training, he completed an MBA in legal services before assisting one of the London law firms on their global expansion. Today he advises the top independent law firms as they review their practice focus, governance, remuneration and ownership models. Many are coming to terms with the changing needs of their people and also their clients during what are increasingly challenging times. Moray also assists the global law firms as they enter new markets. Over recent years his work has focused on continental Europe, Latin America, Africa and India.

Funmilayo Iyayi

Funmi is a legal practitioner licensed to practise in Ghana and Nigeria. She worked in the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode as a member of the commercial dispute resolution team for several years, where she represented clients in contentious and non-contentious matters as well as functioned as the secretary to arbitral tribunals. Thereafter she served as in-house counsel in one of Nigeria’s leading real estate development companies, a role she held for two years before joining the Lagos Court of Arbitration as the general counsel. Funmi transitioned to the role of chief executive officer of LACIAC in January 2018 and was appointed a member of the Board in December 2018.

Nick Ashcroft

Nick acts on complex and high value commercial disputes for a variety of clients. As well as acting for clients in the English High Court, Nick has acted on a significant number of major international arbitrations (including ICC, LCIA and AAA rules). He also often co-counsels with local counsel in other common law jurisdictions.

Nick is a market leading adviser on business protection litigation.  He is highly experienced in advising on taking action (ranging from securing undertakings, obtaining urgent injunctive relief including search and seizure orders, to pursuing claims for damages/loss of profits) to enforce the employer's rights and protect confidential information.

Andrew S. Nevin, PhD

Ola Belgore

With close to 20 years’ experience gained in the Financial Industry, Ola’s diverse and rich professional career started in 2003 and has seen him handling different challenging roles in Stockbroking, Asset Management, Portfolio Advisory and Business Development.

A graduate of Microbiology from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, Ola received his MBA in International Business from the prestigious Lincoln University, California USA. He began his career at TRW Stockbrokers Limited from where he joined Meristem Securities Limited in 2006. In 2008, he rose rapidly to become the pioneer Head of the Wealth Management Department of Meristem Wealth Management Limited, a subsidiary which he helped set up alongside two other colleagues.

Recognized as a valuable asset to the organization for his strategic skills at driving projects, he was redeployed to Group Business Development with the herculean responsibility of coordinating, integrating and driving Business Development of the five companies in Meristem.

Ola Belgore

Matthew Wood

Matthew specialises in the development and financing of energy and infrastructure assets including utilities (both conventional and renewable), petrochemicals, oil & gas, ports, mining, airports, education and transport.

He has gained broad experience advising sponsors, lenders (including Islamic banks and export credit/multi-lateral agencies) and government institutions across a diverse range of jurisdictions in the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia.

Taiwo Oyedele

As the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, I lead a team of experts and stakeholders to recommend and implement reforms that enhance fiscal governance, tax transformation and economic growth facilitation in Nigeria. I previously worked as the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PwC, where I advise clients on tax matters, strategic planning and policy analysis across the continent.

With over 20 years of experience in finance, business and economic matters, I am passionate about creating positive impact through research, education and policy advocacy. I am an author, keynote speaker, strategist and commentator on various media platforms. I am also an Associate Professor at Babcock University and a guest lecturer at the Lagos Business School, where I facilitate courses on taxation, fiscal policy, investments and development finance. I hold executive certificates from the London School of Economics, Yale University and Harvard Kennedy School. I am the Founder and President of Impact Africa Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports youth empowerment and social development initiatives.