This group handles all the maritime, admiralty, oil and gas briefs for the firm. The group is made of a partner, ably supported by senior associates and junior counsels. It is on record that this group gives a full range of services on exploration, field development, production, transportation and trading of both crude oil and finished products. These services include, drafting and review of Production Sharing Contracts (PSC), Joint Venture Partnerships (JV’s), advise on acquisition of requisite permits and licenses from Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), NNPC, and other government bodies or parastatal charged with the regulation of the oil industry in Nigeria; drafting agreements for the provision of 3D seismic surveys, reviewing lease agreements for oil rigs, purchase agreements for gas scrubbing plants etc. Members of this group have also at various times been parts of consortiums that have advised and raised funds for development of some oilfields and related projects.
- Presently we are advising consultants working on $30M project with the PPMC.
- Conducted due diligence on and prepared a Share Purchase Agreement for a client emanating from their acquisition of a stake in a Marginal Oil Field.
- Advised a client on employee relations vis-a-vis threatened union action by their staff.
- Co- counsel on a crude oil sale transaction.
- Advised on equipment financing re acquisition of long term assets by a client.
As regards maritime law and admiralty matters, the group has vast knowledge and contacts within this area of law. This is due to the fact that the partner who heads this group has a Masters in International commercial law with emphasis on maritime law, from a foremost university in the UK, he is also a member of the Nigerian Maritime Lawyers Association. The group has strong affiliations with some retired justices and senior members of the bar (SAN) who are leading authorities on maritime law in Nigeria. It is on record that we have been involved in;
- The arrest and release of a few ships in Nigerian waters.
- Mediation between cargo owners and ship owners.
- The release of cargo owners goods after there was a grounding which caused delays in the delivery.
- Handling issues of maritime lien arising from the non-payment of crew wages,
- Drafting of voyage/time charterparties.
- Issues relating to general average, marine insurance, ship acquisition and registration amongst many others.
On power generation/ electricity, group members were part of firms that advised the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the unbundling of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) into one power transmission company, six power generating companies and six distribution companies, thus giving birth to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Presently, the group is advising an indigenous power company on billing and revenue collection for PHCN in the northern part of the country.