The energy and power sector in Nigeria is a vital pillar of national development, yet it remains one of the most legally complex and highly regulated industries. At Smith & Partners LP, we provide strategic legal advisory and transactional support across the entire energy value chain — from upstream oil and gas to renewable energy, power generation, transmission, and distribution.
Our firm represents multinational oil and gas companies, independent power producers (IPPs), state governments, investors, EPC contractors, and project financiers. We advise on licensing, joint ventures, production sharing contracts, environmental compliance, and infrastructure development. We also provide regulatory due diligence for energy investments and represent clients in energy-related disputes and arbitration.
One of our partners was part of the legal team that advised on the structuring of a multi-billion-naira gas-to-power project involving the NNPC and a foreign investor consortium. The engagement involved negotiating a Gas Supply and Aggregation Agreement (GSAA), drafting Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and advising on sovereign risk mitigation under the World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee framework.
We are currently advising a renewable energy startup on licensing, tariff structuring, and regulatory compliance for off-grid solar electrification projects under the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Our services include drafting project finance documents and EPC contracts, as well as advising on carbon credit opportunities under international frameworks.
Our team has also advised state governments on the implementation of amended constitutional provisions allowing sub-national entities to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity — crafting enabling laws and regulatory frameworks for a state electricity commission, ensuring harmonisation with federal laws and NERC guidelines.
At Smith & Partners LP, we bring deep industry insight and robust legal expertise to support the commercial success and legal sustainability of energy and power projects. Our goal is to ensure that our clients are not only compliant but commercially competitive in a rapidly evolving sector.
