Dr. Ugochukwu (Ugo) Ukpabi
Dr. Ugo Ukpabi has over fifteen years law practice experience in the areas of corporate/commercial law; foreign investment law−particularly with respect to the oil and gas industry; negotiating and drafting complex commercial agreements between foreign companies and their Nigerian partners; preparing due diligence and title chart reports; preparing ground breaking opinions concerning compliance risks and business integrity; and reviewing compliance requirements for clients mandated under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) USA, and the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, Canada.
A former intern at the Legal Affairs Division and consultant to the World Trade Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, Mr. Ukpabi also conducted research as a Hugo Grotius fellow, University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, USA.
Prior to joining Sophos Juristes, Mr. Ukpabi ran his own law firm in Calgary, Alberta, having articled and worked as an associate at Gowlings LLP, a major Canadian law firm. Currently, Mr. Ukpabi sits on the Advisory Panel to the office of Extractive Sector Counsellor, Corporate Social Responsibility, Toronto, Canada.a.

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 		Professional Memberships and Associations

Nigerian Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association
Canada Corporate Governance Group

 
Honours and Awards

 

Peter Hogg Pre-Doctoral Fellow

Doctoral dissertation nominated best overall dissertation, Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University, Toronto, Canada

Awarded the prestigious Hugo Grotius Fellowship to conduct research at the University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, USA 

 
 
Education

PhD Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Canada

MA (Legal Studies) Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

LL.M Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

LL.B (Hons.) University of Nigeria, (UNN) Enugu Campus, Nigeria

BL (Nigerian Law School) 

 
Bar Admission
Nigeria (1995)
Alberta, Canada (2008)
Select Publications
  • “ICSID Tribunal Applies Ad Hoc Approach to Confidentiality in Arbitral Proceeding,” Investment Treaty News (ITN), March 2010, 1
  • “A Judicial Rendition of ‘To Earn’ Under CAPL 1990,” vol. 6 no 10 Energy@gowlings, 2008
  • “Juridical Substance or Myth over Balance-of-Payment: Developing Countries and the Role of the International Monetary Fund in the World Trade Organization,” vol. 26 no 2 Michigan Journal of International Law, 2005