Our firm is engaged in the general practice of law, although we specialize in Commercial Law. We have exclusive retainer agreements with some notable multinational companies in the country in the various fields of construction work, electrical and power engineering and pharmaceuticals amongst others. We also accept briefs on an individual solicitor/client basis in these and other fields.

Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

On a voluntary basis, our Principal Counsel has been engaged in delicate negotiations in the dispute on state land and government quarters between the Federal and Lagos State Governments and between Lagos State Government and private/public companies or private individuals.

Generally, as a matter of principle, our Chambers believe that every avenue to dispute resolution between our clients and other parties on land properties and any other matter must be explored before we go into litigation. We also have a wealth of experience in arbitration, having represented the Federal Housing Authority, amongst others, successfully in a number of arbitral matters.

Facilities & Operations

We are happy to state that we have installed and do operate the latest models in terms of high technology office equipment for the benefit of our clients.

These include computer software and telecommunication facilities. In addition, we have one of the best equipped private law libraries in Nigeria with well over 400 volumes of Nigerian and English law books, monograms, journals and publications.

In order to enhance greater efficiency in the services rendered by the firm , each legal practitioner has a portfolio of clients with the duty/responsibility of attending to the particular clients’ needs.

Every corporate client is presented with a situation report on all matters, contentious or non-contentious quarterly and where this is not possible, at least twice a year. There is however an underlying philosophy of work ethic in our chambers that every client is a client of the chambers and therefore any member of the firm can attend to a client if the lawyer in charge of the client’s portfolio is not available at all times.

Tribunals/Commissions of Inquiry

Both our Principal Counsel (before1967) and the Chambers since 1975, have acquired a great deal of experience representing various interest:- individuals, trade unions and companies – before Tribunals of Inquiries or Commissions of Inquiry. We took part in the following commissions/Tribunals, amongst others:

Commission of Inquiry into affairs of certain statutory corporations in Western Nigeria (popularly called the Coker Commission of Inquiry), set up by the Federal Government in 1962. Tribunal of Inquiry into the affairs of the Lagos City Council set up by the Federal Government in 1966. Lagos Executive Development Board Commission of Enquiry, 1966. State of Crude Oil Tribunal of Inquiry, 1980. Commission of Inquiry set up by the then Bendel State Government and headed by Dr. Mudiaga Ogje to inquire into the Board of “The Observer” newspaper, 1984.

Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the federal Ministry of Works & Housing Contracts (awarded between 1979 and 1983), 1986. Uwaifo Panel of Inquiry into the Nigerian Port Authority set up by the Federal Government in 1986. Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Kafin Zaki Dam and Kawali Diversion Projects, 1994-1995, set up by the Federal Government.

Land Law

Besides his wealth of experience in land law legislation and the administration of Federal lands throughout Nigeria for almost 8 years, Alhaji Femi Okkunnu S.A.N, was involved in land cases and matters of land acquisition while in practice between 1960 and 1967, since his return to the Bar in January 1975.

Over the years, the Chambers have represented various interest , individuals, companies as well as land – owning families and the Lagos State Government in numerous land matters, contentious or non-contentious. We also prepare and perfect leases, transfers, assignments of land and landed properties.

Construction & Engineering

With his background as the Federal Commissioner for Works & Housing between 1967 and 1974, our Principal Counsel has been able to build up a formidable practice specializing in legal aspects of the construction industry, especially building and civil engineering. The firm has represented leading construction firms and consulting engineers, architects and land and estate surveyors in negotiations, litigation, conflicts resolution and commissions of enquiry.

Indeed, our Chambers are the retained solicitors not only to some leading building and civil engineering companies, but also to the council for the Registration of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVRBN) and we have represented them in various parts of Nigeria.

Insurance

We have been acting as solicitors to ELMAC Assurance Nigeria Limited now part of LASACO Assurance Plc, one of the dominant insurance companies in the country since its incorporation in1993.

The company carries on life and non-life policies. We have also acted as solicitors for a form of insurance brokers. We also act as counsel to insurance companies in the High Court in Motor accident cases.

Intellectual Property

As a law firm, we have comprehensive experience in the protection of intellectual property. We have been engaged by clients, local and international, in the registration of their trade marks, and in cases for their protection at the Federal High Courts. We have also been exposed to other intellectual property rights like patents and copyrights protection.

Banking & Finance

The firm has also, at various times, undertaken work in the banking sector on behalf of the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, and lately Bank PHP Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, as well as financial institutions like The Capital Consortium Limited, amongst other banking and financial concerns or institutions.

We have acquired a wide experience in the preparation and consideration of mortgage and debenture deeds, equipment leasing agreements, and other such complex documents in the banking and commercial sectors of the economy. We have also been very active in debt recovery exercises for these clients.

Privatization & Capital Issues

We also acted as one of the external solicitors for the Technical Committee on privatization and Commercialization (now known as the bureau of Public Enterprises), and we have therefore been involved in the Federal Government’s privatization program.

In that regard, we acted as Solicitors to the issue as regards the public offer for sale of the Federal Government’s shareholding in Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, an exercise which we dare say, was implemented successfully. We carried out a similar exercise as solicitors to the issue in the public sale of shares of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

We have further carried out work on the private and public placements of shares of some of our several clients, for example, the acquisition of Bayer Pharmaceuticals (Nigeria) Limited (now known as Gemini pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited).