Mark Mordi, SAN
- Partner
- Dispute Resolution and Tax
- Lagos, Nigeria
About
Mark is a seasoned litigation lawyer who is happy to bring the full weight of his experience and skill to bear on client briefs to bring about the best solution.
Mark is renowned for his representation of major consumer products and pharmaceutical companies in IP litigation matters, including contentious patent and trademark mandates. Industry participants describe him as a “very passionate lawyer,” with one interviewee commenting: “I rate him very highly in IP enforcement.” – Chambers Global 2021
In addition to being a core member of Aluko & Oyebode’s litigation and dispute resolution team, Mark has successfully carved a niche for himself in Intellectual Property (IP) enforcement matters, as well as negotiating out of court settlements in favour of clients in this area. In the course of his IP enforcement practice, Mark represents a number of international pharmaceutical companies in IP disputes. He has prosecuted several class actions, IP enforcement matters ranging from trademark infringements to unlawful interference with the performance of contracts cases for major multinational pharmaceutical companies and local manufacturing companies. In the course of these cases, he has also successfully obtained and enforced in every case, preemptive remedies in the nature of Anton Pillar orders, temporary restraining orders or injunctions against counterfeit producers, and parallel importers and passers-off.
Mark is involved in the preparation and arguing of processes for opposition proceedings before the Trademark Registry, civil matters including contract, tort, property, and corporate disputes, as well as criminal matters, and also renders anti-counterfeiting advice. He has represented a wide range of clients ranging from multinational corporations to private companies, partnerships and individuals. His area of specialisation includes admiralty matters, commercial litigation, arbitration and general civil litigation matters.
Experience
2003-Date Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria
2000-2003 Senior Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria
1995-1999 Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria
Education & Qualifications
- 1989 Called to the Nigerian Bar
- 1988 University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria, LL.B. (Hons)
Professional Membership & Affiliations
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK
- Certified Mediator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria Branch
- Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
- Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL)
- Anti-Counterfeiting Committee of the International Trademarks Association
- Former member, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee in the International Trademarks Association
- International Bar Association
- Panel of Neutrals at the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA)
- Panel of Neutrals at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC)
Awards & Recognition
- Legal 500: Leading Individual, Nigeria Shipping and Transport, 2022
- Chambers Global: 2022 Band 2 Ranking, Intellectual Property – Nigeria
- Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Recommended National Leader, Nigeria – Intellectual Property and Litigation 2021
- In 2021, he was elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) (the Nigerian equivalent of a Queen’s Counsel)
- Mark handles significant IP litigation.” — Chambers Global, 2022
- “Mark Mordi is renowned for his representation of major consumer products and pharmaceutical companies in complex IP litigation, including patent and trademark mandates”. — Who’s Who Legal (WWL)
- “Mark Mordi has extensive experience of advising on aviation and maritime transactions, as well as contentious work.” — Legal 500
Top Matters
- Lead Counsel for an automobile service company in a contract of employment dispute at the National Industrial Court.
- Lead Counsel for a global company in an employment matter at the National Industrial Court.
- Lead Counsel for a special purpose vehicle in a land dispute at the High Court of Lagos State.
- Lead Counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission in an appeal arising from a dispute relating to the exercise of the commission’s statutory powers.
- Lead Counsel for the Nigerian Registry of the .ng country code Top Level Domain Name in a dispute at the High Court of Lagos State, arising from the refusal of the Registry to issue a Domain Name.
- Lead Counsel in a Trademark and Domain Name dispute between a leading global manufacturer of irrigation products and an Engineering firm at the Federal High Court, Lagos, Nigeria.
- Lead Counsel on behalf of an International Beverage Company in a Trademark dispute at the Federal High Court, Lagos Nigeria.
- Lead Counsel in a dispute between the Industrial Training Fund and the representative office of an international universal Bank, arising from the liability of the representative office to contribute to the Training Fund.
- Lead Counsel in two disputes between the representatives of a Niger-Delta Kingdom and an Oil and Gas Company in Nigeria, arising from an alleged oil spill in the kingdoms, at the Federal High Court, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
- Lead Counsel for the Respondent in a criminal appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, bordering on the offences of Conspiracy and Robbery. Reported in [2018] LPELR-44775 (SC).
- Lead Counsel for the Respondent in a criminal appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, bordering on the offences of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted armed robbery. Reported in [2016] LPELR-40633 (SC).
Community Service/Pro Bono
Speeches
Mark Mordi, SAN
- Partner
- Dispute Resolution and Tax
- Lagos, Nigeria
About
Mark is a seasoned litigation lawyer who is happy to bring the full weight of his experience and skill to bear on client briefs to bring about the best solution.
Mark is renowned for his representation of major consumer products and pharmaceutical companies in IP litigation matters, including contentious patent and trademark mandates. Industry participants describe him as a “very passionate lawyer,” with one interviewee commenting: “I rate him very highly in IP enforcement.” – Chambers Global 2021
In addition to being a core member of Aluko & Oyebode’s litigation and dispute resolution team, Mark has successfully carved a niche for himself in Intellectual Property (IP) enforcement matters, as well as negotiating out of court settlements in favour of clients in this area. In the course of his IP enforcement practice, Mark represents a number of international pharmaceutical companies in IP disputes. He has prosecuted several class actions, IP enforcement matters ranging from trademark infringements to unlawful interference with the performance of contracts cases for major multinational pharmaceutical companies and local manufacturing companies. In the course of these cases, he has also successfully obtained and enforced in every case, preemptive remedies in the nature of Anton Pillar orders, temporary restraining orders or injunctions against counterfeit producers, and parallel importers and passers-off.
Mark is involved in the preparation and arguing of processes for opposition proceedings before the Trademark Registry, civil matters including contract, tort, property, and corporate disputes, as well as criminal matters, and also renders anti-counterfeiting advice. He has represented a wide range of clients ranging from multinational corporations to private companies, partnerships and individuals. His area of specialisation includes admiralty matters, commercial litigation, arbitration and general civil litigation matters.
Experience
2003-Date Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria
2000-2003 Senior Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria
1995-1999 Associate, Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos, Nigeria
Education & Qualifications
- 1989 Called to the Nigerian Bar
- 1988 University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria, LL.B. (Hons)
Professional Membership & Affiliations
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK
- Certified Mediator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria Branch
- Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
- Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL)
- Anti-Counterfeiting Committee of the International Trademarks Association
- Former member, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee in the International Trademarks Association
- International Bar Association
- Panel of Neutrals at the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA)
- Panel of Neutrals at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC)
Awards & Recognition
- Legal 500: Leading Individual, Nigeria Shipping and Transport, 2022
- Chambers Global: 2022 Band 2 Ranking, Intellectual Property – Nigeria
- Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Recommended National Leader, Nigeria – Intellectual Property and Litigation 2021
- In 2021, he was elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) (the Nigerian equivalent of a Queen’s Counsel)
- Mark handles significant IP litigation.” — Chambers Global, 2022
- “Mark Mordi is renowned for his representation of major consumer products and pharmaceutical companies in complex IP litigation, including patent and trademark mandates”. — Who’s Who Legal (WWL)
- “Mark Mordi has extensive experience of advising on aviation and maritime transactions, as well as contentious work.” — Legal 500
Top Matters
- Lead Counsel for an automobile service company in a contract of employment dispute at the National Industrial Court.
- Lead Counsel for a global company in an employment matter at the National Industrial Court.
- Lead Counsel for a special purpose vehicle in a land dispute at the High Court of Lagos State.
- Lead Counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission in an appeal arising from a dispute relating to the exercise of the commission’s statutory powers.
- Lead Counsel for the Nigerian Registry of the .ng country code Top Level Domain Name in a dispute at the High Court of Lagos State, arising from the refusal of the Registry to issue a Domain Name.
- Lead Counsel in a Trademark and Domain Name dispute between a leading global manufacturer of irrigation products and an Engineering firm at the Federal High Court, Lagos, Nigeria.
- Lead Counsel on behalf of an International Beverage Company in a Trademark dispute at the Federal High Court, Lagos Nigeria.
- Lead Counsel in a dispute between the Industrial Training Fund and the representative office of an international universal Bank, arising from the liability of the representative office to contribute to the Training Fund.
- Lead Counsel in two disputes between the representatives of a Niger-Delta Kingdom and an Oil and Gas Company in Nigeria, arising from an alleged oil spill in the kingdoms, at the Federal High Court, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
- Lead Counsel for the Respondent in a criminal appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, bordering on the offences of Conspiracy and Robbery. Reported in [2018] LPELR-44775 (SC).
- Lead Counsel for the Respondent in a criminal appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, bordering on the offences of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted armed robbery. Reported in [2016] LPELR-40633 (SC).
Community Service/Pro Bono
Speeches
Mark has received numerous awards over the years
Mark advises clients across a broad range of practice areas and industry sectors
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