African lawyers Bababode Adesoji, Demilade Elemo and Mohamed Gomaa added to 2026-2028 Young ITA Board

Nigerian dispute resolution lawyer Bababode Adesoji, a senior associate at innovative Lagos firm Chris Ogunbanjo LP, says he is honoured to have been named among the new 2026-2028 Board Members and Co-Chairs for Young ITA.

Adesoji is a new Africa Co-Chair, joining Joy Mgbado, a Managing Associate at ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode, who last year became Africa Co-Chair on the Young ITA Board for 2025-2027. Kenyan commercial lawyer Dr Paul Kimani, the Managing Partner of Paul Andrew Advocates, has now finished his term as Africa Co-Chair.

The young professionals branch of the Institute of Transnational Arbitration (ITA), a Texas-based global non-profit, the Young ITA announced its 2026–2028 Co-Chairs, proudly welcoming “an outstanding group of young leaders from across the globe” to help advance its mission to support growth, leadership development, mentorship, innovation, and global connection among young arbitration practitioners.

Along with Adesoji, two other African practitioners joined the 2026-2028 cohort.

Demilade Elemo MCIArb, an academic and solicitor qualified in Nigeria and Scotland, was named International Communications Co-Chair. A lecturer in Law at Dundee Business School, she has previously worked at AELEX and the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, and is currently completing a PhD in international investment law, with a focus on renewable energy disputes, at the University of Dundee.

Dr Mohamed Gomaa, an experienced Egyptian arbitrator and judge specialising in investment, infrastructure, and state contract disputes, was named Middle East & North Africa Co-Chair for 2026-2028. His extensive leadership in the international arbitration community includes roles as a Board Member of the KIAC Panel of Arbitrators, the AIAC YPG Council, and the CIArb YMG Global Steering Committee. He is a registered arbitrator with the Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, and the Founder of the Energy Related Arbitration Practitioners (ENERAP) Chapter in Egypt.

Elemo, who previously served as Africa Co-Chair a few years ago, says she is pleased to be back on the Board, and honoured to serve with such an amazing team. “We have exciting things planned and look forward to sharing it with you all.”

Young ITA promotes the involvement of young professionals in the international arbitration community through programs, publications and other activities. Membership is free and open to all young arbitration practitioners, law students, and other professionals under 40 years old with an interest in international arbitration.