10 LAWYER MONTHLY ADR AWARDS 2023 International Arbitration Lawyer of the Year Since we last spoke to you, what significant work have you undertaken? Since we last spoke, I have been involved in four new arbitration proceedings involving several major arbitration centers from Europe and Africa (including, but not limited to, the ICC, Paris – France and the arbitration Center of the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration of the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa - OHADA). The language chosen by the parties in three of those proceedings is English and the fourth is in French. I serve as sole arbitrator in two of those proceedings and as president of a panel of three arbitrators in two of the proceedings. In one of the latter two proceedings, I am presiding a tribunal to decide a case where the amount at stake is more than 102.000.000 USD. It is, so far, the highest amount I must decide as arbitrator, but also the first time I am presiding over a panel for such amount. I take the full measure of the responsibility I’ve been entrusted with, and more than ever, I am determined to be very efficient in the process. What do you consider to be your greatest achievements of the past 12 months? In addition to my most significant presidency of an arbitral tribunal so far (considering the amount at stake and complexity of the dispute), as mentioned above, my services have been requested as an expert witness in a complex litigation case in Asia and involving an African party. I have been admitted to practice law in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), beside the Bar of Paris, France. I have also been involved in teaching law (arbitration and other matters) in Europe, in the Indian Ocean and in Africa. Finally, the fifth edition of the “Code Pratique Francis Lefebvre OHADA: Traité, Actes uniformes et Règlements annotés” (Editions Francis Lefebvre, France), a treatise on the OHADA legislation useful for all the practitioners, scholars and judiciary, has been released late November last year. Of the many skills that you have had to develop in order to excel in your field, which would you say are the most important to your success? Thoroughness in every aspect of my work, whether as counsel or as arbitrator; openness of mind, which allows me to craft genuinely authentic solutions while sitting as arbitrator or to offer those when I’m counsel; loyalty and devotion to my clients, as counsel and to parties as arbitrator. I would never emphasize enough the importance of very hard work, consistently. Also, genuine leadership and humility are essential qualities I cannot depart from, especially when I’m presiding over a tribunal where my co-arbitrators are sometimes more experienced and/or even more qualified than me. How have you developed these over your years in practice? It requires hard work, determination, a lot of modesty and consistency to develop such qualities over the years, FRANCE “I would never emphasize enough the importance of very hard work, consistently. Also, genuine leadership and humility are essential qualities I cannot depart from.” An Interview with Jimmy Kodo Q Q Q Q
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