Senior Associate I (Dispute Resolution and Litigation) at Domeo Resources International (DRI)

 The Senior Associate for Dispute Resolution and Litigation is the firm\'s specialist in contentious matters - leading all arbitration proceedings, commercial litigation, and dispute resolution mandates under the direct supervision and alongside the Founder and Chair. 

This role exists because disputes arise from every service line the firm operates. Each of these requires a practitioner with the skills to run proceedings from pleadings through to award or judgment, and appeals. That is this role. 

Junior Associate 1 reports to and is developed by this Senior Associate, creating a two-person Dispute Resolution team capable of running concurrent matters.

Role Responsibilities

Dispute Resolution Practice

• Lead all arbitration proceedings - domestic and international -before the various Courts of Arbitration, the Respective Multi-Door Courthouses, and any other arbitral tribunal 
• Conduct commercial litigation proceedings before the Federal High Court of Nigeria, State High Courts, and other all courts of superior record on behalf of the firm\'s clients 
• Advise clients on dispute strategy - whether to litigate, arbitrate, mediate, or pursue structured negotiation 
• Lead all dispute mandates and proceedings under the Founder and Chair\'s supervision 
• Draft all court processes from the trial court (Statement of Claim, Originating Summons, etc., Affidavits, written addresses) to appellate courts (Notice of Appeal, Brief of Arguments, etc.) 
• Carry out in-depth legal research and draft legal opinions. 
• Handle enforcement of judgments and foreign arbitral awards in Nigeria, recognition proceedings under the New York Convention 1958 and the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 
• Conduct pre-litigation advisory, demand letters, negotiation strategy, without-prejudice communications, and settlement structuring 

Team and Matter Management

• Supervise, train, and develop Junior Associate 1 - assigning research tasks, reviewing drafted pleadings, providing daily guidance, and conducting monthly development reviews 
• Manage the dispute resolution matter pipeline - file management, deadlines, court calendars, and client update schedules 
• Draft all pleadings, statements of claim, witness statements, skeleton arguments, and arbitration submissions to a publishable standard 
• .Prepare clients for hearings, cross-examination, and witness testimony

Experience/Qualification

• Minimum 5 years post-call Nigerian legal practice, with a clear focus on dispute resolution (arbitration and/or commercial litigation) 
• Valid current-year Nigerian Bar Association PracticingCertificate (mandatory) 
• Demonstrable experience conducting litigation and arbitrations - ideally as lead or sole counsel on at least two matters. 
• Federal High Court, State High Court experience, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court experience. 
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators membership is a strong advantage 
• Experience with cross-border disputes and enforcement of foreign awards is a strong advantage

Competencies/Skills

• Drafting and reviewing legal documents, contracts, and pleadings
• Handling dispute resolution processes (mediation, arbitration, negotiation)
• Litigation management and court procedures knowledge
• Legal research and case law analysis
• Risk assessment and compliance advisory
• Client representation and advocacy in disputes
• Evaluating case merits and litigation strategy
• Monitoring case progress and performance metrics
•  Process improvement in dispute resolution workflows

Behavioural Qualities/Other Competences

• Effective verbal and written communication
• Leadership and mentoring of junior legal staff
• Problem-solving and strategic thinking
• Professionalism and ethical judgment
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy under pressure