Our expertise is diverse as we have specialists in various areas of legal practice.
Litigation, Mediation and Arbitration
We have excellent practitioners in electoral petitions as our firm handled more than 120 election petitions in Osun, Lagos, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Nassarawa, Ondo, Kogi, Benue, Abia, Gombe, Plateau and several other States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja following the flawed 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 general elections. Such cases were prosecuted from trial to finality on appeal with landmark decisions arising therefrom.
M. A. Banire & Associates has been involved in highly contentious litigations in Nigeria. This has been attested to by the prompt response of the firm to the needs of other lawyers whose litigation careers were thrown into the wilderness by the 2004 Lagos High Court (Practice and Procedure) Rules, which has been adopted by the Federal High Court and several other States’ High Courts. M. A. Banire & Associates has, therefore, published an annotation to the new Rules, which was launched on 30 November, 2004. The second edition of the book was released into the market in April, 2009 with a Law Report cited as [2008] Blue Book Law Report (Pt. 1).
The third edition of the book was launched into the market on the 31st day of October, 2013. In 2022, we equally published the book “The Compass: A Compendium of High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules in Nigeria”. This book, authored by the Partners of the firm, is regarded in the legal circle as one of the most comprehensive works on civil procedure rules in Nigeria and an all-encompassing exegesis of the various high court rules incorporating interpretation of the existing High Courts Rules by the superior courts of record in Nigeria and comparative analyses of the application of similar Rules in other Common Law Jurisdiction.
Perfection and Governmental Interface
Due to the involvement of our Principal Partner in government for more than twelve years, we have built a solid relationship in governmental circles by which we run perfection and governmental interface services of superlative character. We have represented many organisations in perfecting titles to land, securing governor’s consent, obtaining building approval, facilitating resolution of disputes between business outfits and governmental bodies where there are disagreements. We have, in this regard, advised numerous clients on compliance issues under both Federal and State environmental regulations.
Corporate & Commercial
It is to our credit in M. A. Banire & Associates that our services are extensive reaching out to all sectors of the economy. We have advised on a vast array of transactions, among which are:
Business Formation and Operation
Contract Documentation
Securities and Capital Markets Services
Debt and Equity Restructuring
Mergers and Acquisition of Companies
Public/private investment advisory and services
Business Formation and Operations in Nigeria, most especially when foreign elements are involved, are regulated by law requiring good knowledge of both local and rules of private international law and in which we have specially skilled experts. We have, therefore, helped in the formation, documentation and incorporation of Companies, Partnerships and Sole Proprietorships whether with or without foreign interests. We have equally been consulted on formation of subsidiaries and affiliates of some Foreign Companies and rendered services connected with documentation of Joint Ventures. For example, we were consultants to the State Government of Osun in the 60 Billion Naira Bond raised in 2014 and one of the first few firms to advise on Islamic finance of Sukuk in sub-Sahara Africa. We were also solicitors in the just concluded Lagos State 100 Billion Naira Bond signed on the 29th day of January, 2020.
The law firm of M. A. Banire & Associates has been extensively involved in the Receivership and Management of Insolvent entities, recovery of default obligations, consultancy, winding up proceedings, and service advisory on securities for the past fifteen years. In terms receivership management, AMCON appinted our law firm as receiver/manager for the Silverbird Group in 2016, Daily Times Nigeria Limited (2017), Sigma Apartments, Abuja (2018), Tornique Oil and Gas Limited (2019) amongst others.
As regards asset tracing, location and recovery of assets and/or funds derived therefrom, we are presently retained to trace the assets of Seawolf Oilfield Services Limited and Mustasons Guest House Limited. We have also been engaged by AMCON for the recovery of default obligations one of which is still on-going for the recovery of over N250 billion owed by Capital Oil and Gas Plc.
M. A. Banire & Associates is a firm with wide experience in transaction structuring and legal documentation. Transactions handled by the firm in this area include drafting and perfection of foreign currency loan agreements, securitized lending agreements, local and foreign currency equipment lease agreement, structured trade finance agreements, with specific emphasis on forward sale contracts, options and swaps.
We have also rendered services in other areas, some of which, to mention a few, are: Giving advice on Debt recovery, Debt advisory and rescheduling, Local and offshore syndicated loan transactions and guarantees, Asset-based finance, Construction and Project Financing, Investment Structures, preparing Syndicated Loan Agreements, Equipment lease agreements etc. We are consultants to many banks in Nigeria.
The law firm of M. A. Banire & Associates has rendered services to various clients in both private and public sectors with substantial interests in oil and gas. We have advised governmental agencies on oil and gas contracts and have maintained a viable reputation in the industry. We have experts in oil and gas whose knowledge of the field extends beyond the Nigerian jurisprudence as we maintain an offshore office in London with a number of our lawyers thereat specializing in oil and gas law. Tayo Olatunbosun, one of our Partners and an expert who holds a Masters’ degree in Oil and Gas from the University of Aberdeen, heads this department.
We have consulted for a number of oil and gas companies while the law firm of M. A. Banire & Associates was the first selected by the Federal Government among so many consortia who submitted bids for the Gas to Power Project of Nigeria in 2005.
Oil & Gas
Telecommunications
We are confident to say that our practice in telecommunications law in Nigeria is superlative. It is evident that Nigeria has one of the fastest developing markets for telecommunications in the developing world. We have, therefore, positioned ourselves in the industry by acquiring the relevant knowledge of the legal regime regulating the industry, licensing and the rights and obligations of carriers and service providers. We have also developed technical capacities in structuring multiplex telecommunication technology transactions. We act as solicitors to many telecommunications industry stakeholders and we have handled a number of litigations involving telecommunication companies.
M. A. Banire & Associates has rendered legal advice on regulatory, interconnection and licensing matters. We have acted as interface between our clients and relevant regulatory bodies and government organisations in procuring necessary permits and licences. We are consultants to MTN Nigeria Communication Plc. in respect of so many briefs.
We are experts in real property services. Transactions and litigations we have handled cum learned articles emanating from our firm are eloquent testimonies to this. We have counsel that are well versed in conducting necessary search, investigation and due diligence on title and acquisition of right of occupancy. We have advised numerous clients on Land Use Charge Law of Lagos State and the trouble-instigating provisions of the Land Use Act. Our services on advice on tax implications of property negotiations and property arrangements have benefited a number of persons both natural and artificial, private and institutional investors, property owners, property developers and property acquiring institutions.
Real Property
Transportation Law
M. A. Banire & Associates is a firm with a sound knowledge of transportation law in Nigeria. A boost to this is the fact that the Principal Associate of the firm has held the portfolio for transport management of Lagos State in Nigeria for two consecutive terms and his achievements in reforming and standardizing the sector are products of excellent understanding of transportation laws. In-house, we have experts that have attended both local and international seminars on transportation laws. Our lawyers drafted the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Law, 2007 and the BRT Regulations made pursuant thereto. We are currently solicitors to Eko Water Buses, a company about to revolutionize water transportation in Nigeria and Alliance Leasing Company Limited etc. We have rendered advisory services to stakeholders in the transportation sector on ways and manners of obtaining permits and other regulatory matters. Unions in the transportation sector have benefited from our consultation services.
