A new disputes firm has begun operations in Nigeria, bringing together two established practices in arbitration and commercial dispute resolution.
Detail Dispute Lawyers commences operations on Monday 16 March 2026. The firm combines the disputes practice previously conducted through Broderick Bozimo and Company with the arbitration practice of Laura Alakija and Co.
The founding partners are Isaiah Bozimo, SAN, and Laura Alakija, FCIArb, both practitioners in arbitration and complex commercial disputes.
The launch comes at a time when arbitration and other forms of commercial dispute resolution are becoming increasingly significant in transactions connected to Nigeria.
Major projects in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and finance now frequently involve detailed contractual arrangements and sophisticated dispute-resolution provisions.
When disagreements arise in these projects, they often require legal teams that understand both the contractual framework of the transaction and the procedures that govern arbitration or court proceedings.
Recent developments in Nigeria’s legal framework reflect the growing importance of arbitration in commercial activity. The Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 introduced updated provisions governing arbitration proceedings and the enforcement of awards.
The Federal Executive Council also adopted the National Policy on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution in 2024 as part of a broader effort to strengthen the use of arbitration in commercial disputes.
Practitioners have observed a steady increase in arbitration activity connected to Nigeria in recent years. Many large infrastructure and energy contracts now include arbitration clauses, particularly where projects involve international investors or cross-border financing arrangements.
The founders of Detail Dispute Lawyers say the firm was created to focus exclusively on dispute resolution work within this evolving landscape.
The practice focuses on domestic and international arbitration, arbitration-related court proceedings, complex commercial litigation and dispute strategy.
The firm also works in alliance with Detail Commercial Solicitors, a Nigerian law firm that advises on corporate transactions and regulatory matters.
The alliance reflects a practical feature of modern commercial disputes. Many disputes arise from transactions that commercial lawyers originally structured.
Questions about the meaning of contractual provisions, regulatory approvals, financing structures or project obligations may later become central issues in arbitration or litigation.
When that happens, the ability of disputes counsel to work alongside lawyers familiar with the underlying transaction can provide important context for the dispute.
Detail Commercial Solicitors has advised clients across a wide range of commercial transactions, including matters involving corporate structuring, finance arrangements and regulatory compliance.
When disagreements later emerge from those transactions, collaboration between commercial advisers and disputes counsel can help ensure that legal strategy reflects the broader commercial framework within which the dispute arose.
Bozimo previously served as Attorney General of Delta State and currently serves as Vice President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration. He acts as counsel and arbitrator in commercial disputes.
Alakija acts in arbitration matters under several international arbitration rules and has represented clients in disputes involving infrastructure and commercial projects.
According to the founders, the new firm was established with the recognition that disputes rarely arise in isolation. They often emerge from complex transactions involving multiple parties, regulatory considerations, and long-term commercial relationships.
Understanding the origins of those disputes can be as important as the legal arguments that later develop within the proceedings themselves.
The launch of Detail Dispute Lawyers reflects the ongoing development of arbitration and dispute-resolution practice in Nigeria. As commercial projects grow in scale and complexity, arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution are likely to remain central to resolving disagreements.
