Laura Bismarck Emereole
LL.B (Hons), B.L., MCMPS, MICMC
Partner, Fama Firm · Head of ADR & Training, Fama ADR · Mediator · Dispute Resolution & Conflict Management Specialist
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012
Profile
Laura Bismarck Emereole is a legal practitioner, mediator and dispute resolution specialist with substantial experience in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), conflict management, peacebuilding, legal practice and institutional development. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012, she combines a strong legal foundation with specialist postgraduate training in conflict management and peace studies and a practical commitment to resolving disputes efficiently, constructively and sustainably.
As Partner at Fama Firm and Head of ADR & Training at Fama ADR, Laura leads the Firm's work in mediation, dispute resolution strategy, professional training and capacity development. Her practice reflects a clear understanding that effective dispute resolution requires more than legal knowledge: it demands sound judgment, skilled negotiation, impartial facilitation and an appreciation of the commercial, institutional and human interests underlying a conflict.
Her professional experience spans private legal practice, judicial ADR initiatives, professional education, institutional leadership and community-based peacebuilding. She is particularly interested in strengthening access to justice, improving dispute resolution mechanisms and equipping legal practitioners and institutions with the skills required to manage conflict effectively.
Academic & Professional Qualifications
Qualifications
LL.B (Hons)
University of Jos
B.L.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012
MCMPS
Master's Degree in Conflict Management and Peace Studies, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna
MICMC
Member, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation & Peacebuilding
Laura is a committed advocate of ADR as an effective means of resolving commercial, contractual, family, community and other disputes without the cost, delay and adversarial consequences that may accompany conventional litigation.
As Head of ADR & Training at Fama ADR, she oversees mediation and training initiatives, contributes to programme design and facilitates capacity-building engagements for legal practitioners and other professionals. Her work focuses on practical mediation skills, negotiation, conflict analysis, settlement facilitation and the development of sustainable approaches to dispute management.
She also serves as Lead Mediator and Facilitator at FANSA Mediation Centre and has worked as an ADR consultant to the Kaduna State Judiciary. These engagements reflect her interest in strengthening institutional mechanisms for dispute resolution and promoting more accessible, timely and effective pathways to justice.
Her approach to mediation is informed by her understanding of the legal rights of parties, the importance of procedural fairness and the need to identify solutions that are both workable and capable of sustaining relationships where appropriate.
Training, Capacity Development & Professional Education
Laura is actively involved in developing the skills and professional competence of mediators, lawyers and other dispute resolution practitioners. Her work combines legal knowledge with practical instruction in negotiation, facilitation, mediation processes and conflict management.
She serves on the faculty of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) and the Mediation Training Institute (MTI), contributing to professional training and the development of mediation practice. Through Fama ADR, she supports initiatives aimed at improving the quality of ADR practice, expanding professional competence and promoting greater awareness of mediation as a credible and effective dispute resolution mechanism.
Her training interests include mediation advocacy, negotiation strategy, managing difficult conversations, stakeholder engagement, conflict prevention and the practical application of ADR in institutional and commercial settings.
Practice
Institutional & commercial work
As Secretary of the Small Claims Court Committee in Kaduna State, she contributes to work associated with the development and administration of accessible dispute resolution mechanisms. Her wider professional interests include institutional reform, procedural efficiency and the promotion of methods that enable parties to resolve disputes proportionately and without unnecessary expense.
She recognises the complementary roles of litigation, arbitration, mediation and other dispute resolution processes, and the importance of selecting an appropriate process based on the nature of the dispute, the parties' interests and the desired outcome.
Her background in legal practice informs her approach to commercial mediation and dispute resolution, particularly where disputes involve contractual obligations, business relationships, competing financial interests or the need to preserve commercial value.
She brings a practical perspective to conflict management, helping parties assess their positions, identify areas of common ground and consider solutions that address both immediate disputes and longer-term commercial interests.
Professional Leadership
Appointments & service
Laura has built a strong record of professional service and institutional leadership within the Nigerian legal profession and the ADR community. Her leadership and professional appointments include:
Vice Chairman
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kaduna Branch
Chairman
Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), Kaduna Branch
Faculty Member
Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators
Faculty Member
Mediation Training Institute (MTI)
Secretary
Small Claims Court Committee, Kaduna State
Lead Mediator and Facilitator
FANSA Mediation Centre
ADR Consultant
Kaduna State Judiciary
Board Secretary
FANSA Care Foundation
Publicity Secretary
Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON)
She previously served as Secretary of the NBA Kaduna Branch, becoming the first woman to hold that office. Her service reflects a sustained commitment to professional development, institutional administration and the advancement of the legal profession.
Beyond her formal appointments, Laura has a particular interest in social justice, women's and children's rights, humanitarian concerns and community peacebuilding. These interests inform her commitment to accessible dispute resolution and the responsible use of legal and institutional processes to address conflict.
Professional Philosophy
Laura believes that effective dispute resolution should be accessible, fair, practical and responsive to the interests of the parties involved. Her work is guided by the conviction that well-managed conflict can protect relationships, reduce unnecessary costs, improve institutional effectiveness and create opportunities for lasting solutions.
Through her work at Fama Firm and Fama ADR, she continues to promote professional excellence in mediation, strengthen dispute resolution capacity and contribute to the development of a more effective and accessible justice system in Nigeria.
Focus
Core areas of practice
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Commercial and Civil Mediation
Negotiation & Settlement Facilitation
Conflict Management & Peacebuilding
ADR Training & Capacity Development
Judicial ADR & Access to Justice
Corporate & Commercial Law
Contractual and Property Disputes
Institutional Development & Professional Leadership
Community-Based Dispute Resolution