The International Bar Association (IBA) has awarded Yorm Ama Abledu, University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School lecturer, with the 2022 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award.
The International Bar Association is one of the world’s leading organisations of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies.
Abledu, from Centurion Law Group, was honoured for dedicating her career to defend human rights cases in her role as assistant public defender under the Legal Aid Commission, where she works pro bono. She has won over 50 cases.
Speaking at the annual conference of the IBA award, the Harvard Certified Negotiator said: “It’s a privilege to be honoured as this year’s award winner for the IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer award. History has been made, as I am the second African, and importantly, the first Ghanaian female lawyer to win this prestigious award.”
“Greatest achievement so far”
“I consider this my greatest achievement so far as a legal academic and lawyer and this victory I must say, is a dream come true. I know that receiving this award will positively impact all lawyers all over the world and encourage them to do more,” Abledu said.
IBA president Sternford Moyo said: “On behalf of the International Bar Association, I offer my warmest congratulations to Yorm Ama Abledu on her remarkable achievements. It is my sincere hope that she will inspire others in the legal community to create positive change both within their own spheres of influence, and in wider society.”
Marie Brasseur, co-chair of the IBA Young Lawyers’ Committee and one of the judges of this year’s award, commented: “Like every year, we have received the application of so many dedicated young individuals who were more than worthy of this prestigious award. This year, we have chosen to give the award to Yorm Ama Abledu, who has impressed us with her selfless volunteer work and for her dedication to empower African students to academic success.”
In a letter of recommendation, Zion Adeoye, MD of Centurion Law Group, noted: “Ms Abledu possesses unique legal erudition matched only by her sheer hard work and emotional intelligence. Her technical skills, personable character and exceptional organisation skills have distinguished her significantly in the African legal market and beyond. Ms Abledu is a critical thinker, and even though soft-spoken, she is consistently effective with a penchant for the most innovative solutions to high-stakes business issues. I believe she is most deserving of the highest accolade in recognition of her unparalleled contribution to the Ghanaian and African legal industry.”
IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
The IBA Young Lawyers’ Committee annually presents an award to a young lawyer who has shown not only excellence in their work and achievements in their career to date, but also a commitment to professional and ethical standards as well as a commitment to the larger community.
The award is free to enter and it is open to all lawyers, whether or not they are members of the IBA.
About Yorm Abledu
Yorm Abledu is a lecturer with a focus on energy law. She is a bilingual legal practitioner and a Harvard Certified Negotiator holding a Postgraduate Degree in Oil and Gas Law (International Investment Arbitration) from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
She has worked for Bentsi Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah, a leading law firm in Ghana immediately after being called to the Bar. Her focus areas are corporate law, litigation, oil and gas and mining law with particular expertise in petroleum agreements, regulatory and compliance framework, tax, labour and employment.
Over the past six years, she demonstrated a history of championing compliance in oil and gas companies.
In 2014, she obtained her Master’s Degree in Oil and Gas Law with professional skills from University of Aberdeen, Scotland, where her outstanding academic performance won her the Ede & Ravenscroft 2014 Prize for academic excellence.
Within the same period, Yorm attained certification from the Oil and Gas Academy of Scotland as an oil and gas contract negotiator. She was called to the Ghanaian Bar and has significant practice experience in this regard.
She volunteers as the policy and advocacy committee head with the African Women in Energy Development Initiative (AWEDI).
She is an international Senior Attorney with Centurion Law Group, a pan African law firm headquartered in Johannesburg with offices and partners across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Centurion Law Group is a law firm transforming the way law is practised on the continent.
She is an alumnus of St Mary’s Secondary School in Accra.
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