The Legal 500

Arguably Port Harcourt’s leading firm, AELEX has in Funke Adekoya, one of only five female SANs. Adekoya is currently vice-chair of the Nigerian Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Standout recent cases include representing the claimant in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s first tariff-related dispute; advising a multinational oil exploration company on a London-based $200m arbitration with an offshore contractor; and advising a major tobacco manufacturer on a product liability claim made by the federal government and four local state governments. One client commented that ‘they have excellent contacts with government which is very useful when trying to resolve issues with government agencies’.

Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers is one Lagos’s most well-established disputes firms, where Abimbola Williams SAN leads three other partners and 11 associates. The firm is affiliated to Terralex for international referrals, and handles local court work in the banking, energy, telecoms, insurance and intellectual property spheres. The firm can also handle alternative dispute resolution at a high level, and has been involved in some notable energy sector arbitrations of late.

F.O. Akinrele & Co is a respected presence on the Lagos disputes scene, and ‘superb advocate’ Demola Akinrele is ‘always ready to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in’, and delivers ‘very quick turnaround times’. Highlights in 2008 included advising the Russian insurer on the disputes arising from the ADC airplane crash in 2006, with Ince & Co as international counsel. The team also has good connections with banks and a top-tier maritime disputes practice.

The ‘extremely impressive’ Fidelis Oditah & Co’s Fidelis Oditah is the only practising UK QC and Nigerian SAN, and now spends the majority of his time in Nigeria. Oditah is Shell’s preferred counsel of choice, acting on a range of pollution cases and commercial cases, such as Raccah v Shell (mistaken payments), Dike v Shell (power station pollution) and Wakuho v Shell (contractual dispute). A top choice for arbitrations, the firm is currently advising on a dispute relating to the failed phase two of an IPP.

As one of Lagos’s premier commercial firms, Olaniwun Ajayi & Co has a superb client base of multinationals and local businesses. Partner Oluseye Opasanya has 20 years of experience in commercial, banking and energy disputes, and also arbitration. In 2008, the team advised United Bank for Africa in a foreign exchange transaction dispute against UBA. The firm also has good credentials for trade mark disputes.

Disputes are a core practice area for Port Harcourt-based Solola & Akpana, where senior associate Henry Chibor leads the team. Clients range from major international names such as Total and Daewoo, to Nigerian clients such as MTS First Wireless and Moni Pulo Limited. All manner of commercial disputes are handled, including shipping, intellectual property and insurance disputes.

Templars Barristers and Solicitors works at the upper end of the disputes market, and has a good reputation for reliability. Energy head Oghogho Akpata has been advising Mobil subsidiary Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited in a challenge to the federal Nigerian government relating to the purported revocation of an oil mining lease. In 2008 the firm has also been advising Siemens on internal anti-corruption investigations.

A new recommendation for this edition is Ibadan-based Afe Babalola & Co, where the ‘trusted and experienced’ Afe Babalola SAN is a first choice for referrals for some international firms for local disputes. Babalola has more than 40 years of experience in commercial litigation, and now runs a firm of more than 30 lawyers. Apart from its offices in other major Nigerian cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, the firm also has an office in London.

Aina Blankson, LP is a well-known litigation practice in Nigeria, and the disputes team is headed by partner Kehinde Aina. The firm undertakes debt recovery for local banks, and also acts for the National Insurance Commission and Securities & Exchange Commission on various disputes. The team also has a solid record on environmental work. In 2008 the team acted in Zenon Oil Nigeria v Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc.

Ajumogobia & Okeke is a very reputable four partner commercial firm, with solid credentials for disputes in the oil and gas, manufacturing, banking and telecoms sectors. Olasupo Shasore SAN is very well thought of by clients, and in oil minister H Odein Ajumogobia SAN, the firm has great political connections.

Akinjide & Co.’s Richard Akinjide (a former attorney general) leads this litigation boutique, which has often acted for the likes of Shell and Total.

Akinwunmi & Busari often acts for banks, but has also historically represented the federal government on energy disputes. One other partner and six associates are led by Tunde Busari, who is experienced in all aspects of litigation, with a notable niche in insolvency.

The ‘very professional’ Aluko & Oyebode is one of Nigeria’s finest firms, and has an especially good reputation for its energy-related transactions. Partner Babatunde Fagbohunlu is described by one impressed client as a ‘smooth operator’. Fagbohunlu often acts for oil companies; for example Agip and Total on a variety of court disputes in Nigeria, and international arbitrations. The firm recently represented Ipco Nigeria on a major $250m arbitration against the NNPC.

Lagos-based Ayodele Olugbenga & Co is a solid player in the Nigerian disputes community, and works for a range of clients in the telecoms, insurance and banking sectors. Central Bank of Nigeria is a client.

A new addition to the disputes table this year is Babalakin & Co, where ‘impressive partner’ Olawale Okoni SAN is ‘quick to react’ and ‘responsive’. In 2008, Okoni and his team advised NNPC on a major $250m arbitration against Ipco Nigeria. The firm is also counsel to one of Nigeria’s leading construction companies Stabilini Visinoni Limited.

A debut in this table is merited for G. Elias & Co., which is well known amongst international firms as well as with Nigerian clients. Standout transactions in 2008 included acting for Sunrise Power against the federal government for cancelling the award of contract for a $6bn hydro-electric power plant; and the groundbreaking tax case Eit-Osa Local Government v Jegede, concerning the extent to which local governments can impose business taxes.

Jonathan Majiyagbe SAN leads two partners and eight other lawyers at J B Majiyagbe & Co, including the up-and-coming Folorunsho Majiyagbe. The firm is currently acting for British Airways on two major breach of contract cases (it occupies a notable niche in aviation); as well as representing the Nigerian Bottling Company (licensees of Coca-Cola) on a negligence action involving the deaths of 13 people. It can claim to be Kano’s leading disputes practice, and has also now invested extensive resources in expanding its new Abuja office.

Eight-partner Jackson, Etti & Edu is a reliable mid-market name for commercial litigation, as well as construction, environment, insurance, property and energy disputes. In 2008, the firm has been active on various insolvency-related disputes in the energy sector; as well as representing Pepsico on the recovery of a staff benefit fund from UNIC Insurance; and defending Western Atlas International on a criminal charge over loss of radioactive materials. The firm also has a good reputation for intellectual property matters, for which it is one of the country’s premier outfits.

From its office in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu, Kenna & Associates handles the full range of commercial, financial, energy, intellectual property, and insurance disputes. Fifteen lawyers are led by Michael Ajogwu SAN, who has more than 30 years of experience. Clients include various government departments, as well as foreign embassies, and energy giants such as ExxonMobil. In 2008, the firm advised British and South African business on divestments.

Matrix Solicitors is a respected and modern full-service mid-market Lagos firm. Of the three partners and nine associates, Henry Owolabi is a junior partner making a name for himself. For international referrals, the firm has a loose association with South Africa’s Webber Wentzel.

Ade Adefulu of Odujinrin & Adefulu is ‘a great individual’, and in 2008 he represented the defendant in Oladunjoye Oseyemi v MTN Communications, a health and safety action relating to telecoms equipment. The firm is also acting for Shell Petroleum Development Corporation and TSKJ on various disputes across Nigeria. ‘From the quality of the firm’s job it is highly likely that we would solicit for their services in the future should the need arise’ remarked one client.

Name partner Paul Usoro SAN of Paul Usoro & Co has used his telecoms expertise for Econet in Econet Wireless Ltd v Delta State Ministry of Finance; and has otherwise been busy in the banking and energy sectors, as demonstrated by his role in the major trade dispute Mobil Producing Nigeria v Pengassan.

Another debut for this edition is awarded to Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore, which was originally a break off from the eminent Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chambers. In 2008, the firm handled tax litigation for Halliburton, and also commercial disputes for subsidiaries of Exxon Mobil and Shell.

Specialist litigation boutique Strachan Partners has extensive experience in all types of ADR and court disputes, from energy, telecoms and property to regulatory matters. ‘In a market which is all about individuals, you can’t get a safer pair of hands’ than Charles Adeyemi Candide-Johnson, who leads eight other lawyers.