Chima Umezuruike LLB (Hons) LLM General Information Classed as a ‘heavyweight’ by The Lawyer magazine, Chima is a highly experienced barrister with a versatile civil and family practice with over 30 years of combined legal expertise in the UK and Nigeria. Dual qualified at both the English and Nigerian Bar, Chima regularly appears in the civil and family courts in the UK and Nigeria, has extensive experience representing clients in complex cases in the English High Court and the Court of Appeal, and has appeared in the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords. Chima has a strong civil practice focused on property and commercial matters and he is also experienced in family and public/immigration law, especially where there is an international element. He does a lot of probate and inheritance cases, especially those involving the determination of the validity of marriages. As an accredited expert on Nigerian Law, Chima has been involved in many cross-border cases between Nigeria and England and regularly prepares expert reports on Nigerian Law for use in the English Courts and gives expert evidence on Nigerian Law at English Crown Courts. Based in Nigeria, 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. Thanks to technology, he can work effectively from any location and liaises closely with clients and solicitors in England, holding remote conferences via video and phone, receiving instructions, and drafting court documents. He has represented clients based in many locations throughout the world and clients often comment on his accessibility, speed, and accuracy of his work. Areas of law Property Law Commercial Law Family Law Public Law & Immigration Probate & Inheritance Nigerian Law Property Law Disputes over ownership of property Rectification of entries in the Land Register Easements Renewal of commercial leases Forced sale Applications for relief from forfeiture Landlord and tenant issues Obtaining injunctions to restrain the unlawful eviction of tenants All rights affecting property Commercial Law Breach of contract Allegations of breach of fiduciary duties Constructive trusts Quantification of damages in breach of contract cases Freezing injunctions Cross-border cases where proceedings are pending in England, Nigeria and other jurisdictions Family Law High-value divorce cases involving England and Nigeria Validity of marriages and divorces Cross-border child arrangements Public Law & Immigration Challenging the decisions of local authorities in matters like allocation of council accommodation, granting and revoking licenses to operate nursery schools and homes for the elderly Disputes over the entitlement to bury people Advising 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 Applications for judicial review where applications have been refused including the Home Office and the Foreign Office Representation at immigration tribunals Nigerian Law Head of Clerkroom’s Nigerian Law Group Involved in many cross-border cases between Nigeria and England Expert advice on cross-border matters between the UK and Nigeria, be that property, commercial or family law for businesses and individuals with interests or family ties to Nigeria Preparing expert reports on Nigerian Law for use in the English Courts, especially on the validity of customary and statutory marriages, financial relief in matrimonial cases, custody of children, costs and length of litigation, enforcement of foreign judgments in Nigeria, succession, property law, criminal law, constitutional law and commercial law Giving expert evidence on Nigerian Law at trials at English Crown Courts Settling pleadings for use in the Nigerian courts Chima appears as an advocate in the High Court of Abia State of Nigeria, the High Court of Lagos State of Nigeria, the High Court of Rivers State of Nigeria, the Federal High Court in Nigeria, the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and in the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Memberships Honourable Society of the Inner Temple Elected full member of The Academy of Experts as a Nigerian Barrister Elected member of The Expert Witness Institute Education ILEX Diploma in Criminal Litigation Master of Laws (LLM), University of London, LSE Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons), University of Nigeria