Gateley appoints consultant to grow international arbitration practice in Africa

Our international arbitration team continues to grow across the EMEA following the appointment of a Nigeria-based consultant.

Perenami Momodu, formerly a partner at a leading West African law firm, joins Gateley to lead our African practice and support the continued expansion of our multi-jurisdictional strategic international disputes services, particularly across oil and gas, infrastructure, technology, fintech, construction, investments, and renewable energy.

The fourth addition to the international arbitration team, Perenami will work closely with London-based partners Michael Lightfoot and Kieran John McCarthy, who joined Gateley as co-heads of international arbitration last September, as well as legal director Tonderai Nyandoro, who is based in Dubai.

Prior to joining Gateley, Perenami was a partner in a West African law firm’s dispute resolution and international arbitration practice groups. During this time, she led the team handling the portfolio of disputes arising from a privatisation and bid process of a major Nigerian enterprise, and successfully represented an exploration and production company in an arbitration worth $40m.

She has also provided advisory services to financial institutions, corporate organisations, and multinational companies on a range of matters, including cross-border insolvency, frameworks for foreign direct investments in Nigeria, and labour and employment.

In 2019, she received the Special Recognition Award from Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for her involvement in Nigeria’s proposed insolvency reforms. Perenami is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and is ranked as ‘Recommended’ in the Nigeria – Commercial Litigation and Arbitration categories in Who’s Who Legal.