UC Law seminar looks at law and business in Sub-Saharan Africa

With a rapidly developing economy, growing population and rising standard of living, Sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly attracting attention as a target for investment and business development. 

The University of Cincinnati College of Law, along with event sponsors, will bring together attorneys from across the globe to discuss law and business in this region at the seminar “Law and Business in Sub-Saharan Africa." The event will be held 9-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, at the law offices of Graydon Head & Ritchey, 312 Walnut St., Ste. 1800.

CLE: 2 hours (OH and KY) Cost: For CLE credit, $75 until March 31; $100 after. Attendance without CLE: $25

Register for the seminar here: https://foundation.uc.edu/globallaw  

John Pinney, partner at law firm Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP and an adjunct professor at the UC College of Law, will offer an introduction to international arbitration in Sub-Saharan Africa as a means to enforce contract rights and approach dispute resolution matters. Pinney recently returned from training attorneys in Africa.

Former Ambassador Tom McDonald, partner in the Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP  Washington, D.C. office, will present on best practices for doing law and business in Africa based on his many years of experience in the region. McDonald served as U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 1997- 2001 and currently leads Vorys’ administrative and regulatory law and governmental policy practice. He will discuss issues including rule of law, enforceability of contracts, corruption, and access to government officials.   

Additional guest speakers include Cincinnati Law LLM attorney students:

• Festus Adewopo (Nigeria), president and founder of the Nigerian NGO You and I For Development Initiative
• Olukemi Hambolu (Nigeria), partner at Grace-Field Solicitors in Lagos
• Kitso Matlhape (Botswana), volunteer with The Voice of a Child & Youth Engagement NGO and recipient of the first LLM Human Rights Fellowship

Net proceeds will benefit the University of Cincinnati College of Law’s Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team competing in Hong Kong.

Thanks to event sponsors: the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Southern Ohio District Export Council, and the Cincinnati Bar Association.