Full name – Gboyega Oyewole
Organisation – AELEX
Area of Practice – Dispute Resolution
Years of Experience – 6 years
Professional summary – Gboyega Oyewole is a Disputes Attorney whose practice focuses on Arbitration and complex commercial litigation in State and Federal Courts, representing corporate and individual clients as well as government agencies in a variety of contract disputes, labour issues, regulatory and policy actions, commercial tort cases, as well as stockholder litigation.
Gboyega has handled a number of assignments of significance including the defence of multiple multi-billion dollar claims in oil spill litigation against a major IOC, and the institution of lawsuits on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the recovery of proceeds from the illegal export and sale of exported hydrocarbons. He has also represented the Federal Government in policy and regulatory lawsuits on the grant of and transfer of interests in Oil Prospecting Licences and Oil Mining Leases, as well as monetary policy issues.
Gboyega successfully represented the DPR in an action which sought to invalidate the guidelines for the grant of and transfer of interests in Oil Prospecting Licences and Oil Mining Leases. These guidelines have now been codified in the form of the Petroleum Industry Act.
He has also successfully represented the apex bank in multiple actions seeking to invalidate the bank’s policies on cryptocurrency use and trading, foreign exchange and bulk withdrawal of cash.
Four Questions with Gboyega
What have you learned from your experience as a young lawyer so far and how has it shaped you?
The best kind of training is that which is gotten from guidance on the job. Self-development is important, but in itself cannot build a young lawyer. Senior members of the Bar must continue to take on active mentorship roles for the juniors and deliberately put them through the fine rudiments of the required technical and counselling skills. This should be done in addition to the organisation of training sessions and the attendance of workshops, seminars and conferences.
What do you appreciate most about your work as a young lawyer?
I am privileged to have had the opportunity to handle assignments and tasks that seem beyond my years at the Bar. I have leveraged on the ability that I believe every young lawyer has, that is, to consistently bring fresh ideas and creative solutions to problems. This is perhaps our own way of adding value, and makes up for our lack of experience.
In your opinion, what is one promising area of law that young lawyers continue to neglect and how can they explore the advantages in the area?
Many young lawyers shy away from dispute resolution for genuine reasons. However, this practice area continues to be a major source of revenue for many legal practitioners, and also comprises an important factor in the shaping of public policy. Litigation continues to form a core aspect of dispute resolution, however, several alternative means of resolving disputes have gained prominence including arbitration and mediation. My advice to young lawyers like myself is to build competence in these areas as many opportunities abound therein.
What one leader do you look up to and why?
Barack Obama, for his unerring belief that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
