Dr Chukwuma Okoli

• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Amsterdam/TMC Asser Institute, 2019 -2021
• PhD, University of Luxembourg, 2018
• LLM, University of Aberdeen, 2012
• BL, Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, 2008
• LLB, University of Benin, Nigeria, 2007

He is an Assistant Professor in Commercial Conflict of Laws at the University of Birmingham, Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg, one of the editors on conflictoflaws.net, and a co-founder of the Nigerian Group on Private International Law.

He is, inter alia, the author of two major monographs/books published in 2020 in the Hart Studies on Private International Law: ‘Place of Performance: A Comparative Analysis’, and ‘Private International Law in Nigeria.’ He is an elected Member of the International Academy of Comparative Law and endorsed by the British Academy as an Exceptional Talent under the UK Global Talent Visa scheme. This endorsement represents formal recognition by the British Academy of his “international reputation”, “impact”, and “established leadership” in research, following a rigorous peer-review process.

Prior to joining the University of Birmingham, he was inter alia a Postdoctoral Researcher at TMC Asser Institute/University of Amsterdam for well over two years, a Teaching Fellow at the Faculty of Law, University of Luxembourg for about four years, where he taught Comparative Private International Law, Comparative English Law of Contract, and Comparative English Law of Tort. He has a special interest in international commercial litigation or commercial conflict of laws.

He is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria since 2008. He practiced law in reputable law firms for about three years in the area of domestic and international commercial transactions. He also holds an LLM in International Commercial Law (with distinction) from the University of Aberdeen and undertook his PhD in commercial conflict of laws (University of Luxembourg), where his PhD was without corrections. He graduated with a Second Class Upper Division both at the University of Benin, Nigeria in 2007, and Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus in 2008.

His principal research interest is in all aspects of Private International Law/Conflict of Laws, with a special focus on global perspectives, Nigeria, Africa, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Asia. He has significant publications on these subjects. He has been invited to speak at numerous international conferences, including delivering a keynote address and a distinguished public lecture. He has also provided expert opinions on Nigerian law to Dutch courts.

He is particularly interested in the development of private international law in Africa and is working closely with other scholars to improve the subject in Africa.

• Commercial Conflict of Laws at Postgraduate (Seminar Leader)
• Financing of International Trade at Postgraduate
• Equity and Trusts at Undergraduate

Commercial Conflict of Laws and International Commercial Litigation

Find out more - our PhD Law  page has information about doctoral research at the University of Birmingham.