Our Work
Dispute Resolution & Arbitration
With a highly skilled and experienced litigation and dispute resolution team, we offer high quality advocacy and dispute resolution services to our diverse clients. The firm’s primary aim is to help clients, mainly leading multinationals, financial and other commercial institutions and also individuals, to resolve their disputes as expeditiously as possible. Where litigation becomes unavoidable or even a strategic option, the team, working with the client, remains focused on the business objectives of the client in assessing the client’s legal, commercial and reputational risk. We recognise however, the value of a well-timed negotiation towards settlement and endeavour to resolve disputes in the best interest of our clients. We engage the most effective, efficient and practical methods in settling disputes on behalf of clients, whether by litigation, arbitration, mediation, conciliation or other hybrid forms of alternative dispute resolution. Our lawyers have vast knowledge and experience with major international arbitration institutions such as like International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Our lawyers are skillful litigators, arbitrators, negotiators and mediation advocates who have mastered the art of advocacy and negotiation. Members of the Firm pride themselves as being able to get the best deals for clients, no matter how complex the disputes are.
Oil & Gas
Dorothy Ufot & Co has advised and continues to provide legal advisory support on many complex oil, gas, power and mining projects, amongst others, which span the energy supply value chain. These projects which are multifaceted usually require the provision of advice on transactional issues bordering on gas supply and utilization, engineering procurement and construction, and provision of advice on the divestment of interests in hydrocarbons acreages. We also regularly provide advice to numerous bidders in the acquisition of oil and gas assets being divested by international oil corporations in Nigeria. Our firm has also advised in relation to the financing of the acquisition of hydrocarbons assets.
Power & Mining
Dorothy Ufot & Co has advised and continues to provide legal advisory support on many complex power and mining projects, amongst others, which span the mining and power value chain. These projects which are multifaceted usually require the provision of advice on transactional issues bordering on electric power supply, engineering procurement and construction, financing of power projects and provision of advice on the divestment of interests in both hydrocarbons acreages and electric power assets. We also regularly advise companies and consortia in connection with the acquisition of equity stake in power generation and distribution companies and have been actively involved in the on-going Nigerian power sector reforms and privatization of former government owned power generation and distribution companies. Further, we continue to provide advice to several international and indigenous investors, developing independent power plant projects in Nigeria.
Intellectual Property
We provide well thought through, practical and commercially sensible legal solutions to clients with respect to their intellectual property and technology acquisition needs. This entails provision of legal advice on their Intellectual Property (IP) rights in relation to brand names and their usage, creative works and inventions, product development, licensing and exploitation of intellectual property rights and acquisition and transfer of technology. Our anti-counterfeiting practice involves conducting investigations and working with the relevant agencies of the government to prosecute offenders and remove the offending products from the market.
Shipping & Maritime
The in-depth industry knowledge and specialist shipping and maritime expertise of our team enables us to advise on various transactions relating to charterparties, bills of lading, corporate structures for ship ownership and joint ventures, management agreements, flag and operational registrations, employment, port & logistics, ship finance and lease, ship sale and purchase, ship mortgage registrations, ship recycling, crude oil and commodities trading, trade finance, international sales, documentary credit, marine insurance, marine casualties, pollution, piracy, ship arrest and release, Nigerian Cabotage trade and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010. Dorothy Ufot & Co represents owners, charterers, shipyards, insurers, protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs, financiers, international agencies, brokers, offshore and marine companies, port and terminal operators/promoters, petroleum marketing and distribution companies, commodity trading houses and trade associations.
Immigration
The firm provides excellent services to foreign clients in relation to immigration matters. It assists foreign clients in procuring and regularising immigration documents such as business permits, Subject To Regularisation (STR) visas, Residence Permit Applications (or extensions), temporary work permits / cable visas, expatriate quota positions and all other documents that would ensure the smooth operation of any foreign business venture and stay of expatriates in Nigeria.
Labour and Employment
We offer full range advisory services in labour and employment matters including: advising employers on compliance with numerous labour, employment and benefit laws; preparation and/or review of employment contracts; employment benefits plan design; collective bargaining negotiations; labour arbitration and litigation.
Foreign Investment
Dorothy Ufot & Co is experienced in providing services to assist foreign corporate or individual clients wishing to establish businesses in Nigeria. These services include the incorporation and establishment of various corporate vehicles (suited specifically to the client’s needs) as well as obtaining business permits, foreign investment approvals, expatriate quota approvals and pioneer status (where applicable). The firm also advises on corporate compliance issues, Nigerian laws and procedures relating to foreign investments and the foreign exchange laws that enable the repatriation of expatriates salaries, bonuses, profits, dividends etc.
Banking & Finance
The firm is experienced in the preparation and perfection of all forms of security and financial documentation for various financial institutions including banks, mortgage institutions, micro-finance establishments and corporate thrift institutions. Our services span from consortium and individual loan agreements, public and private issues to international project financing, securities acquisition and sales, share pledge agreements, mortgages, bills of sale, guarantees, debentures, debenture trust deeds, chattel mortgages, equipment leases and debt rescheduling documentation. We also provide representation and advice on all forms of security and financial documentation; we are involved in acting as external counsel to several international financial institutions and local banks.
Commercial Real Estate
Dorothy Ufot & Co has extensive experience in the preparation and regularization of title documentation at state and federal levels, superintending property development documentation, preparing lease agreement, tenancy agreements, mortgages, assignments and other titles to land. Furthermore, the Firm has engagements in real estate agency, property acquisition and property tax compliance for individual, industrial and institutional clients.
Business Reorganization and Insolvency
Our firm offers wide and in-depth services in insolvency-related litigation and enforcement proceedings. The firm has a track record of representing its clients{financial institutions, corporate bodies & individuals} in high profile cases in various aspects among others but not limited to; litigation in bankruptcy & insolvency proceedings, judicial foreclosures and receiverships, insurance-related insolvency that is; advise to insurers and reinsurers, plans of reorganisation, schemes of arrangement, exchange offers and voluntary arrangements, creditors and equity committee representation, operational issues where businesses trade in bankruptcy/insolvency, debt recovery.
Corporate Commercial
Our lawyers are specialists in various areas of company and commercial law and have successfully handled transactions in areas which include but are not limited to Company Formation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, Joint Ventures, taxation and general legal advisory. Members of the team also specialise in the provision of company secretarial services to small, medium and large companies including private limited liability companies, public limited liability companies and incorporated trustees.
Securities and Capital Market
Our firm is a duly registered capital market Adviser and solicitor to issues of shares to the public particularly the shares of Public Limited Liability Companies as well as rendering professional advice to prospective investors on the stock market. Our firm is abreast with procedures relating to privatization and commercialization of companies. We follow up and advise corporate and individual clients on their capital market transactions and requirements generally. We advise on Nigerian investment laws and regulations generally including but not limited to banking laws and regulations, exportation and repatriation of funds generally. We also advise on the existing laws and regulations generally governing the relevant privatized industry and the regulatory framework for the industry.
Regulatory and Government Relations
We strive to develop and implement processes to promote and sustain good corporate governance of companies whilst ensuring that the best standards of corporate governance are adopted by companies in so far as they are considered appropriate to the nature and scale of the organization. The firm regularly interfaces and has built reliable connections with various regulatory bodies whose directives have an impact on our clients’ operations. Such regulatory bodies include the Corporate Affairs Commissions, Securities and Exchange Commissions, Department of Petroleum Resources, Central Bank of Nigeria, Bureau of Public Enterprises, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, National Insurance Commission, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and various other agencies