The Legal 500

AELEX’s ‘deeply experienced’ team regularly acts in cross-border litigation and arbitration, energy disputes, breach of contract cases, receiverships, insolvencies and corporate restructuring claims. The practice is also noted for its experience across professional negligence, intellectual property, competition, construction and engineering, financial fraud, debt recovery, insurance, employment, libel, product liability, class actions, trusts, and transport. The team recently represented a Nigerian Bank in several debt recovery claims; advised a car manufacturing company in a breach of contract case; and assisted the local subsidiary of an international telecoms company in a claim commenced by a shareholder for breach of shareholder rights. It also advised an international airline in relation to claims for general and special damages resulting from loss of baggage; and has been acting in several tax-related disputes. Practice head Funke Adekoya is recommended; Adedapo Tunde-Olowu has extensive experience in arbitration; and Olanipekun Orewale is also a key contact. Lawrence Fubara Anga has undertaken numerous aviation and maritime disputes.

Aluko & Oyebode has offices in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, and handles commercial disputes in the energy, construction, corporate, maritime, real property and IP sectors. It is also active in ADR matters; a number of the practice’s lawyers are experienced in domestic and international arbitration. In 2012, managing partner Gbenga Oyebode was elected chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Business Law. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Babatunde Fagbohunlu has handled maritime, banking, IP, and contract disputes, as well as receivership and insolvency matters, both at trial and appellate level. Adeniyi Adegbonmire is a key commercial litigation and arbitration specialist. Mark Mordi, in addition to handling commercial litigation, arbitration and general civil litigation matters, has carved a niche in IP enforcement matters. Chukwuka Ikwuazom is also an experienced practitioner.

F.O. Akinrele & Co regularly represents parties in major trials in Nigeria’s state, federal and appellate courts, and arbitration is also an area of strength for the dispute resolution group. Senior advocate Ademola Akinrele regularly assists local and international clients in complex commercial litigation proceedings relating to cross-border transactions. Olumide Aju is noted for commercial litigation, arbitration, and oil pollution and product liability cases, and has significant experience in energy-related, multi-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings. Joachim Okere stands out for his appellate practice; and Chukwudi Eze has ‘immense experience’ in shareholder disputes, insolvency, debt recovery, product liability claims, tax disputes, personal injury cases, and oil spill claims.

Fidelis Oditah & Co’s experience includes acting for Nigeria’s Power Holding Company and the Nigerian government in an ICC arbitration arising from the termination of a power purchase agreement; and representing Statoil Nigeria in the Nigerian Court of Appeal in connection with disputed commission arrangements regarding oil mining leases. Other highlights included representing ABB Powerlines in litigation before the Nigerian courts regarding alleged trade mark violations; assisting Stanbic IBTC in a suit brought by Mainstreet Bank for an alleged breach of a securities custody agreement; and acting for Cadbury Nigeria in several proceedings. Fidelis Oditah QC, James Okoh, Oladipo Ajayi and Precilla Oditah are the principal contacts.

Olaniwun Ajayi & Co’s representative banking disputes experience includes advising Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation in a case involving the revocation of Savannah Bank’s banking licence, and acting for First Bank of Nigeria in a landmark class action initiated by unsuccessful applicants in relation to an equity hybrid offer; advising UBA in a high-value action arising from a banker-customer relationship. It also assisted First City Monument Bank in a case involving the suspension of the bank’s foreign exchange licence by Nigeria’s Central Bank. In commercial litigation, the practice represented Cadbury Nigeria in an action pertaining to the misstatement of accounts. It also acted for Premier Lotto in a case relating to a disputed equity investment, and assisted the same client in a dispute seeking the determination of the appropriate authority to issue lottery licences. The firm also has a thriving employment, telecoms and constitutional law disputes practice, as well as arbitration experience.

Templars provides litigation and ADR services in respect of disputes arising from corporate and commercial transactions, telecoms and information technology, IP, shipping and aviation, oil and gas, taxation, employment and pensions. Adewale Atake heads the litigation and arbitration practices. He has acted as a trial and appellate lawyer in investment and corporate disputes, commercial cases, and oil spill and other environmental damage claims, in addition to admiralty, aviation, engineering and construction cases. Atake’s recent experience includes representing an international oil company in a commercial arbitration against the Nigerian government, regarding the application of investment tax credits, costs recovery and royalties under its ultra deep water production sharing contract.

Afe Babalola & Co is principally a litigation law firm, its dispute resolution services covering company and commercial law, admiralty or maritime matters, oil and gas claims, civil law, and public law issues. The department also handles international arbitration cases and has a successful appellate practice.

G. Elias & Co. recently represented Mainstreet Bank, and three of its directors, in a series of proceedings filed by the securities regulator in relation to alleged multiple violations of corporate and securities laws. It also acted for Africa Finance Corporation, a multilateral financial institution, in a dispute initiated by an investor challenging the legal personality of the corporation; and advised PPC in a dispute relating to the separability of an arbitration clause in a revoked agreement. Principal partner Gbolahan Elias’ most significant recent disputes work has spanned arbitration, product liability, capital markets and M&A. Fred Onuobia is managing partner; he and Elias are ‘highly knowledgeable, always willing to assist, and result-oriented, and possess a deep understanding of market developments’. Segun Omoregie is also well regarded.

Odujinrin & Adefulu’s Adeyemi Adefulu is recommended for commercial litigation and ADR. Adefulu’s experience includes acting for an exploration and production company in relation to a breach of contract dispute; and assisting in an environmental pollution case.

Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors has a broad range of experience in cases in both trial and appellate courts, and is particularly active in the areas of company and general commercial disputes, debt recovery, trade mark infringement, insolvency and property litigation. Managing partner Anthony Idigbe is a key contact, and Nnamdi Oragwu is noted for insolvency law, civil litigation, debt recovery and arbitration. Oragwu acted in relation to a series of lawsuits instituted against a US pharmaceuticals company in Nigeria on the basis of multiple tort claims.

Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers is a member of TerraLex, an international legal network. The litigation team handles a range of commercial and personal disputes; acts in tax matters that are litigated at Supreme Court level; and represents political parties and various levels of government in constitutional matters. The team has also been involved in major arbitration proceedings, both nationally and internationally. Leading counsel Abimbola Williams is recommended.

Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore’s representative experience includes successfully defending an election petition on behalf of the governor of one of the largest states in Nigeria, and acting as lead counsel in litigation between various states of the federation and the federal government in relation to the assessment and collection of VAT. It also represented an international accounting firm that was involved in disputes between member firms; and successfully defended an oil industry leader against various oil spill claims. Senior advocates Ebun Olusegun Sofunde and Mohammed Dele Belgore are highly rated; and managing partner Gabriel Nkadi Osakwe, Babajide Oladipo Ogundipe and Ben Amanze Onuoha are also well regarded.