Litigation is slow, public and expensive, and it is occasionally the only thing that works.
We will tell you honestly which situation you are in. A well-drafted demand letter resolves a great many disputes before anyone files anything, and where that is the realistic route we will say so rather than open a file. Where the other side has demonstrated they will not move without compulsion, we prepare properly and act.
What we will not do is take you into proceedings on an optimistic assessment.
WHAT WE DO
Debt recovery
Recovering money owed to businesses and individuals — demand, negotiation, proceedings and enforcement of judgment. Enforcement matters as much as judgment; a judgment against a party with nothing to attach is an expensive piece of paper, and we assess that before you commit.
Contractual disputes
Breach of contract, non-performance, disputed terms and termination disputes.
Matrimonial causes
Dissolution of marriage, custody, maintenance and settlement of property. Handled with the discretion these matters require.
Fundamental rights enforcement
Proceedings where a person’s constitutional rights have been infringed, including unlawful detention and infringement of liberty. These matters are frequently urgent and we treat them accordingly.
Property and land disputes
Ownership, boundary, possession and tenancy disputes, alongside our [Property] practice.
Petitions and regulatory complaints
Petitions to regulators and law enforcement where the conduct complained of falls within their remit.
WHERE WE APPEAR
Courts
State High Courts of Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory and Ogun State · Magistrates’ Courts · the Federal High Court · the National Industrial Court · the Tax Appeal Tribunal and other tribunals · arbitration panels.
Where a matter is outside those states, we instruct correspondent counsel locally for appearance and filing. The conduct of the case stays with us
How it works
1.
A briefing fee first
Before anything else, we take the brief properly — a full consultation, the documents, and any research the matter requires. At the end of it you get a clear account of your position, the realistic outcomes, and what it will cost. Some clients stop there, better informed and out of a dispute that was not worth running.
2.
Then the bill for the matter
If you proceed, we set out the fee for the litigation itself. Billing is staged rather than demanded upfront, and because litigation in Nigeria runs across years, there is an annual fee to maintain representation for the life of the matter.
3.
Updates after every appearance
You hear from us after each court date, not when you chase us.
4.
Preparation before trial.
We run a trial preparation session with you before you give evidence, so the courtroom is not unfamiliar on the day.
You probably need this if
- Someone owes you money and has stopped responding
- A contract has been breached and negotiation has failed
- You have been served with court processes
- You or someone close to you is being unlawfully detained
- A marriage is ending and there are children or property involved
- Someone is on your land and will not leave
FAQ
How long does litigation take in Nigeria?
Years rather than months in most instances, depending on the court, the nature of the claim and the conduct of the other side. Anyone who promises you a fast outcome is guessing. We give you a realistic range at the briefing stage.
Can we settle instead?
Frequently, and often on better terms than a judgment. Settlement remains available at every stage, and we will raise it whenever it serves you better than continuing.
What does the briefing fee cover?
Taking the brief in full, the consultation, review of your documents and any research required to assess the matter. It is charged before we advise on the merits, because that assessment is the work.