Two Nigerians make list of top global IP lawyers ~ Truth Reporters

By Nelson Egware

Who's Who Legal, WWL, based in London, United Kingdom, has named two Nigerian lawyers among the topmost 156 Copyright lawyers in the world.

WWL since 1996 has identified the foremost legal practitioners in multiple areas of business law. The two are: Dr Ogaga Ifowodo and Rockson Igelige.

According to WWL Editorial published on July 20, in its
IP 2022 - Copyright - Legal Marketplace Analysis, identified Remedium’s Ogaga Ifowodo as a highly regarded practitioner with impeccable knowledge of IP rights, particularly when it comes to entertainment and sports law.

The report said Rockson Igelige is a leading IP lawyer who is regularly sought after by clients in the entertainment industry for his stellar practice.

"This year, WWL identifies 156 leading copyright lawyers selected for their outstanding experience advising domestic and international clients on contentious and non-contentious copyright issues.

"The Global Elite Thought Leaders are those individuals who received the highest number of nominations from peers, corporate counsel and other market sources this year.

"Our research has identified them as truly outstanding practitioners and the very best in their field,"

The duo of Ogaga Ifowodo and Rockson Igelige hail from Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State and have been practicing law for decades now as Partners at Remedium Law Partners.

Ogaga Ifowodo, a Nigerian lawyer, scholar, poet, columnist/public commentator and human rights activist. He was awarded the 1998 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award, given to writers "anywhere in the world who have fought courageously in the face of adversity for the right to freedom of expression."

He had his secondary education at Federal Government College, Warri. He studied law at the University of Benin from where he obtained an LL.B in 1989. He was called to the bar in 1991 and has worked for many years as a human rights activist with Nigeria's Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).

He also attended Cornell University, from where he obtained his PhD in 2008. He also holds the Master of Fine Art (MFA) in poetry, and a PhD in English (post-colonial literary/cultural studies) from Cornell University, New York.

He previously taught poetry and literature at Texas State University, San Marcos. His work has been translated into German, Dutch, Romanian, Turkish and Italian. He served as NDDC commissioner representing Delta State from 2016 to 2019. He remains active in the human rights sector, and he currently practices law in Nigeria.

Rockson Igelige, a University of Benin trained Theatre Arts graduate, trained as a lawyer at the Delta State University Oleh campus. He also studied Entertainment Law at the University of Westminster, London.

He has won high profile intellectual property cases in Nigeria was recently listed as a finalist in the British Council Social Action Award category for global Study UK Alumni Awards for 2021-2022.