PRACTICES

Our clients benefit from our expertise and extensive experience in a wide range of transactions and corporate finance work, including mergers & acquisitions, divestitures and restructuring of companies and other businesses, shareholder and joint venture arrangements, banking and financial services work, including equity offerings, employment and labour law matters.

We recently led a team of legal advisers in the restructuring of a multi-billion naira refinancing of a leading sub national government in Nigeria’s capital requirements with a consortium of eight first tier banks.

We are also advising and coordinating financial services acquisitions by a top-tier bank in Africa’s sub regions with our associate offices in Africa.

Our teams have also advised and provided invaluable support to in-house counsel in respect of numerous significant mandates and have participated as legal and consortium advisers in privatization and core investment transactions in major public utilities in Nigeria - making ALP the much-preferred corporate commercial lawyers in Nigeria.

Risk Management in Transaction

The close synergy amongst our different practice groups ensures that we manage our clients’ risks efficiently and effectively, which includes public sector and regulatory advice in Nigeria. We have developed systems to ensure that all corporate and commercial transactions are reviewed by the Dispute Resolution team to not only identify potential “red flags” but to ensure that they meet the terms of current judicial pronouncements and interpretations of the law. Our service charter is to be proactive rather than reactive.

Our Disputes team emphasizes the firm’s commitment to its clients by responding firmly with formidable and resourceful litigation capabilities, when clients become involved in disputes that cannot be settled by and amongst the parties themselves.

With the advantage of senior counsel, the firm handles a range of corporate and commercial litigation disputes in Nigeria, contract claims of varied complexity; Admiralty and Shipping matters, Insolvency and Tax appeals; Intellectual Property actions and Environmental defences involving multi-party representative actions, amongst others, before the Federal and State High Courts, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Our litigation practice draws on its intimate knowledge of our clients’ businesses and our ability to respond creatively to and efficiently resolve their problems. An invaluable contributor to positive results for ALP clients is a modern and resourceful litigation support and paralegal team that has devised and developed methods to keep costs in good perspective.

We are Dispute Resolution lawyers and as such, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR); Domestic and International Arbitration is encouraged for the very specialized interests of commerce and provides relatively quick, effective, binding, and final resolutions. At ALP, our experienced and highly qualified arbitrators provide vital expert advice. We have acted for Sovereign governments, State entities and multinationals in complex multi-party and International commercial arbitrations. In addition, we are proud of our unique experience as Nigeria’s leading commercial arbitration firm in representing clients at International Investment Arbitration before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Along with our firm-wide commercial expertise, our Banking and Finance team has over the years provided services in asset and project finance, securitization, trade and commodities financing transactions, capital markets and other securities.  We have acted for parties in some of the leading issuance programmes on the exchange markets, from major private listings, dedicated bond issuances, public sector debt programs and lead advisors to a Green bond program for a significant infrastructure entity in Africa.

At the other end of the value chain, the team works with the litigation department for the enforcement of securities, mortgages, insolvency, and other receiverships. This cohesion is one of the ways in which we are able to effectively manage our clients’ risks.

We have acted for and continuously render advice to first tier banks and financial services companies in local transaction structuring, pan-African acquisitions and the rapidly growing FinTech sector.

We provide legal support for participating interests in the oil, gas, and energy resource areas. Members of our team are notable Electricity market experts with sound knowledge in electricity reform, its regulations and optimizing power purchase projects; feed stock and distribution. We have advised new power developments in licensing and distribution permits in the pioneering IEDN (‘Independent Electricity Distribution Network’) provisions of Nigeria's electricity market; advising unique off-grid solutions in the solar and bio-waste segments of electricity supply; and advised on significant power asset acquisitions by off-shore investors.

ALP has significant involvement in the emerging Nigerian mining industry, guiding clients through the acquisition and assignment of Mining Leases and representing joint venture parties in the sector generally.

Our firm has also worked as consortium leaders in respect of several Value for Money Audits in a government led Oil entity, which included legal, financial, and technical components to determine the accuracy and authenticity of claims for reimbursement.

ALP has significant experience in Admiralty & Maritime matters where we have acted for vessel owners in disputes and arrests; carriage and defending cargo claims; acted for insurers and P&I Clubs in the release and security for arrest; compensation defense in oil rig and platform disputes in the Gulf of Guinea; and cargo claims against vessels owners and charterers.

Our members are experts in advising shipbuilders, representing clients in shipping and FPSOs accidents, collisions, pollution, and salvage claims, providing practical advice to owners, crew, ships, and suppliers. ALP is Nigeria’s foremost firm with practical experience in passenger shipping and ferry boat establishment and related disputes.

Our Transport & Logistics experience includes all related sectors of the industry. We have advised international lenders in the multi-million-dollar funding of a major arterial light rail project in Africa’s most populated metropolis involving bridge and long-term financing.

We have an enviable track record in aircraft lease transactions; sales and acquisitions of aircraft and financing; and the regulation and compliance aspects of the Aviation industry.

Our services in this sector have also extended to advising the regulator in the review of its powers relating to ticket pricing and fair treatment by major airlines operating in Nigeria and the extent of the Bilateral Air Service regime. We have also acted for a State Government in its application for an aerodrome (airport) license and the establishment of the Master Plan and definitive investment agreements for a new International Airport.

We have represented aircraft suppliers in disputes relating to sale and purchasing in Nigeria and acted as counsel to major global airline operators in Nigeria covering all aspects of operations, Warsaw Convention claims, cargo and passenger claims and civil disputes.

In addition, we offer services that ensure our clients are up to date and kept updated on sometimes challenging and vague government and regulatory requirements covering immigration, tax, permits, licenses and so on.

Over the last few years, the Nigerian creative, media and entertainment industry has seen exponential growth. In response, the ALP Intellectual Property group has created a special team to serve this fast-evolving industry. We recognize the need for the protection of all aspects of intellectual property rights, and the provision of legal support and services to the established, as well as rising stars in these industries.

We provide services for the registration of trademarks, patent applications and with the National office for Information Technology (NITDA). 

In addition, we have advised telecommunications operators in acquisitions, transaction structuring, corporate governance and compliance. 

Over the years, we have extended our services to provide key contractual expertise in these areas. Be it in start-ups, SMEs, or large multinational corporations, an increasing use of media and the digital technology platforms through which it is distributed means that a media-savvy approach to business law is required in today’s world

Our team has worked on major infrastructure development projects spanning real estate development, hospitality, and leisure resorts, of which the most notable is the ‘Eko Atlantic City’ development. Africa’s largest on-going real estate and infrastructure project. We have also acted as advisers to the Africa Finance Corporation in respect of the Lagos Blue Line metro rail project.

Consumer Goods & Retail

The firm has acted for and rendered advice to businesses engaged in the fast-expanding areas of food production and processing as well as the manufacture and retail of pharmaceutical products. The services include cross border acquisitions, government, and regulatory approvals, as well as compliance with local laws and regulations. We have also advised on private equity investments, divestments, corporate restructuring, and shareholder disputes.

Hospitality & Leisure

The firm has a group that focuses on hospitality and leisure and has clients in the thriving gaming industry, as well as owners of leisure centres, resorts, and catering establishments.

The services offered to this sector include advise on gaming laws, tax advice and representation, other contractual and management agreements, including employment contracts and property acquisitions; data privacy and security; advertising and branding.

Navigating the regulatory landscape and ensuring compliance has become a key business advantage therefore having proactive advisors is a necessary asset. We have completed stakeholder mapping and engagement consultations for clients that has enabled them to become more aware of the stakeholder environment as well as design change making ethical engagement that fosters true partnership between business and regulator.  

Due & timely corporate compliance and company administration are also important assets in the armory of an emerging, growing, or successful business. Corporate governance rules and strict compliance with legislation, emerging government policy and public regulatory stakeholder mapping have now created time–consuming, technical, and demanding requirements for running an effective business.

ALP Corporate Compliance Services team is made up of experienced former in-house counsel, boardroom experts and qualified chartered secretaries offering services across the country. Our assurance is a cost effective, convenient, yet efficient and responsive service that specifically addresses the status of the company’s affairs at all times.

We have developed a bespoke client, “annual compliance dashboard” with alerts and a calendar for tracking routine filings and compliance activities and undertaking specifically scheduled statutory meetings such as Annual and Extra-Ordinary General Meetings and board meetings. All these ensure that strategic corporate steps are taken to keep our client companies, family businesses and conglomerate boards in healthy compliance status.

In addition to our business advice, we offer our clients personalized and bespoke advice on trusts, wills, estate planning, advisory services and all aspects of wealth planning and protection including tax advisory services. In providing these services, we consider the cultural and religious dictates of our clients, an increased globalized arena, and the multiple jurisdictions in which some clients operate and hold assets, to render insightful and comprehensive advice. We are proud of being one of the selected few firms in our cadre offering private client lawyer services in Nigeria.

We are closely associated with ALP Professional Services Limited, to meet some clients requirements, we often form seamless cross practice teams with ALP PSL www.alp-psl.company a consulting firm of tax advisers, Business Advisors to International companies expanding their base by opening offices in Nigeria; ambitious and growing owner-managed businesses; leaders in the streaming and film distribution business, Fast moving consumer goods [FMCG] businesses Not-for-profit Organizations, and Public Sector Agencies.

While we provide outsource supply for ALP PSL, the corporate positions some of our team members have held, including their past and current experience in the daily operations of companies means that we are able to offer our clients practical and pragmatic advice to guide their commercial operations.

In addition to our risk management services, we offer bespoke Due Diligence services and advice in respect of prospective joint venture partners, acquisitions, employees and so on.

ALP is committed to supporting programs that develop society as well as promoting sustainability projects in our communities. We believe knowledge and data are sound social investments for the future.

In 2022, we institutionalized an annual ‘ALP Innovation prize challenge’ for young SME owners and start-ups that have ideas to business concepts impacting society and business practices. We offer a funded award as well as pro-bono limited period legal services for these enterprises to get off the ground on a sound footing with appropriate quality legal advice at the time, they most need. 

 Pro bono services

ALP has developed a robust Pro Bono programme of legal services to assist communities and underserved members of the public as well as targeted Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's). Our pro bono work gives legal advice, shares skills and knowledge, and empowers citizens to cope, seek redress and make meaningful contributions to society.