Current Research in Private International Law: Virtual Workshop with Chukwuma Okoli

 Tuesday, 7 April 2026, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (CEST)

"Choice of Law for Employment Contracts in Africa: Rethinking the EU Methodology in an African Context"

About the Speaker:

Dr. Chukwuma Okoli is Assistant Professor (Commercial Conflict of Laws) at Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham. His research focuses on private international law, comparative law, contracts and torts. He is co-editing a forthcoming volume with Professor Beligh Elbalti on the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in Africa and is currently working on a monograph on private international law of employment in Africa with Dr. Theophilus Edwin Coleman.

About the Topic:

This presentation examines how African courts have approached choice of law in cross-border employment contracts, often drawing—explicitly or implicitly—on the dominant EU methodology reflected in the Rome I framework. It argues that while the EU model has influenced doctrinal development, its underlying assumptions do not always align with African values and labour realities. Drawing on primary sources from across African jurisdictions, including case law and legislation, the paper proposes a modified methodology that better reflects worker protection, and normative commitments embedded in African legal systems.

About the Virtual Workshop Series:

The virtual workshop series “Current Research in Private International Law" is organised by Ralf Michaels and Philipp Kronier. The series features guest speakers and Institute staff members who present and discuss their work on current developments and research topics in private international law. The workshops are geared to scholars who are researching in the field of private international law, but attendance is open to all individuals having an academic interest (including doctoral candidates and students).