Profile description
Chima frequently travels to London for interlocutory hearings, case and costs management conferences, trials and appeals, as well as appearing in English courts remotely from Nigeria. Working remotely from Nigeria, Chima liaises closely with clients and solicitors in England, holding conferences, receiving instructions and drafting court documents. Thanks to technology, he can work effectively from any location and clients often comment on the speed and accuracy of his work.
Professional Regulation
Chima has experience of advising and representing professionals faced with hearings before a variety of regulatory panels in a range of professional contexts, including healthcare. Chima is very happy to accept direct access work in this area, especially in relation to fitness to practice issues and appeals. His expertise in the field of Professional Regulation includes:
- Advising on and responding to allegations at the investigatory stage
- Alternative disposal
- Interim order hearings
- Applications to extend interim orders in the High Court
- All types of case including misconduct, dishonesty and professional conduct
- Appeals
- Applications to restore
Immigration
Advising clients on how to make visa applications, particularly those applying from Nigeria to the UK, completing visa application forms, preparing covering letters to support applications to the British High Commission and applications for judicial review where applications have been refused, representation at immigration tribunals.
Commercial law
Advising on all legal aspects of commercial transactions including drafting and vetting contracts, drafting letters of claim and responding to them, drafting court documents and court representation. Chima has experience of high-value and complex proceedings, listed before the High Court. He accepts instructions to advise and represent clients in relation to all manner of commercial proceedings, including contractual disputes, debt recovery and commercial insolvency.
Family law - Child Arrangements and Divorce and Finance
Chima accepts instructions to advise and represent clients in relation to contested divorce proceedings, financial settlement after divorce, child arrangements orders including international residency and child abduction, particularly between the UK and Nigeria. Chima offers specific experience of financial settlement proceedings featuring an international element where assets (often in property) are held overseas, particularly in Nigeria. Chima also accepts instructions from clients to advise and represent them in relation to CMS Tribunal appeals.
Employment law
Chima accepts instructions to advise and represent clients in relation to a wide range of claims in the Employment Tribunal. His diet of employment law instructions includes unfair and constructive dismissal, discrimination claims and whistleblowing. He also accepts instructions to deal with breach of contract and unpaid wages claims in the County Court.
Property law
Acting for landlords and tenants in disputes, co-ownership disputes, trusts and probate matters, advising on commercial property issues and drafting pleadings
Direct access and solicitor appointed
Qualified under the Direct Access scheme, Chima is instructed directly by members of the public as well as by solicitors. Chima regularly helps husbands and wives settle big money divorce cases, as well as helping clients draft successful applications for judicial review following visa rejection. With many years of experience working directly with members of the public, Chima has a personable approach and a desire to help others understand the complex legal system. All of his clients appreciate the pace at which he works and the depth of his experience in UK & Nigerian Law.
Professional qualifications & associations
- Called to the Nigerian Bar as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1986
- Called to the English Bar by the Honourable Soclety of the Inner Temple in 1991
- Master of Laws (LLM) – University of London, LSE
- Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons) – University of Nigeria
- ILEX Diploma in Criminal Litigation
- Elected full member of The Academy of Experts as a Nigerian Barrister
- Elected member of The Expert Witness Institute
