The firm of Messrs Odujinrin & Adefulu was founded on 6th November, 1972. This firm believes that the key to efficiency is in specialisation. To us efficiency means close attention to instructions, rapid turn around time and familiarity with the environment in which our client operates. We offer expert services in the following areas:
- Privatisation/Public Sector Services.
We are very familiar with public sector guided economic activities. We participated actively in the first and second phases of the indigenisation program in the 70s. Lately, we have been very much involved in the privatization of public sector enterprises and the reform of the Nigerian economy. We were the only Nigerian law firm in the Arthur Andersen-led Consortium selected by the National Council on Privatization on the advice of the World Bank to prepare the legal and regulatory framework for the reform of Nigeria’s electric power sector. The draft bill prepared by the Consortium is now before the National Assembly. Recently, on the instruction of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals, we prepared the BITUMEN BILL, the BITUMEN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BILL and BITUMEN MINING REGULATIONS BILL, which were recently passed by the National Assembly.
Recently, our firm structured a concession agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and South Africa’s Lexis Nexis Butterworths and its Nigerian associates for a 15 year concession agreement for the publication of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. The firm also served as the Legal Consultant to the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel in the long-drawn and complicated negotiation which led to the takeover of the Ajaokuta Steel by Solgas Energy of America.
- Capital Market Services.
We are one of the leading firms in capital market operations. We are founding members of the Capital Market Solicitors Association and our managing partner is a Trustee of the Association. We have participated in several Public/Rights Issues and were Joint Solicitors to the Trustees in the Lagos State =N=15 Billion (US$100 million) Redeemable Bond Issue 2004/2009. We are also currently Joint Solicitors to the Trustees in the First Cross River State =N=4.6 Billion (US$30 million) Floating Rate Redeemable Tourism Bond 2004/2007. We make bold to state that very few law firms in Nigeria have as much knowledge of the capital market as we do.
- Energy (Power and Petroleum) Services.
We are currently on retainership with the Nigerian Electric Power Authority (NEPA) - Nigeria’s Electricity Utility - to prepare and vet Power Purchase Agreements and other related agreements. We have also advised a number of private sector clients on various projects in this field.
The firm is active in the practice of Petroleum and Environmental Law. We have handled quite a good number of cases to a successful end in this area. We service such companies as West African Portland Cement Plc, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, Geoservices Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Company Limited.
We have also been instructed by the Senate Committee on Petroleum to review the NNPC Act Cap 320 and other legislations governing the petroleum sector of the economy.
- Maritime Services.
Our firm is a member of the international consortium recently appointed by Nigeria’s National Council on Privatisation (NCP) as advisers for the privatization of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
The consortium is being led by CPCS Transcom International, Onatario, Canada. Other members of the Consortium are Magnartis Finance & Investment (Lagos), Akintola Williams Deloitte & Touche (Abuja), Squire, Sampson and Dempsey (London) and the Cornell Group (USA). Suffice it to say that we are the only Nigerian law firm in this transaction.
In 1994, we were instructed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Transport to carry out a review of Nigeria’s Maritime Laws.
- Solid Minerals.
We are committed to the development of sectors which were hitherto dormant in our nation’s economy. We recently advised Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in the preparation and drafting of:
- Bitumen Act
- Bitumen Development Authority of Nigeria Act
- Bitumen Mining Regulations
- Corporate & Commercial Services.
Our comprehensive and extensive practice in this area includes acting for both international banks as well as a large number of domestic banks and financial institutions. This keeps us in the forefront of development in national and international banking law in addition to being current with the forms of business transactions relevant to the day-to-day business operations. Over the years, we have excelled in being able to meet the needs and demands of our clients, especially in the following fields of law:
- Maritime Law
- Media Law
- Banking law
- Business Transactions & Corporate Advice
- Commercial property
- Corporate finance & securities
- Project And Joint Venture Finance
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- International Commercial Transactions
- Natural Resources
- Taxation
- Employee/Employer Relations
- Dispute Resolution, Arbitration and Advocacy.
On behalf of our clients, we provide timely advice to prevent disputes. When they do arise we handle disputes in almost every area of commerce, finance and industry. As well as advising on the issue and legal merits, we identify and advise on matters which will arise if a dispute develops. Legal advice taken at an early stage can often prevent unpleasant surprises or other problems later. This is particularly important in international dispute where there is the possibility of proceeding in more than one jurisdiction. We are frequently concerned with complex factual, technical and legal issues which require close liaison between our lawyers and the client’s own personnel, other professional advisers and external experts. In our experience, careful preparation of a client’s case increases the prospects of success. As well as always considering the advantages and disadvantages of settlement by negotiation, we explore with our clients, the appropriate alternative forms of dispute resolution.
- Aviation and Insurance Services.
Our firm has particular capabilities in the Aviation industry. We are solicitors to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. Our expertise is reflected in the nomination of our Prince Adefulu to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for Investigation into the Management of the Nigeria Airways Limited (2001).
We were recently appointed by the Federal Ministry of Aviation as the Legal Advisers for the incorporation, selection of strategic core investor and technical partner and the Initial Public Offer (IPO) for subscription of the proposed flag carrier – Nigerian Eagle Airlines Plc. The Airline is expected to become the major carrier in Western Africa with capacity for long, medium and short haul operations.
Our wide experience in insurance has led to the development of specialist services required by insurance organizations. We represent several insurance concerns including Industrial & General Insurance Co. Ltd (IGI), Royal Exchange Assurance Nigeria Plc., the Nigerian Insurance Association and American International Insurance Company Plc (AIICO).
- Company Secretarial Services.
We provide a full range of company secretarial services for local and international clients through our subsidiary company, CNS Limited. Just as times have changed, so has the role of company secretaries. With this in mind our emphasis is on answering and dealing with the practical problems encountered in the administration of companies and ensuring that the statutory returns of client companies are up to date and the conduct and minutes of meetings beyond reproach.
- Information Technology.
We are currently involved in the establishment and structuring of the National eGovernment Standards Limited which is a PPP vehicle designed to use information and computer technology resources to bring government closer to the people of Nigeria and help data management and dissemination.
- Government Relations Services.
We maintain a close liaison with a wide spectrum of government departments. We operate a vibrant government relations service seeking government approvals and making representations for our local and international clients. With the wide network of the partners in the firm this service has been very successful in the assignments with the executive, legislative and armed forces.
- Litigation Practice.
The firm is actively involved in litigation in all its areas of specialisation. In addition to our extensive experience in litigation in the superior courts of record, the firm is backed by reputable consultants drawn from the academic community as well as a good library.
