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

Chukwuma is an Assistant Professor in Commercial Conflict of Laws at the University of Birmingham, one of the editors on conflictoflaws.net, and a co-founder of both the Nigerian Group on Private International Law, and Interest Group on Private International Law in Africa. He is, inter alia, the author of two leading monographs published in Hart Studies on Private International Law, both in 2020: "Place of Performance: A Comparative Analysis", and "Private International Law in Nigeria" (with Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong.)

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 and commercial conflict of laws.

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, United Kingdom, the European Union and Asia. He has significant publications on these subjects and is frequently cited in academic publication.

In Birmingham Law School, he has taught across five modules including: Equity and Trusts, Tort, and Private International Law to undergraduate students, and Commercial Conflict of Laws and Financing of International Trade to postgraduate students. He is the joint module leader for Equity and Trusts, and module leader for both Commercial Conflict of Laws.

Chukwuma is qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria for over 15 years. He has also previously practiced law in Nigeria before moving abroad. He has frequently given expert evidence on Nigerian law in foreign proceedings, such as Dutch courts. He is available as an expert on matters of Nigerian law before foreign courts and as an academic consultant in relation to all aspects of international civil litigation.

• 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.

My research is focused on conflict of laws with a special focus on global comparative perspectives, international commercial litigation in Nigeria, Africa, United Kingdom, and the European Union.