Mark Mordi

Mark is a Partner at ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode. Heis a seasoned legal practitioner with a track record in Litigation, Arbitration, and matters involving deploying other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in commercial disputes.

Mark joined the firm of Aluko & Oyebode (Barristers & Solicitors) in July 1995 as an Associate. He is currently a Partner and core member of the firm’s Litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practice Group, heads the firm’s Maritime, Shipping and Aviation practice and advises on all aspects of Maritime, Shipping and Admiralty Law. He also heads the firm’s Intellectual Property and Litigation Practice and has advised on all aspects of these sectors. In December 2021, the Nigerian Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee conferred him with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Mark specialises in commercial litigation and his work experience spans an extensive range of issues, including those pertaining to oil and gas, admiralty, intellectual property, construction contracts, aviation, franchising disputes, debt recoveries, finance and banking, commercial law transactions, stock market infractions and general civil litigation matters both at the trial and appellate levels. He is a seasoned litigator who has successfully carved a niche for himself in maritime enforcement matters andnegotiating out-of-court settlements in favour of his clients in this area. He advises on all aspects of the Nigerian Litigation practice and procedure.

Mark has represented various foreign and multinational companies, telecommunication companies and banks in ad-hoc arbitrations and arbitrations administered by arbitral institutions, such as the International Court of Arbitration, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC), amongst others. He renders legal advice on a wide range of commercial transactions.

Mark’s expertise is well recognised in the public domain, including publications such as Who’s Who Legal Nigeria 2012, where he was described as a legal practitioner with an “astute legal mind”. The Intellectual Market Place Analysis 2013 describes him as an “excellent negotiator” and a “formidable litigator”.

Mark has a sound understanding of the Maritime and Shipping practice. His very pragmatic approach to dispute resolution and strategy and resolute commitment to the best interest of his clients in transactions and the inevitable attendant success, makes him an invaluable member of the team.

• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK
• Certified Mediator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria Branch
• Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
• Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL)
• Anti-Counterfeiting Committee of the International Trademarks Association
• Former member, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee in the International Trademarks Association
• International Bar Association
• Panel of Neutrals at the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA)
• Panel of Neutrals at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC)

1989: Called to the Nigerian Bar

1988: University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria, LL.B. (Hons)

2003 to Date: Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria

2000-2003: Senior Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria

1995-1999: Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria

• Chambers Global: 2023 Band 2 Ranking, Intellectual Property – Nigeria
• Legal 500: Leading Individual, Nigeria Shipping and Transport, 2022
• Chambers Global: 2022 Band 2 Ranking, Intellectual Property – Nigeria
• Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Recommended National Leader, Nigeria – Intellectual Property and Litigation 2021
• In 2021, he was elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) (the Nigerian equivalent of a Queen’s Counsel)

“Mark handles significant IP litigation.” — Chambers Global, 2022

“Mark Mordi is renowned for his representation of major consumer products and pharmaceutical companies in complex IP litigation, including patent and trademark mandates”. — Who’s Who Legal (WWL)

“Mark Mordi has extensive experience of advising on aviation and maritime transactions, as well as contentious work.” — Legal 500

General Civil Litigation

• Acting as lead counsel for an automobile service company in connection with a contract of employment dispute at the National Industrial Court.
• Acting as lead counsel for a global company in connection with an employment matter at the National Industrial Court.
• Acting as lead counsel for a special purpose vehicle in connection with a land dispute at the High Court of Lagos State.
• Acting as lead counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with an appeal arising from a dispute relating to the exercise of the commission’s statutory powers.
• Acting as lead counsel for the Nigerian Registry of the .ng country code Top Level Domain Name in connection with a dispute at the High Court of Lagos State arising from the refusal of the Registry to issue a domain name.
• Acting as lead counsel in a trademark and domain name dispute between a leading global manufacturer of irrigation products and an engineering firm at the Federal High Court, Lagos, Nigeria.
• Acting as lead counsel on behalf of an International Beverage Company in connection with a trademark dispute at the Federal High Court, Lagos Nigeria.
• Acting as lead Counsel in connection with a dispute between the Industrial Training Fund and the representative office of an international universal Bank, arising from the liability of the representative office to contribute to the Training Fund.
• Acting as lead counsel in connection with two disputes between the representatives of a Niger-Delta Kingdom and an oil and gas company in Nigeria, arising from an alleged oil spill in the kingdoms, at the Federal High Court, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
• Acting as lead counsel for the respondent in connection with a criminal appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, bordering on the offences of Conspiracy and Robbery. This matter was reported in [2018] LPELR-44775 (SC).
• Acting as lead counsel for the respondent in connection with a criminal appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, bordering on the offences of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted armed robbery. Reported in [2016] LPELR-40633 (SC).

Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

• Acting as a mediator in connection with a domain name/cyber-squatting dispute between the Nigerian registry of the .ng internet domain name and a domain name registrant, arising from the illegitimate use of the Domain Name by a Third party.
• Speaking at Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC) Webinar, (April 2020)- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a tool for resolving Intellectual Property (IP) Disputes
• Acting as lead dounsel in connection with an ad-hoc arbitration under the Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1988, a dispute arising from a Logistics contract for a multi-national brewing and distillery company in Lagos, Nigeria. Acting as lead counsel in connection with an ad-hoc arbitration under the Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1988, a dispute arising from a Contract Canning Agreement for a multi-national brewing and distillery company in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Acting as lead counsel in connection with an ad-hoc arbitration under the Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1988, a dispute arising from the leasing of a downstream oil facility in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Acting as lead counsel in connection with an ad-hoc arbitration under the Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1988, a dispute arising from the performance of a logistics and haulage contract for a multi-national brewing and distillery company (Documents only) in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Acting as co-counsel with Mr Babatunde J. Fagbohunlu, SAN in connection with an ad-hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules of Arbitration, a construction dispute arising from a contract for engineering, procurement and construction works for the Bonny Oil Export Terminal in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Acting as co-counsel in connection with an ad-hoc arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, a dispute over an Initial Public Offering underwriting dispute for thirteen Nigerian banks in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Acting as co-counsel in connection with an ad-hoc arbitration, a dispute arising from a contract for engineering, procurement and construction works for a Gas Plant facility for an international oil company in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Acting as co-counsel in connection the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration, a Marginal Oilfield Joint Venture Agreement dispute in Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana.
• Acting as co-counsel in connection with a UNCITRAL arbitration, a contractual dispute between a multi-national oil services company and an English consultancy company in London United Kingdom.

Admiralty and Shipping

• Acting as lead counsel for a shipowner in connection with a maritime claim for services rendered to a ship at the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.
• Acting as lead counsel for a shipowner in connection with the release of a ship arrested within the Nigerian territorial waters at the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

Oil & Gas

• Acting as lead counsel for an international beverage company in connection with an appeal arising from a trademark infringement dispute.

Aviation

• Representing an international airline in connection with all actions commenced against and for the airline in Nigeria.

Commercial Law Disputes

• Acting as lead counsel for a cargo carrier in connection with a dispute arising out of a contract for the sale of goods at the Court of Appeal Lagos, Nigeria.
• Acting as lead Counsel for an international agricultural company in connection with a breach of crop distribution agreement dispute at the Federal High Court Lagos, Nigeria.

Banking & Finance

• Acting as lead counsel for a Nigerian bank in connection with a banking transaction related Dispute at the Federal High Court Lagos, Nigeria.

Debt Recovery

• Acting as lead counsel for Oriental Food Industry in connection with a debt recovery action at the High Court of Lagos State, Nigeria.
• Acting as lead counsel for a global international company in connection with a debt recovery action against an airline in Nigeria at the High Court of Lagos State, Nigeria.