The Legal 500

The ‘excellent’, ‘credible’ and ‘highly professional’ team at AELEX has been busy in tax, business reorganisation and insolvency. Highlights included advising an international oil company on tax assessment issues in a $2bn cost recovery dispute; and acting for the World Bank and a consortium of leading Nigerian Banks in the recovery of a N3bn debt. Funke Adekoya has an ‘eye for detail’, and is praised for her ‘experience of Nigerian litigation and strategic acumen’. Theophilus I Emuwa and Gbite Adeniji are also recommended.

Aluko & Oyebode has extensive experience in managing complex multi-party disputes in a number of sectors, and is also regularly involved in both domestic and international arbitration. IP litigation specialist Mark Mordi represents a number of international pharmaceutical companies, international brand owners and Nigerian private companies. Babatunde Fagbohunlu is recommended for his professionalism, communications skills and ability to see the bigger picture.

F.O. Akinrele & Co is well known for its broad expertise and strong track record in this area, with experience extending beyond the Nigerian Courts. The firm has a seasoned team of barristers led by Senior Advocate Demola Akinrele, who has successfully represented a variety of multinational organisations in the maritime, energy, aviation and transport sectors, among them ExxonMobil and Virgin Atlantic.

With his combined experience as a UK QC and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Fidelis Oditah of Fidelis Oditah & Co is widely recognised as an expert in the dispute resolution arena. He has considerable experience in local and international arbitrations under a broad range of institutional rules in a variety of sectors, particularly energy.

Olaniwun Ajayi & Co has a solid track record in dispute resolution, and is known for its ‘professionalism and expertise’. Work has included acting for the Attorney-General for the Federation in a complex case involving land reclamation; and a renowned case on resource control. The firm has also represented the Lagos State Government in a a landmark international arbitration relating to the Lagos Independent Power Project.

Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers’ dispute resolution practice goes back some 65 years. The firm has been particularly active in tax and has also represented numerous political parties and government organisations in constitutional matters.

Solola & Akpana has represented both private individuals and companies such as ChevronTexaco, Michelin and MTS First Wireless. With its principal office in Port Harcourt, the firm has been consistently busy assisting leading multinational and indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector. It also has experience in tort and environmental claims. Tope Solola heads the dispute resolution group.

Templars Barristers and Solicitors continues to handle a number of large-scale arbitrations. Recent work includes acting with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP for an international oil company in a long-running $1.5bn commercial arbitration matter, currently the largest case of its kind in Nigeria. The firm also handles shipping, fraud and money laundering matters.

Principally a litigation law firm, Afe Babalola & Co has over 30 lawyers handling disputes across a full range of industry sectors. Clients have included the Central Bank of Nigeria and former president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo. The firm takes over a significant number of cases at appeal level; its specialist appeals and appellate practice is led by its three resident Senior Advocates, including Afe Babalola himself.

Senior Advocate Richard Akinjide of Akinjide & Co has been an active member of the Nigerian Bar for over 50 years, and also practices as a barrister at 4 Bream Buildings in London. The firm has a very sizeable team of dispute resolution lawyers, and extensive experience in arbitration and litigation in Nigeria, the Gambia, and the UK. Work in the oil and gas sector features strongly; clients have included Shell and Total.

Babalakin & Co handled a capital markets dispute against Bank PHB worth $10m; acted for a leading international oil company in a dispute over oil assets; and is currently advising in a complex, multi-jurisdictional case involving arbitration and court proceedings in England and Nigeria. The firm is ‘always available’ and has ‘an excellent understanding of how international arbitration and cross-border litigation works’. Olawale Akoni is well known in the field and highly recommended.

With a focus on corporate and commercial litigation, the ‘well-organised and well-structured’ team at Odujinrin & Adefulu acts for major utilities and blue-chip companies such as Lafarge and Laventis. Recent highlights include advising Shell in an action for breach of contract; and assisting a major oil and gas services company in a claim worth N1bn. Adeyemi Adefulu leads the team and is highly recommended.

At Paul Usoro & Co, telecoms expert and Senior Advocate Paul Usoro works with a ‘strong team who give their best’. Highlights included acting for Daar Communications plc, Nigeria’s international broadcasting and media conglomerate, in an action which led to the restoration of Daar’s national network broadcasting licences. The firm is also co-counsel in litigation to recover N10bn on behalf of three of Nigeria’s leading banks.

With a ‘good, reliable, dependable’ team of experienced and specialist barristers and solicitors, Perchstone & Graeys is able to provide an ‘exceptional’ level of service. The team is ‘excellent, because they go above and beyond the call of duty’. Highlights included securing judgement for approximately N86m in a debt recovery action for a leading Nigerian Bank. The team is led by Senior Advocate Osaro Eghobamien.

Described as having’ tremendous’ in-house capability, Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors is ‘highly experienced in litigation’ and ‘knowledgeable on national and international procedures’. The firm is currently acting for the removed managing directors of four of Nigeria’s leading banks following the CBN’s restructuring of the banking industry; and advising Pfizer on a multibillion-dollar compensation claim. The team is led by the ‘resourceful’ Anthony Idigbe. Associate Peter Okorare is ‘very alert and committed’ and praised for his ‘competence and maturity’.

Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore has a strong pedigree in this area; all four of the founding partners specialise in litigation and dispute resolution, and two are Senior Advocates. Its experience includes assisting a multinational corporation against the Federal Inland Revenue Service, leading to a refund of over $6m and establishing the principle of “recharges” in Nigeria.

Led by Fayo Adeleye, the dispute resolution practice at Aina Blankson, LP has been particularly active in the oil sector and is currently acting for a minority shareholder in litigation regarding the divestment activities of a major publicly quoted oil company. The firm also has experience in settling long-running contractual disputes by mediation.

Ajumogobia & Okeke’s experience includes shipping, insolvency, tax, IP, and environmental disputes. As well as remaining involved in politics, H. Odein Ajumogobia is a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris; and Olasupo Shasore is currently serving as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State.

Traditionally active in shipping, tax and petroleum-related work, G. Elias & Co. has also built up an impressive portfolio of clients in the banking, securities and insolvency sectors. Recent highlights include advising Lutin Investments in obtaining what is believed to be the largest arbitration award ever made in Nigeria, amounting to $200m.

J. B. Majiyagbe & Co has a strong reputation for serving a broad range of top-tier clients in litigation and arbitration matters. The firm has been particularly active in aviation litigation, and has acted for KLM and British Airways. Folorunsho Majiyagbe comes highly recommended for corporate and commercial disputes.

Jackson, Etti & Edu has recently recruited three new associates and consistently attracts work from high-profile clients in the field of IP litigation. Recent highlights include acting for British American Tobacco in relation to its Rothmans trade mark. Asamah Kadiri is the key contact for IP matters.

The extensive experience of Fabian Ajogwu and Michael Ajogwu helps to distinguish Kenna & Associates from other firms in this practice area. The latter is experienced in land, commercial, consitutional and energy disputes; and the former has recently been appointed to the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration. The firm has previously collaborated on a major dispute with US firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Since its formation in 2000 through the merger of three firms, Matrix Solicitors has established itself as a strong choice in this area. Recent work includes a number of high-value disputes and arbitrations in the energy sector. The firm is recommended for its high level of service, and has offices in Lagos and Abuja.

Strachan Partners has been involved in a number of notable litigation and arbitration cases involving major commercial entities. Highlights included acting for a major mobile telephone operator in a dispute with the Nigeria Communications Commission; and acting for South Atlantic Petroleum in a dispute with the government of Nigeria over provisions in a major oil mining lease. Charles Adeyemi Candide-Johnson is well respected for his work in this area.