Dorothy Udeme Ufot is a preeminent Nigerian lawyer and arbitrator, recognized as the first woman from Akwa Ibom State to attain the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in April 2009. She is the Founding and Managing Partner of Dorothy Ufot & Co, a leading Lagos-based law firm where she heads the International Arbitration and Litigation departments.
Her practice specializes in commercial litigation, investment treaty arbitration, and the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and a Chartered Arbitrator, with extensive experience acting as an arbitrator for institutions such as the ICC, ICSID, and LCIA. In 2020, she was awarded African Arbitrator of the Year by the African Arbitration Association.
Beyond her private practice, Ufot has held significant corporate and institutional roles, including serving as an Independent Non-Executive Director for Dangote Cement Plc and previously for Chevron Oil Nigeria and MRS Oil Nigeria. She has also served on the governing council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and was a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris from 2006 to 2018.
Dorothy Udeme Ufot is a distinguished Nigerian lawyer and arbitrator, widely recognized for her expertise in commercial litigation and international arbitration. She is the first woman from Akwa Ibom State to be elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in April 2009.
Legal Career & Arbitration
- Founder & Managing Partner: She established her firm, Dorothy Ufot & Co., in 1994, where she heads the International Arbitration and Litigation departments.
- Arbitration Expertise: Ufot is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and a Chartered Arbitrator. She has served as an arbitrator in high-value disputes involving oil & gas, infrastructure, and telecommunications.
- Dorothy is a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (CIMAC) Morocco, since 2016.
- ICC Service: She was a Member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris from 2006 to 2018 and served as a Global Vice-President of the ICC Commission on Arbitration (2014–2016).
- Awards: She was named African Arbitrator of the Year in 2020 by the African Arbitration Association.
Corporate Governance & Board Positions
Ufot has held significant non-executive directorships and leadership roles:
- Dangote Cement Plc: Appointed as the first female Independent Non-Executive Director in April 2016. (Note: Market data indicates her term as director ended in mid-2025).
- LEAP Africa: Serves as Chairman of the board (since 2018).
- Other Boards: Former Non-Executive Director of MRS Oil Nigeria Plc (formerly Chevron Oil Nigeria), SO&U Limited, and a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Education & Background
- B.Sc. Political Science: University of Calabar (1983).
- LL.B. Law: University of Lagos (1988).
- LL.M. Law: University of Lagos (1996).
- Call to Bar: Admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1989.
Ufot is frequently cited in Who’s Who Law as a leading expert in commercial arbitration and is recognized for her contributions to advancing legal standards and diversity in the Nigerian legal sector.