Rules I drafted for a centre in a Central African country as mentioned above, to ensure more diversity, at different levels, in the selection and appointment of arbitrators by the centre. I also included provisions that would enable the collection of anonymous data and any other relevant information, as well as the establishment of annual statistics to assess diversity and determine where improvement may be needed. To the best of my knowledge, it is probably the first time that such provisions are included in the Rules of an arbitration centre, and I believe their impact can be measured very quickly if they are well implemented. Do you have a particular creed or philosophy you live by? Of course: “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe …” (Deuteronomy 16:19). What it is that motivates you to achieve success for your clients? The determination to achieve excellence and unquestioned loyalty to my clients without compromise. Can you share anything about your plans for the remainder of the year? I hope to be enlisted on the panel of arbitrators of more arbitration centres. I will also make myself available for accepting more appointments as an abritrator before the end of the year, and for teaching law again at universities as well as to practitioners, another activity that I am passionate about. Besides that, l am currently preparing some training materials for arbitrators and working on many book projects. One of those books, already published, is the Annotated OHADA Code (“Code pratique OHADA: Traité, Actes uniformes et Règlements annotés” (Editions Francis Lefebvre, 5th edition, forthcoming, 2022). It is a treatise which contains, among other things, a structured presentation of the substantial arbitration Rules applicable in the 17 African States that have signed and ratified the treaty creating the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa, known as the “OHADA Treaty”, as well as cases applying those Rules. That Treaty created a unified business legislation currently covering 10 areas of economic activities including arbitration and mediation. The key institution of the Organisation, the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) ensures unification of case law as its rulings in all the OHADA-related matters, including mediation and arbitration (except criminal offences), are final and binding in all the 17 Member States. I am preparing a revision of that book, along with other publication projects. Have you been influenced or inspired by any person in your career? I draw my inspiration from many persons, some of whom I have had the privilege of knowing or working with personally. In no particular order: First, the late Professor Emmanuel Gaillard, who was a legend and an arbitration genius. I have learned a lot from him during the four years I have known him. He was a great mentor in the field of arbitration and while we had several interesting projects before his untimely passing in 2021, I am honoured that he has prefaced my book on Arbitration in Africa under OHADA Rules. Second, the late Henry Saint Dahl, esq., from whom I learned a lot on American law and the US legal system. I had the chance to teach a seminar on US legal system with him. He contributed to the Annotated OHADA Code (mentioned earlier and of which I am Finance Monthly Legal Awards 2022 France 20 www.finance-monthly.com “I would suggest getting proper training in arbitration, whether in a university or by specialised institutions.” “ “
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