Emeka Opara is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution practice unit of Kenna Partners. He also leads the Maritime practice unit of the Firm. His practice spanning over a period of 14 years focuses on a wide range of highly complex commercial dispute resolution issues, in the Banking, Regulatory, Oil and Gas, Labour and Employment and Maritime sectors, amongst others.

He deploys his highly creative and problem-solving skills in navigating, analysing and mediating complex commercial disputes and facilitates negotiations in bringing effective bespoke tailored business and legal solutions to issues. He has represented and advised a wide range of clients, from publicly traded multinational companies to mid and small-cap companies at all levels of the Superior Courts in Nigeria on several matters ranging from commercial transactions, debt recovery, employment disputes as well as Oil Spill litigation claims. He was part of the legal team that represented various Petitioners and Respondents at both the 2014 and 2019 Presidential, Gubernatorial and Senatorial Election Petition Tribunals in Abuja, Abia, Imo and Jigawa States amongst others.

Emeka has extensive knowledge and considerable experience in all aspects of the legal and procedural intricacies in dispute resolution. He leverages his dispute resolution experience in advising clients on the front end of matters on approaches and strategies to minimize the likelihood of even having a dispute, whilst applying his experience to achieving a successful outcome for his client.

Relevant Experience

• Part of the Legal Team that represented an Indigenous integrated Oil and Gas Company in a highly complex commercial dispute involving several other indigenous Oil and Gas Companies over the acquisition of Chevron’s 40% participating interest in Oil Mining Leases (OML’s) 52, 53 and 56 in Nigeria.
• Represented an Indigenous Oil and Gas Oil in the negotiation and drafting of Petroleum Agreement amongst the Government of Ghana and an Indigenous Ghanian Oil and Gas Company.
• Successfully represented an indigenous and leading multinational financial service provider in the resolution of a highly complex and complicated commercial dispute with an Indigenous Oil and Gas Company and Shipping Company at the Federal High Court.
• Provided Legal Advisory and Regulatory services for industry key players in the Telecommunications, Banking, Energy and Power, Oil and Gas and Agricultural sectors.
• Successfully represented a client against one of the largest and fastest growing Airlines in Africa in an Aviation dispute leading to a landmark aviation judgment.
• Represented a multinational Oil and Gas Company in resolving several mutli million-naira Oil Spill litigation claims at the Federal High Court.
• Part of the legal team that represented various clients at the Apex Court leading to landmark judgments in computer generated documents and on duty on counsel writing letter of adjournment to formally file same.

Education

• LL.M, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
• B.L, Nigerian Law School
• LL. B, (Hons), Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria

Bars

• Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria

Memberships

• Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
• Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
• Member, Employment and Labour Lawyers Association of Nigeria (ELLAN)
• Member, Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA)
• Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM)

Certifications 

• Driving Business Success in Turbulent Times, Lagos Business School, 2023
• Search Inside Yourself, Lagos Business School, 2023

Publications

• An Overview of the Procedure of the Procedure for Arrest of Ships in Nigeria (October, 2021)
• A Comparative Analysis on the Application of the doctrine pf Separate Legal Personality to Parent/ Holding Companies and its Subsidiaries – The United Kingdom, United States and Nigerian Approach. (Volume 5, No 1, Unilag Law Review Journal, 2021)
• Rethinking the Operation of Section 84 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act in Garnishee Proceedings: The Way Forward
• The Menace of Piracy in the Shipping Industry – The Way Forward.
• Jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court in Maritime Labour Claims – An Appraisal of the Decision in Mt Sam Purpose (Ex Mt Tapti) & Anor v Amarjeet Singh Bains & 6 Ors
• Highlights of Notable Provisions in the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021
• “The Legal Regime of the Cabotage Law: A critical Appraisal of the Issues and Challenges affecting Cabotage Practice in Nigeria” In: “Footprints in the Path of Law: Essays in Honour of Dr Michael Ajogwu, SAN” -Published February 2022 by CLDS Publishing.