GMO Legal | The People

Ret. THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE GEORGE ADESOLA OGUNTADE [CFR]

GEORGE M. OGUNTADE MCIArb. SAN
Principal Counsel
Contact: gmo@gmolegal.com

George attended the University of Southampton, England and graduated in 1986 with a degree in Law – LL.B [Hons.]. He was admitted and enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in May 1989. In 1998, he obtained a Master Degree [LL.M] in Commercial Law from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

George heads the Litigation and Arbitration Services and the Intellectual Property Practice Groups. He is a seasoned legal practitioner with over 20 years cognate experience and specializes in all aspects of commercial litigation at both trial and appellate Courts in Nigeria. As a member of the Institute of Trademarks Attorney [UK], George has substantial experience in intellectual property practice both in advisory and contentions matters. He has litigated several cases against international oil companies involving multi million naira claims for damages arising from oil spillage and pollution

He has also been involved in litigating a number of ground breaking cases ranging from petroleum taxation, banking and finance, shipping and general commerce. He has also acted as an “expert” on Nigerian Banking law in litigation before the Court of First Instance in Lausanne, Switzerland.

George is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK and has acted as Counsel in several proceedings involving disputes in the Oil spillage and Gas industry. In addition to his vast litigation and arbitration experience, George has also acquired expertise in negotiating and reviewing commercial agreements and advising foreign companies on issues ranging from industry market entry and exit strategies, joint ventures with local companies, foreign exchange and taxation and corporate regulation and compliance.

Honours

George was appointed a Notary Public in 2003 and was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria [SAN] in April 2010 in recognition of his excellence and distinction at the
Nigerian Bar.

Practice Areas

General Commercial Litigation
Arbitration
International Banking and Finance
Transportation [Shipping and Aviation]
Corporate Advisory
Intellectual Property

Professional Membership

Member – Nigerian Bar Association
Member – International Bar Association
Member – Chartered Institute of Arbitrators [UK]
Member – Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys [UK]
Member – Business Recovery and Insolvency
Practitioners Association of Nigeria.[BRIPAN]
Member – Maritime Arbitration Association of Nigeria [MAAN]

THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE GEORGE ADESOLA OGUNTADE [CFR]. Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Consultant to the Firm

Hon. Justice George A. Oguntade was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State of Nigeria in September 1980 after practicing at the Lagos Bar for fourteen years. Between 1984 and 1986, he served as the Chairman of the Armed Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Lagos State.

In September 1987, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal. He served a Justice of the Court of Appeal Enugu, Enugu State from September 1987 – September 1993; Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ibadan, Oyo State from September 1993 – September 1995; Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Jos, Plateau State – September 1995 – December 1998; Presiding Justice Court of Appeal, Lagos, Lagos State from January 1999 – December 2002 and Presiding Justice Court of Appeal, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory from January 2003 – May 2004.

On the 19th of May 2004, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. His tenure on the Supreme Court Bench witnessed the delivery of several landmark Judgments [including several dissents] which substantially impacted on many areas of law, particularly in the realm of constitutional and administrative law. Many of his dissenting judgments have attained the status of “locus classicus” and remain the subject of discourse and analysis in law schools and legal circles.

Justice Oguntade retired from the Supreme Court Bench on the 10th day of March 2010 having attained the statutory retirement age of 70 years. In April 2010, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria decorated him with the national honours of “Commander of the Federal Republic” [CFR] in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of law in Nigeria.

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