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Law Forte provides quality legal services with a global perspective to individuals, businesses, organization and Governments.  Our services are organized into practice groups. They are Corporate & Commercial Law, Dispute Resolution, Energy & Environment, Real Estate & Development, and Legislature &  Government Relations. The firm has acted as solicitors and advisors to investors and participants in various fields ranging from telecommunications, banking and insurance, alternative dispute resolutions, corporate finance, oil and gas etc.

CORPORATE

This Department is engaged in the formation of companies, negotiation and drafting of shareholders’ agreements, joint venture agreements, advising on share and asset acquisitions and disposals, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, winding up, company secretarial services and corporate tax advice. A substantial part of the work undertaken by the Corporate Department is devoted to the special needs of foreign investors, who have to comply with Nigeria’s foreign investment regulations. Our lawyers have developed a reputation for resourcefulness, in this area by their responsiveness to the needs of clients working to tight deadlines. Clients of the Corporate Department range from major industrial conglomerates o closely held family companies and individual entrepreneurs.

 

BANKING, FINANCE & INSURANCE

This Department renders general banking and insurance law advice, banking and insurance regulatory advice and represents clients engaged in capital markets and corporate finance transactions. solicitors from the firm have acted for insurance industry groups in dealings with apex regulatory body – the National Insurance Commission, private insurance companies, commercial and investment banks, trustees lenders and borrowers in a wide variety of transactions. As Nigerian companies are beginning to raise funds internationally, we are particularly well placed to support due diligence surveys of such companies on behalf of international lenders and their advisers.

 

Shipping & Aviation

The Shipping and Aviation Department acts for ship owners, charterers, shippers, aircraft owners and lessees, insurers, regulators and P & I clubs. We have advised on ship and aircraft arrests, cargo loss and damage, ship and aircraft sale and purchase, maritime collisions, bills of lading and charter-party claim. In the past, members of our firm have also undertaken work in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter financing, negotiation and conclusion of aircraft lease and lease-purchase agreements, aviation insurance, airline licensing, aircraft registration and other aviation regulatory matters.

 

Intellectual Property

Our lawyers have extensive experience of representing holders of intellectual property rights in the enforcement or defense of such rights in Nigeria. Members of the firm have acted for local and international clients in registering their rights with the appropriate registries in Nigeria, and in litigating for enforcement of these rights before the relevant registries and the Federal High Court when this has become necessary. We also monitor the registers and journals of the Trademarks and Patent Registries to ensure that the legitimate interests of our clients are not jeopardized. We have also been involved in the negotiation of licenses and leases of intellectual property rights, and providing other advice on the Nigerian law oi trademarks, copyright, patents, trade secrets, confidential information etc.

 

General Commercial

This Department covers areas of commercial law not covered by the other Departments or Groups. Its work includes advising on employment law, conveyance, construction law and property development, and private client services. Our lawyers have provided extensive legal advice, conducted due diligence and structured transactions for residential estates and bids for the sale of major federal government owned commercial properties.

 

Infrastructure & Privatization

Solicitors in this department have been in the forefront of the practice of the law as it relates to the private development of infrastructure. We have a reputation for proffering sound legal advice on a range infrastructure sectors including telecommunications law, power, ports management, water, aviation, and roads/transport. Our expertise in this area includes advising on licensing and regulation, concessioning, commercial and financing issues and supporting the startup of new telecom companies.

LITIGATION DEPARTMENT

We have a vigorous Litigation Department at Law Forte. Our experience spans the spectrum of judicial review of administrative action, construction disputes, intellectual property disputes, enforcement of human rights, environmental liability claims, insurance claims, debt recovery, landlord and tenant, shipping claims, aviation claims, claims for negligence and general contractual claims. Our clients are quite varied and we have rights of audience and experience of acting, before all courts and tribunals in Nigeria.

 

ARBITRATION / ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Our Arbitration and ADR practice comprises partners, associates and outside counsel with experience of acting for international clients in local and international arbitral proceedings.

ENERGY, MINING & POWER

This Department serves our substantial clientele in the oil and gas, and power sectors, and our growing clientele in the mining area. Our partners have experience of supporting major oil and gas exploration and production companies in negotiating production sharing contracts (PSCs), processing applications for leases and licenses, drafting proposed legislation, financing and development of major oil and gas projects and other matters relating to their business in Nigeria. Our gas experience has naturally prepared us for the prospect of undertaking advisory work to participants in the power and water sectors. Our natural gas experience includes advising gas project developers on matters involving the development of LNG, fertilizer, gas processing and pipeline projects.

 

ENVIRONMENT

Our Environmental Law Department is organized to provide prompt commercial advice to clients across the range of environmental issues from industrial and marine pollution, through waste management and product liability to development control and lender liability. In this rapidly developing area, a key aspect of our service is to forewarn clients of legislative and regulatory proposals of particular relevance to them. Our ability to do this is directly related to our excellent relations with the major environmental regulatory bodies at federal and state level.

This department renders general services in the business of Real Estate Development and property management. The members of this department are expert and professionals from the relevant fields which includes: Architects, Engineers, Estate managers, Marketers, Surveyors, Valuers and Lawyers. They handle all the processes required in the establishment or development of estates up to management level. Among such jobs are procurement of landed properties, conveyancing, surveying, architectural engineering, construction work, valuing, marketing and management. Our client in this department varies from private individuals to organized institutions and government establishment.

Our Legislative Oversight and Related Governmental Activities practice group is responsible for overseeing the key proposals of the National Assembly. We provide prompt analysis of bills presented or proposed to be presented to the National Assembly.

In addition to an analysis of legislative activity, we provide advisory services by evaluating the merits and demerits of proposed legislations and its impact on the socio-political and economic growth of the client. Systematic to an analysis of legislative as outlined above puts Law Forte in a better position, if called upon to do so, to address issues relating to the client in any committee in a timely manner as to make it unnecessary for company officials to be without good cause in the event that officials are summoned by the legislative, Law Forte would be better equipped to support such officials in avoiding abuse and embarrassment.

Legislative Lobbying a vital activity of this practice group. It spans a spectrum including detailed review of specific issues upon the client’s request, actively advocating legislation and representation at hearings.

We also represent government organizations and institutions on various issues across a wide range of sectors.