Full-Service Law Firm in Lagos, Nigeria
Blackfriars LLP
28-30 Macarthy Street
Lagos 51145
Nigeria
+234 (907)036-0173
+1 (646) 536-8978
www.blackfriars-law.com
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Blackfriars LLP is based in Lagos, Nigeria and offers a variety of legal services including domestic and international arbitration and litigation; capital markets and corporate transaction; energy and mining; financial products and taxation; immigration; intellectual property including trademarks registration and patent protection; labor and employment; telecommunication and information technologies; and admiralty/maritime and aviation law.The firm is led by a team of accomplished lawyers whose experience spans more than two decades of legal practice locally and internationally. With a blend of legal scholarship, intellectual depth, practical experience, and cosmopolitan outlook, they offer innovation, attention to details, and strong business acumen.
Blackfriars LLP’s fundamental principle is the unshakeable conviction that the practice of law is a privilege that carries with it the solemn responsibility to apply its talents for the benefit of clients.
Year this Office was Established: 1993
Languages: French, Igbo, Hausa, English
Areas of Law
Additional Areas of Law: Doing Business In Nigeria; Business Formation In Nigeria; Foreign Direct Investments; Mining; Petrochemicals; Mining; Financial Products.
Areas of Law Description
Blackfriars LLP has highly qualified and experienced lawyers with core expertise in different areas of commercial law. The individual expertise of the partners and associates working in the respective practice areas is further enhanced and deepened by the collaborative manner in which our practice groups work with one another. The synergy and team-oriented culture ensures that the firm’s expertise and unique talents are employed to achieve the best possible results for our clients in the following practice areas:
- Arbitration and Litigation
* Domestic and International Arbitration
The lawyers in our Arbitration Practice Group offer clients sound counsel and practical support in all types of arbitral proceedings, both at domestic and international forums. Our lawyers are experienced in various issues and aspects of both domestic and international arbitration.
* Commercial Litigation
At Blackfriars LLP, our acclaimed success in litigating cases in Nigerian courts begins from our listening approach. We listen attentively to the problems of our client. We pay attention to the finest detail of our client’s case. Nothing escapes our attention.
* International Law
In an increasingly globalized business world, private individuals, corporate entities, and states have to deal with potential benefits and risks of conducting business, trading and investing globally. Our firm is especially capable and experienced to offer sound legal counsel and practical help to foreign investors proposing to undertake or already doing business in Nigeria.
- Capital Markets and Corporate Transactions
Lawyers in our Capital markets and Corporate Transactions Practice Group have handled some of the most innovative and complex transactions in Nigeria. Our pragmatic and innovative approach to corporate law practice in Nigeria is complemented by our deep familiarity with the key operators on Nigeria’s capital markets.
- Energy and Mining
At Blackfriars LLP, we have a vibrant energy law practice representing an array of clients on transactions that span the gamut of the Nigerian energy industry. We deploy our expert knowledge of Nigerian’s oil and gas industry to help clients avoid and/or solve regulatory and operational issues in Nigeria’s energy sector.
- Financial Products and Taxation
We have acted for clients in various leveraged finance products, acquisition finance transactions, project finance and real estate finance. Our areas of core competence include: Asset-backed securitization; Banking and financial institutions; Project finance; Public finance; Real estate financing and REITs; Sovereign governments and international financial institutions (IFI’s); Structured finance; and Tax.
- Immigration
Our immigration law practice is largely focused on helping Nigerians secure permanent residency status in Canada. Our Lagos and Toronto offices have some of the most dedicated and experienced immigration lawyers to help clients wishing to emigrate or study in Canada.
* Labor and Employment Law
Our Employment, Labor, and Immigration law practice is largely focused on helping expatriate and local workers in Nigeria secure and maintain relevant work permits, visas, and also help resolve various employment and labor issues. We help our expatriate clients in Nigeria regularize their Subject-to-Regularization (STR) visa and Temporary Work Permit (TWP) visas.
- Intellectual Property Rights
We help our clients evaluate and manage intellectual property risks; provide strategic advice on intellectual property protection and enforcement programs; work with clients in the restructuring of intellectual property assets; and help guide companies through branding and licensing strategies.
- Telecommunications and Information Technology
With the deregulation and liberalization of the Nigerian telecommunications sector, foreign and local investors have made remarkable impact in the telecommunications industry. The privatization of NITEL and the emergence of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as the regulator of the telecommunications industry have combined to create a robust practice area in which the depth of qualified personnel at Blackfriars LLP comes to the fore.
- Transportation
Our Transportation Practice Group is sub-divided into two, namely, aviation and maritime law practices.
* Aviation
We have rendered advice to clients on a wide range of aviation issues such as the creation of security interests upon acquisition of commercial (passenger) aircraft by a foreign client, aircraft finance and charter arrangements, insurance claims under aviation policies and related subrogation claims.
* Admiralty and Maritime
Blackfriars LLP is a significant player in Nigeria’s maritime law industry. We have represented ship owners and Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Associations on various specialist issues such as navigation, classification, collisions and damage, salvage, chartering, ship registration and transfer, as well as negotiating between parties on disputed claims.
- Entertainment and Sports Law
Our firm is the leading sports and entertainment law firm in Nigeria. Our clients include not only sports organizations and but also individual athletes, FIFA licensed-agents, performers, and artistes, both professional and amateur, and span numerous sports such as football, boxing, athletics, track and field, and others.
Lawyers
 |
Dr. Ikechi Mgbeoji
Lawyer Arbitration, Banking and Finance, Business and Industry, Business Litigation, Communication |
Affiliations
- Nigerian Bar Association
- Institute of Trademark Agents
- Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society
- Canadian Intellectual Property Academy
More Information on Blackfriars LLP
TransportationEnergy & Mining
Intellectual Property
Arbitration & Litigation
Immigration, Labor & Employment
Capital Markets & Corporate Transactions
Telecommunications & Information Technology
Blackfriars LLP News and Publications
Articles Published by Blackfriars LLP
Abandonment of Wrecked Ships on Navigational Routes in Nigeria
Calls have been made to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to remind it of its statutory duties regarding removal of wrecked ships.
Read Article Admiralty Jurisdiction in Nigeria
Section 251(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to hear and determine admiralty disputes in Nigeria.
Read Article Nigerian Maritime Industry: Foreign Participation in Cabotage Trade
The objective of the Cabotage Act in Nigeria is principally to reserve domestic coastal trade (“cabotage or cabotage trade”) within Nigerian Coastal and Inland Waters to vessels built and registered in Nigeria, wholly owned and wholly manned by Nigerian citizens.
Read Article Proposed Industrial Property Commission Bill Reduces Duration of Trademarks from 14 Years to 7 Years - Nigeria
The Industrial Property Commission bill has significantly reduced the duration required for trademark renewal.
Read Article Nigerian Mining Industry: Opportunities for Foreign Investors
Nigeria is endowed with numerous mineral resources such as talc, iron ore, bitumen, gold, rock salt, gypsum, lead/zinc, coal, gemstones, kaolin, tantalite, bentonite and baryte located in different parts of the country in commercial quantity
Read Article Cyber Security Bill: Panacea for Cyber Crimes and Related Practices? - Nigeria
Stakeholders in Information and Communication sector recently reiterated their commitment to the passage of the anti-cyber crime bill into law.
Read Article Patent and Designs Act 1990: Patentability of Inventions in Nigeria
A patent is usually a form of market monopoly granted to the inventors by a government authority as an incentive to invent or innovate. This grant is usually for the period of 20 years.
Read Article Production Sharing Contract in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector
Nigeria had in the past years engaged in Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) for the exploration of her petroleum resources.
Read Article Collective Investment Schemes under Nigeria’s Investment and Securities Act 2007
Part XIII of the Investment and Securities (ISA) 2007 creates collective investment schemes in Nigeria.
Read Article Capital Gains Tax in Nigeria: Exemptions and Reliefs
Capital Gains Tax accrues on an actual year basis.
Read Article The Nigerian Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2002
The Nigerian Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2002 (MLPA) was enacted at a period when money laundering was synonymous with drug trafficking.
Read Article Nigeria Set to Reform the Regulatory Framework of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2007
In the aftermath of the meltdown of Nigeria’s capital market, the absence of strong regulatory framework has been recognized as one of the contributory factors in the unusual downturn in the capital market.
Read Article Qua Iboe Terminal Oil Spill: One too Many?
The effects of oil spills on human and aquatic life remains so grievous and almost irreparable if not properly handled. Effective clean-ups and reclamations of affected areas usually take long time and requires much effort and consistency.
Read Article Telecomms Regulators to Require SIM Card Registration to Curb Cell Phone-Related Crimes - Nigeria
The recent direction by the Ministry of Information and Communications to the effect that all mobile telecoms operators selling new Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards must obtain the data of prospective subscribers and that all previously obtained SIM cards must be registered without delay is no doubt a good policy aimed at reducing the incidents of technology related crimes.
Read Article Nigeria's Aviation Industry Needs Radical Overhaul and Modernization
The deplorable state of infrastructure at both the international and domestic airports in Nigeria has given rise to a call by all and sundry for an immediate radical revamp of the aviation industry.
Read Article Corporate Tax Refund: A New Concept in Nigeria?
The emergence of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Establishment Act may bring smile to the faces of corporate tax payers if the provision that introduces tax refund will be given the necessary push and attention.
Read Article Long and Extensive Use: High Court Reaffirms Criteria for Protection of Unregistered Marks in Nigeria
Under Section (5) of the Trademarks Act of Nigeria, the right of a proprietor of a registered trademark is deemed to be infringed by any person who, not being the proprietor of the trademark or a registered user thereof, using it by way of permitted use....
Read Article Nigerian Money Laundering Prohibition Act
The Nigerian Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2002 (MLPA) was enacted at a period when money laundering was synonymous with drug trafficking. Consequently, the law sought basically to prohibit gains obtained from narcotic drugs and other psychotropic substances.
Read Article Market-making Proposal in Limbo Two Years after SEC's Approval in Nigeria
The proposal to establish Market-makers in Nigeria has not taken off two years after SEC approval. July 2010 Vol. 23: Issue 7
Read Article CBN Take-Over of Nigerian Banks: Unresolved Legal Issues
The full extent of the powers of the CBN Governor and the CBN itself to regulate banks registered in Nigeria is contained in two pieces of legislation: the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, and BOFIA, respectively. However, whether these pieces of legislation authorize the CBN Governor to takeover and sell off the banks is a matter of serious legal doubt.
Read Article Nigeria and Debt-Financing of Joint Venture Cash Calls
Nigerian Government may debt finance and/or equity finance its 2009 joint venture cash call obligations.
Read Article Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in Nigeria
Commercial arbitration has become a major attraction in international transactions owing to its speed and effectiveness in resolving commercial disputes. Having obtained the award however, the successful party would have to enforce the award against his adversary.
Read Article Market Makers in Nigeria: The Law and Regulation
Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Release Criteria for Licensing Market Makers in Nigeria
Read Article Corporate Affairs Commission to Deregister Tax-Defaulting Companies in Nigeria
For decades, many companies whose names appear in the Registry of Companies with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) fail to pay annual corporate taxes or file annual returns.
Read Article Landing Permits for Trans-Continental under Sea Optic Cables in West Africa: Challenges for Telecommunications Outfits
There is a paucity of fibre optic capability in the West African telecommunications industry. In addition to widening the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world, this situation has resulted in slower Internet connections and expensive telecommunications facilities in the sub-region.
Read Article New National Tax Policy Approved in Late December ‘08 - Nigeria
The Technical Committee on the Nigerian National Tax Policy has announced that the draft document of the tax policy is to be submitted to the Federal Executive Council for approval before the end of the year 2008.
Read Article The Lagos State Wharf Landing Fees Bill: Is it Constitutional? - Nigeria
Nigeria’s biggest and busiest ports are located in Lagos. Recently, a bill was introduced in the House of Assembly of Lagos proposing the imposition of levies on trucks loading out of any of the ports in Lagos including Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
Read Article The Nigerian Public Procurement Act 2007 and Debarment of Multinational Corporations from Participating in Government Contracts
The Nigerian Public Procurement Act 2007 and Debarment of Multinational Corporations from Participating in Government Contracts: Unanswered Questions on Debarment and Exclusion Rules
Read Article Central Bank of Nigeria Sets New Hurdles for Foreign Banks Desirous of Acquiring Nigerian Banks
Central Bank of Nigeria and Foreign Ownership of Nigerian Banks
Read Article The Nigerian Content Development Bill: What Foreign Investors in the Oil and Gas Sector Should Look out for
The liberalization of the oil & gas sectors of the Nigerian economy and increased global demand for crude oil have combined to make Nigeria a key player in the global oil market. However, for decades, Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors have been dominated by foreign multinational entities with large expatriate workers deployed in both on-shore and offshore locations in the country.
Read Article
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