Abiola Aderibigbe

Trainer at Informa Connect Academy

Abiola Aderibigbe

LL. B (Hons), LL.M, PhD (Cand.), Solicitor (England & Wales, Ireland), NYSBA (Int’l Attorney), IBA (Active Member)

Abiola Aderibigbe is a highly respected General Counsel and legal strategist, specialising in construction law, contract negotiation, risk mitigation, and commercial dispute resolution. With extensive experience advising private sector companies, public institutions, and international organisations, he has led the development and implementation of robust contractual frameworks that drive project success while minimising legal and financial exposure.

Currently completing a PhD in Construction Law (Law, Technology and Built Environment), Abiola’s research — partly sponsored by the Society of Construction Law (SCL) — examines adversarialism in the UK construction sector and advocates for the codification of statutory good faith in contracts. His academic work has been published in SCOPUS-indexed proceedings, including papers presented at the World Construction Symposium (2023 and 2024) and the ARCOM Conferences (2023 and upcoming 2025), where his 2025 paper "From Adversarial to Collaborative: Leveraging Good Faith to Transform UK Construction Practices” will be featured at the University of Dundee.

His expertise spans FIDIC, NEC, and JCT contracts, PPPs, and international arbitration, positioning him as a trusted authority on risk allocation, dispute resolution, adjudication, and compliance strategies. His legal thought leadership has been recognised through several prestigious awards including:

• Construction Law Expert of the Year (England) – Advisory Excellence Awards 2025
• Construction & Engineering Law Expert of the Year (UK, England) – The Lawyer Network Annual Awards 2025
• Construction Training Adviser of the Year – Global Business Magazine Awards 2025
• Construction & Engineering Law Expert of the Year (UK) – Global Law Experts Awards 2025
• BESA President’s Award 2024 and BESA Customer Empathy Recognition Award 2024

Abiola has also been prominently featured as a cover leader in several international legal publications and rankings, including:

• CXO Views Magazine – The Most Influential Leaders in Legal Services to Watch in 2025
• CIO Business World – The 10 Most Influential People in Legal Services to Watch in 2025
• TBD x TLD GC Report – Top 20 General Counsel Q1 & Q2 2025
• Law & Behold – Wisdom from the Bar, February 2025 Edition
• A.L.L Africa Lex 25 – Africa’s Finest Legal Practitioners, January 2025
• Lawverse Magazine – Anniversary Edition "Quadrennium", December 2024
• ACR Journal – Contracting in the Built Environment, June–July 2024

Abiola serves as Global General Counsel for How to Change the World (HTCTW Global Ltd), overseeing regulatory compliance, intellectual property, and multi-million-dollar cross-border transactions spanning the UK, Europe, Canada, and the US. He is also the Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel (Board Secretary) of PSJ UK, where he leads strategic operations, legal governance, and global advocacy initiatives. In addition, he is Chairman of the Ethics Committee and General Counsel & Board Director at The Security Institute, the UK’s largest membership body for security professionals. Abiola is also Chief Operating Officer and Board Director at Roots & Returns, a Pan-African agribusiness and development enterprise driving diaspora investment and climate-smart innovation across Africa. Previously, Abiola served as Group Head of Legal & Commercial for a prominent UK trade association with a 120-year history, where he saved members over £2 million in legal fees through pioneering contractual frameworks and commercial strategies.

An active contributor to Africa Construction Law (ACL), Abiola is widely recognised for shaping thought leadership in construction law across multiple jurisdictions. He also leads the LL.M in Construction Law at Liverpool John Moores University, delivered in partnership with Informa Connect, where he mentors postgraduate students engaged in cutting-edge research in construction, energy, infrastructure, and engineering.

In recognition of his contributions, Abiola’s work continues to influence how contracts are interpreted, risks are managed, and disputes are resolved across global construction markets. His unique blend of academic depth and real-world experience has saved organisations millions in legal costs, strengthened project efficiency, and positioned him as a leading expert in global construction contract management.

Education, Licenses & Qualifications:

• PhD (In Progress) – Law, Technology & the Built Environment (Construction, Energy, Infrastructure & Engineering)
• LL.M – Corporate Finance
• LL.B (Hons) – Law
• Solicitor – England & Wales, Republic of Ireland
• International Attorney – New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)
• Active Member – International Bar Association (IBA)
• Specialised Expertise – Judicially Aided Discovery & Provisional Relief in International Arbitration (UK & US)