24, Ebun Street, Yaba. Lagos State. Nigeria
9:00am - 5:00pm
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri
Empowering clients through our experience
The objective was, and remains simple, yet profound: to channel the very best of our experience into the lives, businesses, and growth of our clients.
Integrity, Excellence & Confidentiality
We uphold the highest ethical standards, ensuring that every client receives trustworthy, discreet, and professional legal support
Seasoned & Versatile Legal Team
With extensive expertise in Corporate law, Dispute resolution, Maritime law, Estate planning, and more, our lawyers deliver exceptional legal advocacy and advisory services
Client Satisfaction
Client-Centric Approach
Experts
Team of experts
Skilled
Highly Skilled Team
Support
Quick Support
Learn About Us
We are a world-class, full-service law firm dedicated to providing strategic, innovative, and client-focused legal solutions. Based in 24, Ebun Street, Yaba. Lagos State, Nigeria, our firm is built on a foundation of excellence, integrity, and results-driven advocacy. Our expertise spans across corporate law, shipping & maritime, litigation, estate planning, trusts, and asset protection, among other specialized areas. We serve individuals, businesses, and multinational corporations, ensuring tailored legal strategies that meet diverse needs.
With a team of highly skilled and experienced legal professionals, we combine deep knowledge of Nigerian law with global best practices to navigate complex legal challenges efficiently. Our commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and outstanding service makes us the preferred legal partner for our clients. At Smith & Partners LP, we don’t just practice law—we deliver solutions that empower and protect.
Learn MoreOur Practice Areas
Corporate and Commercial Law
Smith & Partners LP delivers tailored corporate and commercial legal services to businesses of every scale. We advise on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, contract structuring, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property management, while also guiding clients through dispute prevention and resolution. Our approach is proactive and business-oriented, ensuring that clients minimize legal risks, seize growth opportunities, and maintain a strong foundation in Nigeria’s dynamic commercial and regulatory environment.
Learn MoreShipping, Aviation, Logistics and Transportation Law
Smith & Partners LP offers specialized legal support in shipping, aviation, transportation, and logistics law. We advise on regulatory compliance, cargo claims, vessel and aircraft financing, insurance, charter agreements, and port operations. Our team assists shipping companies, airlines, and logistics providers in structuring transactions, resolving disputes, and managing risks. With deep industry knowledge, we guide clients through Nigeria’s regulatory landscape while ensuring alignment with international transportation and trade standards.
Learn MoreEnergy, Power & Natural Resources Law
Smith & Partners LP delivers strategic legal services to clients in Nigeria’s energy and power sectors. We advise on oil and gas transactions, renewable energy projects, power regulations, environmental compliance, and dispute resolution. Our lawyers structure contracts, manage risks, and guide investments to align with national and international standards. By combining industry insight with legal expertise, we help energy producers, distributors, and investors operate efficiently and sustainably in a rapidly evolving sector.
Learn MoreBanking, Finance, and Fintech Law
Smith & Partners LP offers sophisticated legal advisory in banking, finance, and fintech. We support financial institutions, investors, startups, and tech innovators with regulatory compliance, transactions, and dispute resolution in Nigeria’s evolving financial services industry.
Learn MoreTechnology Law
At Smith & Partners LP, we understand the rapidly evolving digital world. Our technology law practice is designed to support tech companies, startups, developers, and investors with legal compliance, intellectual property protection, data governance, cybersecurity, and technology transactions. We bridge the gap between innovation and regulation.
Learn MoreData Protection and Privacy Law
Smith & Partners LP offers comprehensive legal services in data protection and privacy, ensuring that businesses comply with Nigeria’s NDPR and global data regulations such as GDPR. We help clients manage risk, safeguard personal information, and establish trust through legally sound data practices.
Learn MoreReal Estate and Construction Law
Smith & Partners LP offers comprehensive legal support in real estate and construction law. We handle property acquisitions, development projects, construction contracts, lease agreements, and financing arrangements. Our team conducts due diligence, ensures regulatory compliance, and resolves disputes effectively. Serving developers, investors, landlords, and tenants, we provide practical solutions that safeguard property rights, reduce risks, and enhance commercial value in Nigeria’s competitive and highly regulated real estate and construction sectors.
Learn MoreProjects and Infrastructure Law
Smith & Partners LP provides strategic legal guidance on major infrastructure and project developments. We advise on public-private partnerships, energy, transport, and construction projects from inception to completion. Our services include contract structuring, financing, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. By supporting investors, contractors, developers, and government agencies, we ensure that projects are executed smoothly, lawfully, and with maximum commercial and social impact in Nigeria’s evolving infrastructure landscape.
Learn MoreLabour and Employment Law & Advisory
Smith & Partners LP advises employers and employees on all aspects of labour and employment law. We draft employment contracts, design workplace policies, and resolve disputes while ensuring regulatory compliance. Our team protects employee rights and represents clients in employment litigation. By fostering fair, transparent, and legally sound workplace relationships, we help organisations minimise risks, manage conflicts effectively, and create environments that support productivity, growth, and compliance with Nigerian labour standards.
Learn MoreTaxation Law
Smith & Partners LP provides strategic legal support in taxation law, covering corporate and personal tax compliance, structuring, and dispute resolution. We advise on tax planning, audits, regulatory filings, and transfer pricing, while representing clients before the FIRS and state tax authorities. Our approach helps businesses and individuals manage risks, optimise obligations, and maintain compliance. By combining legal insight with practical strategies, we ensure efficient and sustainable tax management solutions.
Learn MoreFamily Law
Smith & Partners LP delivers compassionate and strategic legal services in family law, protecting the rights and interests of clients during sensitive matters. We advise on divorce, separation, custody, adoption, spousal support, and prenuptial agreements, while also assisting with estate planning and dispute resolution. Our goal is to provide clarity, stability, and fair outcomes, helping families navigate complex legal issues with dignity, care, and solutions that safeguard future well-being.
Learn MoreTrust, Asset, Wealth and Property Management and Protection
At Smith & Partners LP, we provide comprehensive legal solutions for safeguarding wealth, managing assets, and ensuring seamless property transfers. Our services include estate planning, trust formation, asset protection, property management, and wealth preservation strategies, ensuring that individuals, families, and businesses secure their financial future and protect their interests against legal uncertainties
Learn MoreCompetition and Consumer Protection Law
Smith & Partners LP advises on competition and consumer protection law, helping businesses comply with antitrust regulations, fair trade practices, and consumer rights standards. We handle merger notifications, defend against anti-competitive claims, and represent clients before the FCCPC. Our team also advises on advertising, product safety, and consumer disputes. By combining regulatory insight with practical solutions, we help organisations manage risks, protect reputations, and maintain compliance in Nigeria’s competitive marketplace.
Learn MoreDispute Resolution - Civil and Criminal litigation
Smith & Partners LP provides expert dispute resolution services, covering both civil and criminal litigation. Our civil litigation practice handles personal injury claims, commercial disputes, contract enforcement, real estate conflicts, and debt recovery. On the criminal side, we represent individuals and corporate entities in cases of fraud, white-collar crimes, financial misconduct, and other criminal matters. Whether through litigation, arbitration, or mediation, we ensure that our clients receive strong legal representation and effective dispute resolution strategies.
Learn MoreDebt and Asset Recovery
Smith & Partners LP offers specialised legal services in debt recovery and asset protection, assisting individuals, businesses, and financial institutions to reclaim outstanding debts and secured assets. We handle loan default enforcement, receivership, asset tracing, negotiation, and litigation, while also employing alternative dispute resolution. Our approach combines strategic negotiation with strong legal enforcement, ensuring efficient recovery processes and favourable outcomes that safeguard clients’ financial interests and strengthen their commercial stability.
Learn MoreElection Disputes & Electoral Law
Smith & Partners LP provides expert legal services in election disputes and electoral law, representing candidates, political parties, and stakeholders in matters related to election petitions, electoral malpractice claims, voter rights violations, and regulatory compliance. Our firm ensures that electoral processes adhere to the legal framework and provides strategic litigation support in election tribunals and appellate courts.
Learn MoreConstitutional Rights and Human Rights Law
Smith & Partners LP is committed to defending and enforcing constitutional rights, ensuring that individuals, organizations, and government institutions comply with the principles of justice, equity, and fundamental freedoms. Our expertise covers human rights violations, freedom of expression, unlawful detention, discrimination, constitutional interpretation, and public interest litigation. We advocate for the protection of civil liberties and work to uphold the rule of law.
Learn MoreIntellectual & Industrial Property
Smith & Partners LP provides top-tier legal services in the protection, management, and enforcement of intellectual and industrial property rights. Our expertise spans trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, industrial designs, and brand protection. We assist individuals, businesses, and corporations in securing their innovations, preventing infringement, and maximizing the commercial potential of their intellectual assets.
Learn MoreMedia and Entertainment Law
Smith & Partners LP delivers tailored legal services to clients in Nigeria’s media and entertainment industry, including artists, producers, broadcasters, and digital platforms. We advise on contract negotiations, intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. Our goal is to safeguard creative rights, secure fair commercial arrangements, and provide strategic legal support that allows talent and businesses to grow, innovate, and succeed in today’s fast-evolving entertainment and media landscape.
Learn MoreLaw and Policy Advisory
Smith & Partners LP provides expert advisory services at the intersection of law, governance, and public policy. We assist governments, institutions, and private entities with legislative drafting, regulatory reform, and policy development. Our team conducts legal impact analysis and contributes to sectoral reforms, ensuring that laws and policies are constitutionally sound, socially impactful, and commercially viable. By combining legal precision with policy insight, we help clients drive meaningful governance and institutional change.
Learn MoreArt Law
Smith & Partners LP provides specialised legal services in art and cultural property law, supporting artists, collectors, galleries, museums, auction houses, and cultural institutions. We advise on ownership rights, provenance, licensing, and cross-border transfers, as well as sales and dispute resolution. Our goal is to protect creative and cultural assets, ensuring that transactions and engagements are legally sound, commercially secure, and aligned with both domestic and international cultural property frameworks.
Learn MoreSports Law
Smith & Partners LP delivers comprehensive legal services in sports law, representing athletes, agents, clubs, governing bodies, and sponsors. We handle contract negotiations, image rights, sponsorship agreements, and regulatory compliance, while advising on anti-doping matters and dispute resolution. Our approach ensures clients are legally protected both on and off the field, enabling them to focus on performance, growth, and fair participation within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding and increasingly commercialised sports industry.
Learn MoreImmigration Law
Smith & Partners LP delivers comprehensive legal services in sports law, representing athletes, agents, clubs, governing bodies, and sponsors. We handle contract negotiations, image rights, sponsorship agreements, and regulatory compliance, while advising on anti-doping matters and dispute resolution. Our approach ensures clients are legally protected both on and off the field, enabling them to focus on performance, growth, and fair participation within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding and increasingly commercialised sports industry.
Learn MoreEnvironmental and Climate Law
Smith & Partners LP advises on environmental and climate law, helping corporations, governments, and NGOs comply with environmental regulations, sustainability standards, and climate-related obligations. We provide guidance on ESG compliance, regulatory frameworks, and international treaties, ensuring that operations align with both local and global environmental standards. Our services promote responsible growth, risk management, and sustainable practices that balance commercial objectives with environmental protection and ethical responsibility for future generations.
Learn MoreWhy Choose Us
Excellence without compromise
At Smith & Partners LP, we deliver legal services with unmatched precision, strategic thinking, and uncompromising quality. Every case, client, and transaction is handled with a deep commitment to excellence—whether it's a complex commercial negotiation or high-stakes litigation.
Deep Industry Knowledge and Versatility
With a robust understanding of Nigeria’s legal landscape and a multidisciplinary team of professionals, we offer tailored solutions across sectors—corporate, real estate, maritime, aviation, energy, and more. Our diverse expertise ensures we approach every brief with the right mix of insight and innovation.
Client-First Legal Partnership
We are not just legal advisers; we are long-term partners in our clients’ success. From individuals to large institutions, we provide responsive, transparent, and client-centric services that anticipate challenges and deliver value far beyond legal compliance.
Meet Our Team
F.G Agbede
Lead Compliance Advisor
O.O Agbede
Partner
O.A Keshinro
Senior Associate
A.O Ajayi
Associate
Frequently Asked Questions?
We are a full-service law firm offering expertise across a wide range of legal areas, including corporate and commercial law, criminal and civil dispute resolution, trust and estate planning, real estate and construction, labour and employment law, energy, shipping and maritime law, debt recovery, constitutional rights, and election matters. Our multidisciplinary team ensures that every legal need is met with precision and professionalism.
Yes. We provide flexible retainership packages for individuals, businesses, and institutions who require continuous legal advisory and representation. Our packages are tailored to your needs and come in three tiers—Basic, Standard, and Premium. Please note that litigation costs, court appearances, and other out-of-scope legal services are billed separately.
You can schedule a consultation by calling our office, sending us an email, or filling out the contact form on our website. We offer both physical and virtual consultations to accommodate your location and preferences. Initial consultations are typically used to understand your matter and outline possible legal approaches.
Client confidentiality is a core value at Smith & Partners LP. All information shared with us is protected under attorney-client privilege and is treated with the highest level of discretion and security. We also implement strict internal protocols and secure digital systems to safeguard client data.
Once we are formally engaged, we begin by conducting a thorough review of your legal issue, followed by strategic planning and execution. You will be assigned a lead attorney and a case team, and we will maintain regular communication, providing updates, timelines, and next steps as your matter progresses.
Review From Client
Dr. Tolu Adebayo
Medical Practitioner
Smith & Partners LP helped me set up a robust asset protection structure that gave me peace of mind in my profession. Their attention to detail and client-first approach are unmatched.
Mr. Emeka Ogbonna
Real Estate Developer
I’ve worked with several law firms, but none delivered like Smith & Partners LP. Their guidance during a complex land acquisition was instrumental in securing a multi-billion-naira deal.
Mrs. Ifeoma Umeh
Entrepreneur & CEO, Luxe Haven Interiors
The firm has been our go-to legal partner for everything from contract drafting to employment matters. Their responsiveness and professionalism are exceptional.
Capt. Bayo Salami (Rtd.)
Logistics Consultant & Aviation Specialist
From aircraft leasing contracts to international cargo regulations, Smith & Partners LP delivered expert advice every step of the way. I trust them completely.
Ms. Hauwa Bello
Tech Start-Up Founder
They helped us register our IP, secure our founders’ agreement, and structure our business. Their commercial insight and legal clarity gave us the confidence to scale.
Mr. Adekunle Onanuga
Oil & Gas Executive
Their knowledge of energy law is impressive. They supported us through negotiations with regulatory bodies and ensured full compliance. I highly recommend them.
Barr. Stella Nwachukwu
General Counsel, Pan-African Investment Group
As an in-house lawyer, I rarely outsource work—but Smith & Partners LP is my exception. Their litigation team is sharp, their commercial lawyers even sharper. True professionals.
Latest From Blog
THE CALM BEFORE THE CONFLICT: RETHINKING DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN NIGERIAN COMMERCE
Business Isn't War, Until It Is? In the bustle of transactions, joint ventures, and handshakes that define commercial life in Nigeria, one thing remains true: disputes rarely announce themselves. A promising partnership today can turn litigious tomorrow. But what if businesses could build legal firewalls before the sparks even fly? What if the real work of dispute resolution begins long before a disagreement takes root? This is the philosophy of dispute foresight - a strategy-focused, proactive approach that moves dispute management upstream. Rather than react when the house is on fire, Nigerian businesses must learn to build fire-resistant architecture. Not to avoid disagreement, but to manage it before it combusts.
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JURISDICTION ABOVE ALL: SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS THAT EVEN THE CLAIMANT MAY CHALLENGE JURISDICTION AT ANY STAGE
A Twist in the Doctrine of Jurisdiction? Can a party who voluntarily initiates a lawsuit later turn around to challenge the jurisdiction of the court they approached? This seemingly paradoxical question was at the heart of the recent decision of the Supreme Court in H.I.R. LTD V. ACCOR (SOCIETE ANONYME) (2025) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1992) 395. The apex court's judgment reaffirms a bedrock of Nigerian procedural law: jurisdiction is fundamental, and its absence renders all proceedings a nullity - regardless of who raises the issue or when it is raised. This case has sparked commentary not only for its legal conclusion, but for the intriguing procedural posture in which the issue arose. Background: From Trademark Dispute to Jurisdictional Battle The matter began when the Claimant at trial court ("Respondent") filed an action before the High Court of Lagos State, alleging that the Defendant at the trial court ("Appellant")'s use of the trademarked word "IBIS" amounted to passing off - a tortious misrepresentation that damages goodwill in commerce. The Respondent sought a range of reliefs: declarations, injunctive orders, and damages.
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COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT IN FOCUS: UNDERSTANDING NIGERIA'S 2025 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
The Nigerian Copyright Commission ("NCC"), empowered under the Copyright Act 2022', has introduced the Collective Management Regulations 2025 (the "Regulation"). These Regulations provide detailed rules for the establishment and operation of Collective Management Organisations ("CMOs") - entities licensed to manage copyright on behalf of multiple rights owners. CMOs are specialised bodies that manage copyright on behalf of creators, essentially acting as intermediaries: they negotiate licences, collect royalties, and distribute payments to creators. In addition, they provide cultural and educational support to their members?.. Without CMOs, it would be difficult for musicians, authors, or filmmakers to properly track and monetise every single use of their works, especially in the digital era. For instance, a musician may find it practically impossible to negotiate with every radio station, streaming platform, or event organiser and Disc Jockey who uses their music. A CMO acts as a middleman - issuing licences, collecting royalties, and redistributing those royalties back to rights owners.
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NIGERIA WELCOMES FIRST DRYLEASE AIRCRAFT AFTER EXITING AWG WATCHLIST
The Nigerian aviation sector is set to record a landmark development on October 6, 2025, when the first aircraft under a dry-lease agreement will arrive in the country. This follows Nigeria's successful exit from the Aviation Working Group ("AW") watchlist in October 2024, an achievement that has reopened access to the global leasing market for Nigerian carriers. The announcement was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), during the foundation-laying ceremony of the Air Peace Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos'
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REINFORCING BOARDROOM INDEPENDENCE: SEC ISSUES NEW CIRCULAR ON INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND TENURE LIMITS
On June 19, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued a far-reaching circular aimed at reinforcing corporate governance standards within Nigeria's capital markets. Directed at public companies and Capital Market Operators ("CMOs") classified as Significant Public Interest Entities ("SPIEs"), the circular introduces new restrictions on boardroom transitions and tenure limits with immediate effect. The regulatory move stems from SEC's growing concern over the trend of Independent Non-Executive Directors ("INEDs") being converted into Executive Directors ("Eds"), including Chief Executive Officers, within the same entities or across group structures. According to the Commission, such conversions dilute the independence and objectivity expected of INEDs and threaten the integrity of board oversight function.
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DJS IN NIGERIA AND THE AGE OF COPYRIGHT COMPLIANCE
Nigeria's music scene is one of the country's proudest exports. From Afrobeats to street pop, and Disc Jockeys ('DJs") have been at the centre of pushing songs beyond borders, shaping trends and sounds, and keeping dance floors alive. Yet, behind the turntables lies a question many DJs have long avoided: who actually owns the rights to the music being played, and what does the law require? On June 2, 2025, the Nigerian Copyright Commission ("NCC") issued Copyright Advisory No.4, a sharp reminder that DJs must secure licences and authorization before publicly playing music. Failure to comply now risks a fine of not less than One Million Naira (#1,000,000.00) or up to 5 years in prison, or both'. While this law has existed since the Copyright Act, 2022, the reminder marks a torchlight of the NCC on this practice and a turning point for Nigeria's creative economy. This is not just about clamping down. It is about professionalising and commercialising an industry that has grown informally for decades. And for DJs, artists, event organisers, and even fans, the ripple effects will be significant.
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NAVIGATING THE FINANCING OPTIONS IN NIGERIA
In Nigeria's increasingly dynamic commercial landscape, access to financing remains a decisive factor in whether a venture scales, survives, or stalls. Whether it's a startup looking to break into a new market, an established company acquiring new assets, or a project sponsor seeking to bridge funding gaps, the choice of how to raise capital can be just as important as how much is raised. This article explores the core financing pathways available - debt, equity, and hybrid - to guide decision-makers.
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NAVIGATING SHIP ARREST: LEGAL STRATEGIES AFTER THE ARREST
In the intricate world of maritime commerce, ship arrests are tactical legal tools that plaintiffs use to secure claims, enable early settlement or prevent asset dissipation. But for the shipowner or other interested parties, an arrest can bring business operations to a sudden halt and have far reaching commercial consequences. Once a ship is detained by court order, the urgent question for the shipowner becomes:
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A NEW TAX ERA FOR NIGERIA : WHAT THE NIGERIAN TAXREFORM ACT MEAN FOR BUSINESSES
On June 26, 2025, Nigeria ushered in a landmark tax reform era with the enactment of four sweeping legislations: the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service Act, and the Joint Revenue Board Act. Collectively known as "the Tax Reform Acts". These Tax Reform Acts, aimed at increasing transparency, curbing leakages, and expanding the nation's tax base, mark a recalibration of Nigeria's fiscal framework. With implementation looming with the commencement date set at January 1, 2026, businesses and individuals should begin preparing for the shifts ahead.
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CLARITY AMIDST COMPLEXITY: COURT OF APPEAL AFFIRMS PARTY AUTONOMY IN CROSS-BORDER CONTRACTS - FHC recently follows suit
Respecting the Bargain - The Rise (Again) of Party Autonomy. Some agreements including Charterparties contain clauses such as Dispute Resolution - English Law, London Arbitration'. In cross-border commercial arrangements, it is not new for parties to have a dispute resolution clause stating the choice of law and the means of dispute resolution. This ability of contracting parties to agree the legal rules that govern their relationship and to select where any disputes will be resolved is foundational in the freedom of parties to enter the agreement itself. However, in Nigeria, this autonomy has been discussed repeatedly, sometimes, such clauses have been interpreted as aspirational than enforceable.
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THE DAWN OF E-INVOICING IN NIGERIA: PRACTICAL AND LEGAL INSIGHTS FOR BUSINESSES
Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue Service ("FIRS") has embarked on one of the most significant digital tax reforms in recent years. By its Public Notice of July 9, 2025, the FIRS formally rolled out the National E-Invoicing Regime, after a pilot phase launched in November 2024. At the centre of this system is the FIRS Merchant Buyer Solution ("MBS"), which connects taxpayers' accounting software directly to the FIRS database in real time. The reform is designed address long-standing VAT compliance gaps, reduce tax evasion, and strengthen fiscal transparency. This article explains the legal background and foundation of the regime, its practical implications for Nigerian businesses, lessons from other jurisdictions, and the compliance risks that must be managed.
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