JEE People
Uwa Ohiku

Uwa Ohiku

Senior Partner

Uwa is a distinguished Senior Partner in our Intellectual Property Practice, renowned for her tailored and commercially sound advice. She is a trusted advisor to many, helping clients navigate complex international IP landscapes and maximize the value of their IP assets. Uwa is the go-to person for complex matters and enjoys mentoring teams.

About

Uwa is a trailblazer, being the first Nigerian appointed by WIPO's Arbitration & Mediation Center to handle domain disputes. She has also handled cases under Nigeria's Dispute Resolution Policy and has worked with the Federal Government on various IP-related initiatives, including reviewing the Trademarks Act and advising on Nigeria's participation in ARIPO. Her data-backed report led to the record publication of Trademark journals, and she has also drafted key documents, such as the Terms of Reference for OPEC's IP study.

Her outstanding contributions have earned her prestigious recognition in directories like IP Star and Who's Who Legal, cementing her status as an icon. Notably, Chambers & Partners has consistently rated her a Band 1 Lawyer for eight years and elevated her to the esteemed status of Senior Statesperson, a distinction she holds as the only Nigerian in IP. Additional accolades include being named one of the Most Influential Women in Intellectual Property by WIPR in 2020 and receiving the Gold Standard IP Practitioner award from World Trademark Review (WTR1000), solidifying her position as a global leader. She serves as a Trustee of IPLAN and has held editorial roles, including for The Brown Book, and was the only African speaker at the 2008 BRICS IP Summit.

Uwa is also a Mentor, Life Coach, and Health & Wellness Coach, and serves on the Board of Directors of The Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria. She is the Founder of The MediSSupport Foundation, which provides financial support to people living with life-threatening conditions.

Professional Membership

  • Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

  • IP Law Association of Nigeria (IPLAN)

  • IP Committee Section on Business Law (SBL)

  • International Trademark Association (INTA)

  • INTA Anti-Counterfeiting Committee (2002-2004)

  •  INTA Bulletin Committee (2005-2007)

  • Chairperson, Panel on Review of Nigerian Draft Trademarks Act (2002)

Education

  • Lagos Business School – Building & Leading Teams 2015

  • Harvard Business School, Boston, USA – Leading Professional Service Firms 2013

  • 3-Day Executive MBA for Lawyers, London, UK 2007

  • Lagos Business School – Human Resources Management 2005

  • Nigerian Law School - Barrister at Law (B.L) 1986 (One of best Graduating Students)

  • University of Benin, Nigeria – Bachelors of Laws (LL.B) 1985. (One of top 3 Graduating Students)