Dafe Ugbeta

Dafe is a forward-thinking dispute lawyer and heads the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution team. He specialises in commercial litigation and managing complex regulatory compliance disputes/risks with focus on those related to environmental pollution, oil & gas controls/licensing, contracts, taxation, debt recovery, employment/industrial relations, power & infrastructure and land acquisitions. In addition to being the head of the firm’s dispute resolution practice, Dafe has vast experience in providing expert legal advice on corporate and commercial matters, particularly relating to land use planning, environmental permitting, property finance and leasing, legal due diligence & compliance, and has assisted clients (both local and international clients) with advisory work to find needed solutions for their projects and transactions.

Prior to joining to co-found Aret & Bret, Dafe was a Senior Counsel at the largest integrated law firm in Nigeria and was a key member of the firm’s dispute resolution and tax (DRT) practice for 16 years. He is a clever and relentless litigator and has proven record of winning/defending significant cases for his clients before various Nigerian courts and quasi-judicial bodies, most of which have been widely reported. 

Dafe is also an avid writer and has authored and co-authored several legal articles, particularly on issues relating to environmental law, sustainability and future generations. He enjoys playing table tennis at his leisure time and an ardent supporter of Real Madrid and Leicester City football clubs.

2022 – University of South Wales, LL.M
2015 – University of Kent, LL.M in Environmental Law & Policy
2004 – Admitted to the Nigerian Bar
2003 – Delta State University, LL.B

• Refined Advocate Training, organised by The Civility Institute, 2022
• Business Skills Training organised by Allen & Overy Global Academy, 2021
• Practical Insights into the Nigerian Tax System, training organised by NBA/ICLE Tax Academy, 2021
• Dispute Management in Africa Infrastructure Projects, training organised by LACIAC/ACEN, Lagos, Nigeria, 2019
• Managing Corporate Crisis, training organised by Slaughter & May Africa Practice Group, Lagos, Nigeria, 2019
• Regulatory and Compliance Regimes in Nigeria, training organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, Nigeria, 2018
• Arbitration Advocacy for Lawyers, training organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom 2017
• Negotiating & Drafting Dispute Resolution Agreements, in-house training organised by the Dispute Resolution team of Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria 2017
• Litigation Initiatives for Trial Lawyers, in-house training organised by the Dispute Resolution team of Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria 2016

• Unicaf Scholarship Award for LLM Research, 2019
• Global Skills Award, Kent Graduate School, United Kingdom 2014

• Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

• NBA Section on Legal Practice

• The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)

• Association of Environmental Lawyers of Nigeria

• Nigerian Environmental Society

• Admiralty Lawyers Association of Nigeria

• ‘Proper Interpretation of the Oil Pipelines Act on Payment of Compensation to Victims of Oil Pipelines Operations in Nigeria: A Critique of the Hague Court of Appeal’s Decision in Fidelis Ayoro Oguru & 2 Ors. v Shell Petroleum N.V. & 3 Ors.’ 2022. (co-authored with Tonye Krukrubo, SAN and Samuel Tsado)

• ‘Court Declares the Taxes and Levies Act 2004 Unconstitutional for Containing an Ouster Clause’ 2021. (co-authored with Morris Odeh)

• ‘Establishing Breach of Duty of Care in Negligence Claims: Issues and Practical Considerations’ 2021

• ‘Corporate Personality and the Doctrine of Lifting the Veil: Rethinking Salomon v Salomon in the light of recent UK Supreme Court Decisions’ 2021.

• ‘A Critique of Milton Friedman’s Theory on Corporate Social Responsibility’ 2021.

• ‘Human Rights Protection in Nigeria: Reflections on the Legal Regime, Identified Weaknesses and the Need for Reforms’ 2020

• ‘Labour Outsourcing and Contract Staffing: Analysing the Liabilities of Labour Contractors and End Users under Nigerian Law’ 2020 11:3 The Gravitas Review of Business & Property Law 14 – 22 (co-authored with Morris Odeh)

• ‘Overview of the Doctrines of Duress, Undue Influence and Unconscionable Contracts under English Law’ 2020.

• ‘Evaluating the Current Trend in Oil Spill Litigation in Nigeria’ 2020 (co-authored with Tonye Krukrubo, SAN and Samuel Tsado)

• ‘Overview of the Role of Party Autonomy and its Limitations in International Commercial Arbitration’ 2020

• ‘An Appraisal of the Essential Requirements of a Valid and Enforceable Award’ 2017

• ‘Reflections on the Relevance of Private and Public Nuisance in Environmental Protection’ 2016

• ‘An Assessment of the European Union’s Efforts in Tackling Global Climate Change’ 2016

• ‘An Assessment of the Corporate Manslaughter Bill 2015 as Drafted and its Implications for Corporate Entities in Nigeria’ 2016

• ‘Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the UK: does the new regime for their protection strike a fair balance between private rights and public interests?’ 2015