Mrs Olufunmilayo Roberts LL.B (Hons), LL.M, C.Arb, FICIArb., CEDR-Accredited mediator.

Funmi Roberts, a Chartered Arbitrator, member of the Panel of Global Mediators of Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and experienced corporate law practitioner, possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills. With tenacity, focus and determination, Funmi has built one of the leading female-owned, value-driven legal and ADR law firms in Nigeria, Funmi Roberts & Co. with 3 offices in Nigeria, including Lagos. She heads the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Unit of the firm’s Dispute Resolution Department.

Her appointment as a member of ICC Arbitration and ADR Commission (the Commission) was recently renewed for a 2nd term, and she serves on Track 4 National Courts and ADR of the Commission’s Task Force on Arbitration and ADR as well as the Task Force on the Acceleration of Arbitration Related Litigation.
Funmi who served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Branch of the Institute in 2014, is a Tutor and Assessor for the Nigeria Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, for both Arbitration and Mediation, having attended the Trainer of Trainers course for CIARB’s Mediation training in year 2018. She is also a member of the Training Faculty of CEDR.

Funmi was recently appointed to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague as one of Nigeria's representatives.

She is a member of the Arbitration Committee of International Bar Association, London Court of International Arbitration, Guild of Adjudicators of Nigeria, Co-Chairman of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre. Funmi recently completed her term as member of the Board of Directors of Lagos Court of Arbitration. She also recently left the Governing Board of the Oyo State Multidoor Courthouse.

Apart from all these, Funmi serves as a member of several panels including the Dispute Resolution Panel of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), panels of neutrals of several multidoor courthouses

Funmi is a member of the United Nations Global Mediation Panel and she recently left as Africa Regional Mediator for the World Bank.

Funmi was chairman of Nigeria's National Committee on the Repeal and Reform of Nigeria's Arbitration and Conciliation Act (Nigeria's domestic governing law on arbitration) which saw her leading the team that produced the current law on Arbitration in Nigeria, the Arbitration and Mediation Act, 2023.

She has acted as either sole or member of a panel of arbitrators in several dispute subjects in different areas including construction, commercial transactions, oil and gas, marine, transportation etc

Funmi Roberts is the Co-Visioner of the Covid-19 ADR Initiative (CADR), an initiative that promotes the use of ADR mechanisms for the settlement of COVID-19 related disputes outside of litigation at low cost without compromising quality.

After undertaking several trainings, she competently teaches and also undertake online/virtual dispute resolution services using different platforms such as Zoom, Teams etc.