Mr. George Etomi established the Law Firm of George Etomi & Partners in 1984. Prior to this, he worked in one of the premier Commercial Law Firms in Nigeria, Chris Ogunbanjo & Co.

He has vast experience in various areas of commercial law. He has represented clients on a variety of corporate and commercial transactions including public and private offerings, privatisation and major project finance transactions.

Some of his achievements and awards include the following:

• Member, Body of Benchers – The highest regulatory body of the Legal Profession in Nigeria.
• Conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award in 2014 for contribution to the development of law by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (FNIALS) – 2013. The Institute named a Centre after him: “The George Etomi Centre for Strategic Investment and Corporate Governance”, and a Professorial Chair has also been named after him at the Institute.
• Director, Eko Electricity Distribution PLC in Lagos, Nigeria.

• Pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law.
• Vice Chairman, National Advisory Council of Designated Non-Financial Institutions, a body set up by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML).
• Special Adviser to the International Trade in Legal Services Committee of the Bar Issues Commission of the IBA- this is the Body tasked with reviewing the rules for cross border legal services pursuant to the WTO directive.
• Honorary Membership in the Association of Fellows and Legal Scholars of the Centre for International Legal Studies in Austria and a member of the Congress of Fellows of the same institution.

Mr. Etomi is a published author of several articles and newspaper publications including his latest book titled, An Introduction to Commercial Law in Nigeria, where Mr. Etomi brings to bear his over 40 years experience in commercial law practice in Nigeria.

Amb. Faizel Ishmael currently teaches at the University of Cape Town and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Economics, and an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Law. He has a PhD in Politics from the University of Manchester; an MPhil in Development Studies from IDS, Sussex, and; BA and LLB Degrees from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg) in South Africa.

Previous Professional Responsibilities: He has served as the Ambassador Permanent Representative of South Africa to the WTO (2010-2014). Prior to this he was the Deputy Director General for International Trade and Economic Development (ITED) in the Department of Trade and Industry. As South Africa’s Chief Trade Negotiator, since 1994, he led the new democratic South Africa’s trade negotiations with the European Union (EU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and several other bilateral trading partners including the US, India, and Brazil. He has led South Africa’s negotiations in the WTO from 2002 to 2014.

WTO Chairs: He has served as the Chair of the WTO Committee on Trade and Development negotiating group (CTDSS) for two years (2004-2006), the Chair of the WTO Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) for one year (2006/7) and the Chair of the WTO Committee on Trade, Debt and Finance (WGTDF) for two years (2012-2014). He has also served as Chair of the Annual Meeting of the International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva.

Ambassador Adeyemi Dipeolu is Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters in the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria. His work and interests have evolved around, economic development, trade, industrial policy and diplomacy including the negotiation of economic agreements and strategic management.

Dr. Dipeolu was Director of the Capacity Development Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). In this role he led ECA’s innovative work on Transformative Industrial Policy and on Conflict and Development in Africa. He was also Member of the Technical Committee and Head of Secretariat of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa.

Dr. Dipeolu’s earlier assignments at the Economic Commission for Africa included serving as Chief of Staff and as Coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre. Before joining ECA, Dr. Dipeolu was in the Nigerian Foreign Service and served in Geneva, Pretoria, Addis Ababa and Caracas. He has also been Special Assistant in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria.

Dr. Dipeolu obtained his B.Sc degree in economics from the University of Ife where he won the National Award and UAC of Nigeria Higher Education Award. He attended the Oxford University Foreign Service Programme as a Chevening Scholar and graduated with all round distinction. He obtained his M.Phil degree in the Economics and Politics of Development with distinction from University of Cambridge where he also won the Jennings Prize for outstanding performance. He obtained his doctorate degree in economics from the University of South Africa.

Dr. Dipeolu retired from the Foreign Service and United Nations in 2015 before taking up his present assignment and is a member of the Economic Management Team, National Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council, Micro, small and .Medium Enterprises Council, National Council on Procurement and the National Council on Privatization. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Lead City University, Ibadan and on the Board of Trustees of the Visiola Foundation dedicated to the advancement of girl child education.