Litigation, Arbitration and ADR
Members of the Partnership are particularly active in litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolutions, especially in the areas of company disputes, arbitration and conciliation, debt recovery, infringement of trademarks, insolvency, property litigation and commercial disputes in general. We have rights of audience in superior courts of records not only in Nigeria, but in England, Canada and United States where most of our partners presently or previously practised. We act on behalf of Banks, Insurance Companies, Manufacturers, Oil Companies and service providers at the various High Courts, Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court, both in Nigeria and abroad.
Energy, Telecommunications and Infrastructure
Our attorneys have experience and expertise in the local customs and conditions of doing business in Nigeria and other African countries. And most of our partners have practised in developed economies and legal systems, and will bring their experience to bear in the areas of our practice, as we understand the customs and conditions of doing business in these developed economies. We also have the experience of navigating the complex economic and political climate in Nigeria, Africa and developing economies and therefore, able to advice on multilateral negotiations with foreign investors and technical partners. Also, we are able to craft agreements in energy, telecommunications and infrastructure projects in order to protect the investments and assets of local entrepreneurs, Governments and foreign investors, contractors or technical partners. These agreements may include Public Private Partnerships or Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) transactions, just as we can advice on planning issues, construction and regulatory matters, foreign exchange, licensing, insurance and dispute resolution.
Oil & Gas, Mining & Natural Resources Law
The oil and gas and petrochemical industries are clearly global and part from the established MNCs, which have been exploring for oil in Nigeria for decades, new entrants have been admitted. The Nigerian oil and gas industry is experiencing renewed vigour with the introduction of the new Petroleum Industry Bill currently before the National Assembly. Our attorneys have very deep understanding and experience of all aspects of the oil and gas business and will be able to mobilise a team of dedicated lawyers to assist in dealing with every aspect of the oil and gas industry. Our lawyers are not only experienced in tying up oil deals and agreements, but also specialise in environmental law as relate to the oil industry. That is to say that we are able to advice on environmental matters as well as represent or defend litigation arising from environmental pollution in the oil industry.
Environmental Law
Our Environmental law team can address all aspects of environmental law, including compliance, regulatory and legislative advocacy, litigation, and commercial transactions advice worldwide, including international environmental law. We are able to advice clients in manufacturing, energy, transportation, chemicals and agriculture, as well as state and local governments. Our lawyers are able to provide timely and informed advice and guidance in matters involving environmental claims, torts and environmental audits, contaminated land liabilities, water and air pollution, product safety controversies, waste management and disposal, regulation of hazardous substances, and habitats and biodiversity. One of our partners recently completed a doctoral research on the oil pollution problems in the Nigerian Delta, and therefore, able to advice not only IOCs and indigenous oil companies, but also government and other regulatory agencies on matters relating to the environment in Nigeria generally and the oil industry in particular, including environmental claims, defending litigation, mediation, conciliation and other interventions.
Banking and Finance
We have expertise in providing legal services and support to leading banking and financial institutions. Our areas of practice include: registration and Licensing; loan syndication and documentation, securitisation, debt recovery and factoring, receivership/insolvency/bankruptcy practice, banker/customer relationship, legal advice/opinion, assets securitization and project financing. We also have experience corporate restructuring and support to foreign investors in Nigerian enterprises, and our in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry and insurance-related matters.
Real Estate, Property Development
The Partnership has access to a vast and highly specialized data base of precedents in the field of construction, real estate, commercial property and mortgage financing. This ensures that clients benefit from our ability to rapidly create forms and structures, which meet their diverse needs. Our extensive knowledge, understanding and goodwill within the regulatory framework enables us to process these transactions swiftly through all necessary regulatory consent procedures to completion. Members of the Partnership represent property developers, institutional and private investors, lenders and other parties in various aspects of Real Estate transactions including conveyancing, acquisitions, depositions, leasing, recovery of premises, joint ventures and conventional and securitized financing.
Construction Law
Our lawyers have broad experience in advising clients on all aspects of engineering, procurement and construction projects from bid documents to financing, financial support arrangements, concession contracts, joint ventures, construction contracts, subcontracts, technology supply and license agreements, technical service agreements, project management agreements, operational management agreements, contract administration, claims, disputes, alternative dispute resolution techniques and, where necessary to resolve disputes by international conciliation and arbitration. We can assist major international civil works and process plant contracts; sovereign states and state-owned bodies, including government ministries; private owners and real estate developers; commercial companies; architectural, consulting engineering and similar professional service firms; and insurance companies, banks and financial institutions.
Contracts, Investment Law & Taxation
Our Partners have considerable experience in drawing up contracts, whether local or for international commercial transactions. In doing so, we pay particular the tax implications of every transaction in order to ensure that our clients are breast with the tax regime in Nigeria and other jurisdictions implicated in any commercial transaction. The objective is to develop tax efficient structures to meet the commercial aims of clients, guide them through the compliance procedures and handle taxation disputes if and when the need arises. We could secure substantial savings on Stamp Duties payable in respect of financing packages with cross-border elements using legal techniques to achieve these purposes.
Trade Mark, Intellectual and Industrial Property
Our intellectual and industrial property practice encompasses patents, trademark litigation and unfair competition, licensing, promotion and execution of licensing projects, filing applications and providing services, including consultation, management and protection for domestic and overseas patents, trademarks and copyrights. Dealing with official actions such as lodging amendments, arranging interior searches and registration of opposition, invalidation, cancellation and compulsory licensing proceedings, administrative appeals and proceedings, legal opinions on patent and trademark validity
Insurance (including Maritime and Admiralty Law)
Some of our Partners are well known experts in insurance matters and we understand the structure and complexities of the insurance industry globally. The knowledge and experience of the local insurance market, acquired by our involvement in the industry gives us an undisputed advantage in insurance law, especially maritime and admiralty practice in Nigeria. We have demonstrable understanding and knowledge of the interplay of insurance globally and the regulatory environment in Nigeria.
Project Development, Trade Finance, Loan Syndication, Equipment Leasing & Asset Financing
We specialize in the structuring and preparation of a variety of financial arrangements and transactions for single or multi-currency denominated facilities for Nigerian and International Banks and on International Project and Development Finance for Private and international Finance organizations and Export Credit Agencies. Particular attention is given to the creation and perfection of securities for these financing arrangements. Considerable in-house expertise and experience has been amassed in this area of the law, equipping partners to effectively represent the interests of either borrowers or lenders in these transactions
Employment
Issues relating to employment and labour relations are among the most complex and contentious matters facing any organisation as they affect productivity and sometimes undermine industrial relations. Our attorneys have extensive experience in dealing with and navigating the minefields of local, national and international labour regulations. In the event of dispute we would assist organisations or executives in arbitrations or litigation before courts and administrative tribunals in jurisdictions throughout the world. In a globalised and information-based economy, multinationals seek advice and guidance on human resources and employment law and labour relations globally. We have the expertise to advice on multi-jurisdictional employment and labour matters, such as codes of conduct, discrimination and diversity policies and corporate social responsibility, redundancies, human resources restructuring, overseas independent contractors, expatriate arrangements, secondment, benefits, terminations, outsourcing, corporate criminal responsibility, duty of care and managing dangerous and risky assignments.
Immigration and Nationality
The increasing globalization of business, research, investment, education, and athletic competition creates new and complex challenges for companies, organizations and investors seeking to move people across borders. Our cross-disciplinary immigration team combines local knowledge and relationships with global reach. Our lawyers have practised Immigration and Nationality law in United Kingdom, Canada, USA and other European countries and represented clients in Immigration and other Tribunals in these countries, including at the European Court of Human Rights and are also familiar with the Nigerian immigration laws. We are therefore, equipped to assist clients in all their immigration matters both in Nigeria and abroad, including Expatriate Quotas, Work Permits, Resident Permits, Settlements as well as Diplomatic relations. We are therefore, able to act for Embassies and multinational clients, including large corporations, high-tech and other technology start-ups, universities, non-profit organizations, sports teams, hospitals, governments and individuals.
Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs
We have experience in advising Governments and Agencies, not only on sovereign and related issues, but also on regulatory affairs. We advice on contractual disputes (including issues relating to corrupt or tainted contracts), Securities and Exchange issues, Aviation, Telecommunications, Insurance, Pensions, Privatisation and Commercialisation of Government assets, and matters relating to intra-Government relations, such as the Legislature and the Judiciary. Our associates also have experience in advising other agencies at the Federal and State Government levels.
Public Law
The continued growth of state involvement in, and regulation of industry and commerce, together with growing demands for public-sector transparency and accountability, makes the interface between the public and private sectors an increasingly important and complex one. Our varied jurisdictional experience places us in a vantage position to advice clients from both sides of that interface on the full range of public law and policy issues, including highly regulated industries such as financial services, gambling, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecoms, tobacco, transport, and utilities. With the Nigerian Government’s intention to privatize most utilities we are better placed to advice foreign investors as well as Government agencies on all aspects of privatization and commercialization. Our public law litigation experience is such that we could offer an integrated and seamless service in identifying and analyzing policy, legislative and regulatory proposals, advising on public decision-making and governance processes and any subsequent legal challenges to secure robust and effective policy and regulatory decisions by public bodies.
PPP/PFI/BOT/LOO
Our lawyers are able to advice on Public Private Partnerships, Private Finance Initiatives, Build Operate and Transfer and Lease Operate and Own models and related structures, such as concessions. As our lawyers have experience in finance, public law, planning and environmental, construction, corporate, tax, public procurement, etc, they are familiar with the norms and templates of the above structures as well as apply know-how from related fields. We are able to act for clients from all constituencies within the PPP/BOT/LOO and related markets, including governments, sponsors and funders of every kind and supply chain participants. We also maintain regular contact with policy makers and industry bodies, seeking to shape frameworks within which individual projects can be executed efficiently. As these arrangements are long-term, our lawyers will stand by the clients throughout this period to assist in monitoring progress and ensure that both the client and the other parties to these arrangements realize the purpose for entering into these arrangements. We are able to identify any deviations from the terms of the agreements and provide advice and counsel as and when required.
Multilateral Investment Advice & Litigation
We are able to provide representation before international arbitral tribunals, such as World Trade Organisation, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, International Chamber of Commerce, International Court of Justice, International Criminal Courts, International Arbitration and other Regional Courts or Tribunals. We advise on bilateral and multilateral investment and other agreements, and can assist in negotiating international agreements before multilateral agencies such as WTO, World Bank, IFC and other international financial institutions and UN Agencies.
Constitutional Matters, Election Issues and Human Rights Law
Our lawyers are experts in constitutional law and are able to advice both private and institutional clients on constitutional issues. This may involve advising in conference, writing opinions and bringing applications before courts for the interpretation of the Nigerian Constitution. Allied to constitutional matters and interpretation are election issues, whether instituting or defending election petitions in Election Tribunals both for individuals, political parties and institutions. Protecting the rights and freedoms of ordinary people and challenging discrimination are at the heart of our work. Our lawyers are able to bring applications and defend litigation on human rights both in Nigeria and around the world where Nigerians or others doing business in Nigeria are involved.
Serious Fraud and Money Laundering
From time to time both individuals and corporate entities are suspected of serious fraud or money laundering both in Nigeria and abroad. Our lawyers have defended clients in different jurisdictions, charged or suspected of serious fraud and money laundering and other White Collar Crimes. We are also able to assist in advising institutional clients on such matters and carry out investigation on their behalf.
Private Clients
The Private Clients practice is dedicated to assisting high-net-worth individuals and families with the accumulation, management and transfer of personal wealth, as well as advising the financial institutions that serve these clients. Our services include management and succession planning for closely-held businesses, domestic and international tax planning, corporate finance and restructuring, estate planning and transfer of wealth, estate administration, compensation and retirement planning, fiduciary litigation, and a wide range of services to fiduciaries and charitable organizations. Our lawyers are familiar with both the civil as well as the customary laws of Nigeria and are able to advice clients on the position of the law as well as under the customary law of their places of origin. Our lawyers have experience in other jurisdictions across the world and will also be able to advice on the laws of other countries where our clients may have property or business interests, including the tax regime in those countries.
International Association and Affiliations
We have contacts and relations with a network of international law firms in England, Canada, Europe, United States and the Far East. The level of reciprocity is such that we are able to extend to our clients, the benefits of accumulated goodwill to assist them whenever their cross border transactions touch on those jurisdictions where our associate firms operate. We are affiliated to LAWYERS ASSOCIATED WORLDWIDE (LAW), a network of lawyers located in over 93 countries and 160 cities worldwide.