LIDW26: Relationships Matter

A week on from an incredibly successful London International Disputes Week (LIDW26), I've been reflecting on the many conversations, new connections and opportunities that came from bringing people together. Above all, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you.

One of the highlights of the week was partnering with Lewis Silkin to host From Trust to Transformation: Strengthening Africa–UK Dispute Resolution Partnerships. The session brought together legal leaders from across Africa and the UK and sparked exactly the kind of honest, practical conversations that our profession needs more of.

What stood out most was a simple message: trust and collaboration matter.

Whether it's between clients and lawyers, local and international counsel, institutions or jurisdictions, strong relationships remain at the heart of successful dispute resolution. The discussion reinforced the importance of listening, sharing knowledge, understanding local realities and working together from the outset.

There was also a strong sense that Africa's legal and dispute resolution landscape continues to mature and evolve. While London remains a leading global centre for dispute resolution, African institutions, practitioners and arbitration centres are becoming increasingly influential. That's good for everyone. Stronger legal ecosystems create more choice, more confidence and better outcomes for businesses and investors alike.

At Africa Legal , we see our role as helping to connect those dots.

Our mission has always been simple: to be the gateway to Africa's legal market by building a collaborative legal community across the continent. We believe the greatest opportunities come when people work together, share expertise, build trust and create lasting relationships. Whether it's connecting law firms, in-house counsel, legal professionals, regulators, investors or institutions, our goal is to bring the legal community closer together and create a platform where collaboration thrives.

We are also passionate about supporting and promoting the rule of law across Africa. Strong institutions, transparency, accountability and access to justice are fundamental to economic growth, investment and sustainable development. These are values that unite our community and underpin everything we do.

On behalf of myself, Wendy Bampton and Craig Sisterson , I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a success. Thank you to Fraser Mitchell , Nicola Thompson and the team at Lewis Silkin for their partnership and support. Thank you to Mark Evans , Matthew Readett , the UK Ministry of Justice GREAT Legal Services, The Law Society of England and Wales, and our outstanding panellists Jonathan Sahli , Gwendy Bannerman , Oluseye Opasanya SAN and Eric Gumbo, MBS for sharing their time, expertise and insights.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended, contributed and continues to support the Africa Legal community. You are the reason these conversations matter.

The event may be over, but the relationships, partnerships and conversations will continue. That's where the real value lies.

Thank you for being part of the journey. Together, we're building a stronger, more connected and more collaborative legal community across Africa.

View our full suite of LIDW26 coverage here.