Practice Areas

What we do. Our Services.

Our attorneys and consultants have represented clients in various commercial sectors, including Banking and Finance, Construction, Corporate and Commercial, Employment and Pensions, Energy (Oil and Gas), Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, Tax, and Intellectual Property Litigation and Enforcement.

These clients comprise of large multinational public companies, medium-sized companies, private partnerships, as well as entrepreneurial initiatives. The following is a description of the expertise of members of the Firm and the services provided:

Maritime And Shipping

We provide an array of legal services in this dynamic area of law, which also constitutes a strategic and critical source of revenue for the Nigerian Government. Our areas of expertise include representing clients with respect to collision, towage and salvage actions, harbour and port operations, marine and oil pollution claims, as well as insurance coverage disputes.

We also represent clients with respect to the preparing of charter party agreements, dispute resolutions arising therefrom, judicial arrests and detention, financing and loan documentations for the acquisition of vessels and related assets, compliance with the Cabotage Act, registration of and searches with respect to ships and other maritime assets, and preparing and reviewing concession and lease agreements.

Energy (Oil and Gas)

We represent clients in the drafting of oil and gas sale and purchase contracts including long term supply facilities, as well as matters relating to licensing and production. We also advice on the procedures for accreditation with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the preparation of joint venture agreements. In addition, the Firm provides counsel on issues such as environmental degradation and oil service contract disputes.

Compliance with Local Content Requirements: The Firm is very well positioned to advice on local content issues and we are uniquely qualified to guide foreign companies on how to enhance their ability to meet the requirements imposed by the Nigerian Government. In this area and, indeed, virtually all spheres in which our clients require advice, we are in a position to leverage local competence while maintaining international standards. Examples of areas in which we would complement local competence with international standards, include but are not limited to the following:

(i) Joint Venture Agreements with indigenous companies under the Marginal Field Program;

(ii) Licensing of Private Refineries;

(iii) Developing Standardized Agreements for Procurement activities with local companies;

(iv) Preparation of Bid Tenders;

(v) Establishing and Maintaining Procedures for the Registration of Local Contractors by Work Category;

(vi) Developing and Facilitating the Implementation of Plans to maximize our clients’ achievement of the Nigerian Content requirements of the NNPC;

(vii) Identifying Synergistic Opportunities;

(viii) Advising on Asset Protection Strategies;

(ix) Providing Tax Abatement Strategies; and

(x) Advising on Immigration and Expatriate Quota Matters.
* Our value proposition includes the admission of various members of the Firm as licensed attorneys in foreign jurisdictions and their relationships with lawyers and law firms overseas, thus enabling the Firm to provide comprehensive legal services to its clients.

Corporate & Commercial

We provide a range of services to public and private companies, partnerships, sole proprietorships, start-ups and other institutions. Specifically, the services we provide include:

Corporate governance, including the fiduciary duties of directors and officers,
Mergers and acquisitions,
Takeovers, management buy-out and buy-in,
Venture capital financings,
Corporate finance, and
Asset purchases, sales, and leases.

We also advice with respect to compliance with company laws including the Investment and Securities Act and Company and Allied Matters Act and implementing regulations. Further, the Firm is duly registered by the SEC as a Capital Markets firm of Solicitors.

In addition, the Firm renders company secretarial services and represents clients with respect to the incorporation of new companies including as nominees for foreign companies pending the formal establishment of business and related activities in Nigeria.

Intellectual Property Litigation & Enforcement

Our attorneys are keenly aware that most intellectual property litigation cases are won or lost at the preliminary injunction stage. Consequently, we apply some of the most innovative techniques together with our unparalleled tenacity to accomplish our clients’ objectives.

Importantly, we are proud of the fact that our lawyers have practiced with the best and tried cases against some of the most experienced trial lawyers around. Indeed, the trial experience of members of the Firm transcends these shores and stretches to the United States of America. A member of the Firm has represented blue chip companies in the beverage and confectionery market, as well as technology industry.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Simply put, our philosophy at Copley Partners is that, the best win is an early win! We have extensive experience handling jury and bench trials, as well as complex appellate matters. Our attorneys have won multi-million Naira (and Dollar) judgments for clients and also successfully defended similarly substantial claims.

Our attorneys have represented clients in various spheres of business including, banking and finance, insolvency, receivership and business reorganization, oil and gas, technology, pharmaceutical, real estate, food and confectionary, insurance, and construction.

The subject areas of their representation include without limitation: corporate governance and directors and officers liability, products liability, intellectual property, insurance, financial fraud, tax abatement, eminent domain takings, employment discrimination, real estate and immigration.

Employment Law

We have a substantial and dynamic practice in employee benefits and executive compensation. The Firm also provides various forms of employment training towards ensuring that our clients are conversant and comply with the local employment laws and implementing regulations. Other services that we provide include the preparing and reviewing of employee handbooks and human resource policies and procedures.

Immigration Law

Members of the Firm have worked with foreign investors/companies and Non-Nigerian nationals to obtain the required permits and authorizations in line with the Nigerian Immigration Laws. These include but are not limited to registration of Companies/Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV), application for work and residential permits such, as Temporary Work Permits (TWPs), Subject To Regularization Visas (STRs) and the combined Expatriates’ Residents Permits and Alien Cards (CERPAC).

Tax

Copley Partners provide advice that enable our clients to achieve their business objectives while simultaneously minimizing the impact of federal, state and foreign taxes. In particular, we counsel clients on Petroleum Tax matters, Transfer Pricing issues, Investment Fund formation (International and Local), and tax treatment of commercial transactions.

Banking And Finance

Copley Partners provide advice in relation to a broad spectrum of financial products including regulation and supervision, syndication of loans, secured commercial lending, project finance, corporate finance, the raising of equity and/or loan finance, credit enhancement, and handling trade documents.

Real Estate

Our real estate practice is comprehensive and includes the representation of developers, brokerage and appraisal firms, financial institutions, building owners and managers, lessees and contractors. Some of our members have represented world-renowned developers in New York and Boston in valuation matters and tax abatement proceedings in federal and state courts, respectively.

Importantly, we complement our real estate practice with the expertise of our various attorneys, including environmental, tax, commercial, communications, litigation and government and public relations.

Telecommunications Law

Members of the Firm have extensive experience in various aspects of telecommunications law including legislative, regulatory and administrative proceedings. The firm also counsels clients on joint ventures, structuring finance for network enhancement and/or expansion, as well as site acquisition matters.

Practice Areas

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