Practice Areas
List of Practice Area
Real Estate
We have a robust real estate practice as all our partners have in different times advised and represented major real estate companies and property owners, buyers and on property leases. One of our partners was in the Team that advised and appeared for the UAC Property Development Company Plc (UPDC) in a major dispute over a property worth Billions of Naira in a choice part of Lagos. We have also appeared for Banks and other entities in mortgage related disputes in Nigerian Courts.
Capital Market
We have advised and appeared in courts on behalf of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (now Nigerian Exchange Group) and the CSCS in capital market related disputes. We also have experience in capital market litigations at the Investment and Security Tribunal (IST) and High Courts in Nigeria.
We were part of the Team that represented and secured a major victory for the former Union Bank Plc, Group Managing Director at both the IST and the Court of Appeal in a capital related dispute.
Maritime/Transport/International Trades and Cross-border Disputes
Our maritime practice spans litigation and arbitration involving claims concerning vessel arrest, ship mortgage, ship sale and purchase, ship building, charterparty and shipping contracts.
We also offer broad transactional work and general regulatory compliance services as well as advise on policy issues in maritime and transport sector.
Energy, Power and Solid Minerals
Our Partners have in the course of their careers advised and represented International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria in oil spill litigations and other commercial disputes in various Courts in Nigeria.
We have advised and represented a consortium of local and international energy and power firms. One of our Partners was in the Team that advised and represented one of the biggest Electricity Distribution Companies in Nigeria, Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKDC) in disputes arising from its operations. He also represented Dangote Group and was in the Team that recently secured a major court victory for the Group in a high profile and complex mining dispute.
Taxation
Our Partners have gathered requisite tax experiences over the course of their careers and have previously been part of the Team that advised and represented a major multi-national company at Tax Appeal Tribunal up to the Supreme Court in relation to a major tax dispute relating to the applicability of Value Added Tax in relation to imported intangible services. Some of the position canvassed at the Courts led to the amendment of the relevant provision of the VAT Act in the recently enacted Finance Act.
We have also advised various entities on a wide range of tax related disputes covering transfer pricing, withholding tax, company income tax, the powers of the State Governments to levy taxes on mining companies, Value Added Tax, amongst other issues.
Corporate and White-Collar Crimes/Investigation
We have appeared and represented defendants charged with money laundering and other corporate and white-collar crimes. Some of the clients we have represented include politically exposed persons, past Bank Group Managing Directors, Oil Marketers charged with petroleum subsidy crimes, business owners, ex-Governors of States in Nigeria, etc.
We have appeared for and currently represent clients invited by law enforcement agencies in respect of corporate and economic crimes.
Intellectual Property, Trade Secrets, Data Protection/Technology
Our Partners have advised and represented both local and multi-national entities in Intellectual Property (IP) related disputes ranging from trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets amongst others.
We have a growing practice in data protection and privacy law. One of our Partners is currently advising and representing one of the best music composers in Nigeria against one of the top record labels in copyright infringement suit.
Our Partners are expert members of the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SIBAN) and have been invited to speak and moderate on various conferences and webinars relating to blockchain regulations in Nigeria. We currently advise a number of tech startups on various blockchain related projects.
SMES & Startups
In recognition of the role of SMEs and startups in the Nigerian and African economy, our Firm has a specialized and tailor-made, flexible and cost reflective service offering for the SMEs and startups.
We equally offer dedicated legal training and services to startups on how to build a legally protected business and at the same time hand-hold them whilst they transit into the growth stage. We are currently
advising some tech startups on a number of investment-related deals and transactions.
Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Arbitration
At TLS, we pride ourselves as the go-to-firm in litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution practice. Our Partners have garnered significant experiences in this practice area having represented local and international clients in complex and high-profile litigation and dispute resolution cases across the courts in Nigeria and up to the Supreme Court. Our expertise lies in being innovative and strategic in solving
problems and managing litigation risks. With our main office in Lagos and branch offices strategically located in Abuja and Port Harcourt, we are uniquely equipped to represent our clients at short notice throughout Nigeria.
We have also secured collaboration with key lawyers outside Nigeria and across Africa which puts us in a position to advise on cross-border issues.
Our litigation and dispute resolution experience span complex litigation and arbitration dispute resolution relating to contracts, banks, finance, taxation, maritime and transport, commercial transactions, corporate affairs, oil and gas, power, intellectual property, construction, labour and employment relations, international trade, insolvency, real estate, election petition and political disputes, white collar crime and investigation amongst other commercial disputes.
In the course of their careers and practices, our partners have in the past represented major local and international clients and government agencies which include Access Bank Plc, GT Bank Plc, UBA Plc, Dangote Group, Exxon Mobil, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), NDIC, MTN Nigeria, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, PZ Cussons Plc, UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC), Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Nigerian Stock Exchange (now Nigerian Exchange Group), Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) amongst others.
Banking and Finance/FINTECH
We have advised, represented and appeared in Courts for most of Nigerian tier 1 and tier 2 Banks (including but not limited to Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Stanbic Bank Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Ecobank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc) in highly complex commercial disputes and secured favourable judgments in some of the concluded matters.
Our partners have been involved in recovery of debts and loan facilities of a combined value of over N20 Billion for top Nigerian commercial Banks. In 2019, we were part of the Team that advised and represented Guaranty Trust Bank in the recovering of multi-billion Naira facility owed by one of its customers. In 2021, one of our Partners was the Team that achieved a similar feat for Access Bank Plc in a multi-billion Naira debt recovery suit.
We commenced and conducted Trials and obtained judgments in favour of Banks and other commercial entities in a wide range of commercial disputes and also provided strategic solutions on debt restructuring arising from protracted litigations and negotiations. One of our Partners was also in the Team that represented Access Bank Plc at the Federal High Court, in respect of dispute arising from its merger with Diamond Bank Plc. The Merger led to Access Bank Plc becoming the Africa’s Largest Retail Bank and biggest bank in Nigeria in terms of assets.