Prof. Bankole Shodipo SAN, FCArb

Prof. Bankole Adekunle Akintoye Sodipo, SAN, MCIArb, FCArb, is a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor of Law, legal practitioner, arbitrator, and scholar, with extensive experience in Intellectual Property, media, entertainment, sports, technology, communications, and allied rights. He is a Professor (former Dean of Law), at the School of Law and Security Studies, Babcock University, and is a Senior Partner in the law firm of G.O. Sodipo & Co.

Prof. Sodipo was called to the Nigeria Bar in 1986 after obtaining his LL.B. (Hons) from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). He obtained his LL.M. from the University of Lagos in 1988 and his Ph.D. from the University of London in 1995.

He is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration and ADR Commission, a member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has extensive experience in litigation, mediation, arbitration, and advisory work, particularly in complex contentious and non-contentious matters involving patents, designs, trademarks, copyright, confidential information, sports, entertainment law, technology, communications, and allied rights.

He has litigated on the cutting-edge patents, designs, trade marks, copyright, confidential information, sports, entertainment law and allied rights in Nigeria and he is regularly consulted on the most complex contentious or non-contentious cases and transactions. He pioneered litigation interpreting and enforcing section 30 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) on company names and trade marks. He retrieved the CITI name for the exclusive use of Citi Bank despite Citi’s arguably statute bar hurdle. He blocked the over 200 years-old Honeywell International’s use of the HONEYWELL as a company name in Nigeria, leaving Honeywell Nigeria Plc to enjoy that exclusivity. He litigated and got industry affirmation of the concept of breach of confidential information in Nigeria when a leading international consulting firm settled a claim. His litigation established when self-help cannot be used in intellectual property cases Anton Piller type Orders. He has significant experience advising regulators and challenging regulators without jeopardizing the interests of regulated industries. He has an impressive ADR practice.

Prof. Sodipo has been actively involved in lobbying for, drafting, and advising on laws, regulations, and policies, including the Copyright Act 1988, Copyright Act 2022, and Nigeria’s Intellectual Property Strategy and Policy. He is particularly noted for his work in regulatory reforms, with significant experience advising regulators and challenging regulatory decisions without jeopardising the interests of regulated industries.

His academic contributions include teaching and delivering seminars at Queen Mary University of London, University College London, Nigerian Law School, Pan-Atlantic University, and the University of Cambridge. He has also been a Visiting Scholar and Fellow at Queen Mary University of London and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL). He sits on the Board of a number of organisations including Shelf Drilling Nigeria Ltd and the American Christian Academy GTE Ltd.

Prof. Sodipo is married to Uhunoma Sodipo (aka Auntie Noma), and they are blessed with three children.