With predominant practice in commercial and corporate law, the firm’s clients include leading Nigeria Companies, government corporations and parastatals as well as a good number of foreign companies. The firm’s services in this area include advising clients on the choice of Company organization to operate, preparation and filing of incorporation documents with the Corporate Affairs Commission, conduct of searches and due diligence for Companies at the CAC to mention but a few. The firm also represents clients in processing applications, permits and registrations with the Nigeria investments promotion council, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the immigration services, the Department of Petroleum Resources and other relevant agencies. The firm also provides Company secretarial services and its professional expertise extends to various areas of corporate practice including securities, investments, taxation, and negotiations.
The firm also assists Clients in obtaining the licenses permits and approval necessary for setting up companies and pioneer status. More importantly, the firm’s rich arbitration and negotiation experience provides invaluable benefits to its clientele in times of negotiation and drawing up agreements. Several companies operating in Nigeria presently have benefited from the expertise of the firm.
The firm provides legal consultancy services and representation for local and multinational oil companies interested in obtaining approval for oil blocks, leases and licenses from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and the Department of Petroleum Resources, among others. The firm has experience in the preparation and perfection of bid documents in the oil and gas industry.
The firm is also professionally trained to carry out negotiation and preparation of various oil operating agreements and contracts, including Petroleum Joint Ventures, joint Operation Agreements, Joint Interest Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding, Syndicated Operation Agreements, Production Sharing Contracts (PSC), Risk Service Contracts etc. The firm also represents clients before Court proceedings, inquiries, hearings, and tribunals. The firm has a rich experience in representing clients in inquires into environmental pollution, environmental impact assessment and remediation programmes. The firm has faculty for resolving disputes arising from compensation as well as disputes with host communities, among others.
The firm, operating as Sapphire Partners then, pioneered the establishment of Emerald Energy Resources Limited, operators of OPL 229, Millennium Oil and Gas Company Limited, a Marginal Field Development Company, PINL Marine & Oil Services Limited, a downstream Oil Service Company, Walter Smith Petroman Oil Limited, a marginal field operating Company, VRMT.ATC.S3 Limited, a subsidiary of Vision Reservoir Management Technologies International Inc. Houston Texas USA among others. The firm currently serves as Legal Advisers and or Secretaries to the above Companies.
The firm is experienced in the preparation and perfection of all forms of securities, mortgages and financial documentation for Banks and other financial institutions, Loan, agreements, bill of sale, guarantees, debenture, debenture trust deeds, mortgages, equipment leases and debt rescheduling. The firm represents Banks and other Companies wishing to make public offer of shares before the Nigeria Stock Exchange and liaises with relevant brokerage firms in this respect. The firm also runs consultancy and legal advisory in insurance business. The firm has a strong practice and track record in recovery of nonperforming or failed loans and facilities for Banks and other financial institutions. Our approach is practical and result oriented always holding high the best interest of our client within acceptable practices.
The firm over the years assists foreign Companies in establishing businesses in Nigeria either wholly owned or in partnership with local businesses. As expert Company lawyers, the firm carries out registration of all classes of foreign and local businesses, securing of business permits, expatriate quota allocation, approvals and pioneer status as well as securing exemption from taxes and duties under the Companies and Allied Matters Act and other relevant business and investment laws in Nigeria and elsewhere. The firm provides highly technical and professional advise in international trade, preparation of letters of credit, legal advise on foreign investment, negotiating and drafting international sale contracts, legal advise on international import and export agreements, resolution of disputes and Arbitration on dispute arising from business agreements, financing and insurance. The firm represents its clients before various government ministries and institutions.
The firm also acts as agents of Trademark and Patent Owners in the registration of Trademarks, Patents and Inventions and renewal of same with the office of the Registrar of Trademarks and Patents in Nigeria. In this regard, the firm undertakes the protection of the Intellectual property of clients by way of arrest of offending products/marks and enforcement of the rights of the client by way of litigation. The eagle eye of the firm as Trademark and Patent Agents will hardly oversight any offender or infringement of a registered Trademark, patent, or invention. The firm also represents clients in obtaining registration and permits with NAFDAC. The Firm now has an entertainment law practice and already helping Artists with the right ad most suitable legal framework for promotions and management.
The successful resolution of disputes depends upon the clear identification of client’s objectives and striking a balance between the purposeful conduct of litigation and careful and sensitive negotiation.
The firm has been engaged in commercial dispute negotiations on behalf of its clients. Its approach towards every dispute is practical and result orientated. When circumstances dictate, the firm’s litigation department acts forcefully and effectively in protecting our client’s rights by pursuing every available legal remedy. We are not new to legal technicalities and will gladly deploy same or ward against its use by the opposition in the best interest of our client. The firm is minded of a well-timed settlement and endeavors to resolve-disputes in the best interest of our client.
Most of the firm’s litigation practice arises from a general representation of its corporate and manufacturing clients. In particular, contractual disputes arising from the supply of goods and services, property related matters including construction and building contract disputes as well as employment disputes.
The firm is well experienced in litigations relating to recovery of loans for Banks and other financial institutions. The firm engages vigorously and mostly successfully too in litigations arising from loan recovery and called in guarantees either for the lending institution or the borrower.
The firm has been engaged in various aspects of property law including the preparation and perfection of leases, tenancy agreements, assignments, transfer and mortgages. Further the firm has experience in sourcing choice properties for sale or lease by prospective clients and in obtaining governmental consents and approvals incidental to land transactions as well as the preparation of building leases and agreements and general property management. The firm also handles land litigations, compensation claims and land dispute settlements.
