Nania Owusu-Ankomah, FCIArb, partner at Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah, has been appointed Vice President of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), marking a notable expansion of African representation within one of the world’s most influential commercial arbitration bodies.
Effective 20 May 2026, the appointment positions a West African practitioner within the institutional core responsible for applying LCIA Rules across high-value international disputes. The move carries significance beyond symbolism. Arbitration involving African infrastructure, energy and cross-border investment projects has increased in scale and complexity, while disputes tied to English law contracts continue to shape commercial risk allocation across the continent.
Owusu-Ankomah previously served as an LCIA Court Member and played a prominent role within the LCIA African Users’ Council. Her elevation reflects a broader institutional recognition that disputes connected to African markets increasingly require regional commercial understanding alongside global legal expertise.
For multinational companies and general counsel, the development may strengthen confidence in the availability of arbitrators and institutional leadership with practical familiarity across overlapping legal systems, including common law and OHADA-influenced frameworks. It also signals a gradual redistribution of influence within international dispute resolution, where African practitioners are moving from participation to governance.
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