IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme: ESG litigation and dispute resolution trends

Girgis Abd El-Shahid is the Managing Partner of Shahid Law Firm. He specializes in dispute settlement, with a particular focus on disputes emanating from investor-state relations, energy; transactions, such as M&A; finance and telecommunication. Girgis also has significant experience in advising clients in non-contentious mandates in various industries such as logistics, aviation, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, construction, energy, oil and gas as well as project finance and banking. Girgis is a former public prosecutor before moving to private practice, was a member of the International Court of Arbitration, of the ICC, and currently serves as a member of advisory committee of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA).

AISHA ABDALLAH | PARTNER | ALN KENYA | ANJARWALLA & KHANNA Aisha heads the Disputes Resolution department at Anjarwalla & Khanna, covering offices in Nairobi and Mombasa. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on fraud, economic crime and disputes over land, the environment and natural resources. Aisha is dual qualified as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Solicitor of England and Wales. She joined A&K from Shoosmiths in the United Kingdom in 2012 and has substantial experience in complex, high value cross border litigation. Aisha was appointed to the MARC Court in 2017, the ADR arm of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry, alongside some of the world’s most eminent arbitration experts. She is the lead author of the Kenyan chapter of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th editions of the International Arbitration Review. She is also a member of the Africa Users Group for the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, member of International Association for Defence Counsel, African Arbitration Association, Delos Dispute Resolution Board of Advisors and Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration. Aisha is part of an expert team that has drafted Anti-Money Laundering, Remittances and Mobile Money Bills for Somaliland and is the lead author of the Kenya chapter of the 2018 Chambers Anti-Corruption Global Practice Guide. She is also the lead author of the ALN Anti-Corruption Guide 2019. Aisha provides training and writes and speaks on a wide range of contentious issues, including international arbitration, corruption, economic crime and pro bono work. Aisha is rated and recognised by both Chambers Global and Legal 500 for her work.

Joke is a Co-Managing Partner at ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode and possesses extensive expertise across the Firm's dispute resolution and corporate practice areas. She has over 20 years of professional experience in litigation, dispute resolution and risk management, covering several sectors including energy and natural resources. She has represented several local and multinational companies, as well as individuals, in complex, high-value arbitration and litigation proceedings in both local and regional courts. Additionally, Joke has acted as a joint expert in Nigerian law and has served as an expert witness in UK proceedings. She has been named a Thought Leader in Firm Management by Who's Who Legal in 2024, a Leading Individual in the 2024 Legal 500 Rankings, and an Expert Consultant in Restructuring and Insolvency, Project Development, and M&A for the Energy and Natural Resources sectors by IFLR1000 in 2023. Previously, she was ranked as a Next Generation Lawyer by Legal500 and received the 40 Under 40 Award at the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards (Maiden Edition). She is qualified to practice in both Nigeria and New York.