Practice Area
Corporate & Commercial
Clear, commercially minded advice for businesses at every stage, from incorporation to growth, investment and change.
Overview
Corporate and commercial law in Abuja.
A business needs legal advice that understands its commercial aims. From our office in Maitama, Abuja, we advise companies, founders, investors and their boards on the structures, transactions and obligations that shape how a business is formed, owned, financed and run in Nigeria.
Our work is grounded in the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA 2020), which modernised Nigerian company law, and in the regulations of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Where a transaction touches competition law, we take account of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 and the role of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
How we help
What we do for you.
- 01Company, partnership and business-name registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission
- 02Shareholders’ agreements, articles of association and joint-venture arrangements
- 03Share transfers, allotments, changes in capital and other post-incorporation filings
- 04Corporate governance, board and company-secretarial advice under CAMA 2020
- 05Acquisitions, disposals and investments, including due diligence and transaction documents
- 06Commercial agreements: supply, distribution, agency, services and franchising
- 07Regulatory compliance and annual returns
Need help with corporate and commercial?
Who we act for
Our clients.
- Private companies and start-ups
- Founders and shareholders
- Local and foreign investors
- Boards and company secretaries
- Not-for-profit organisations and incorporated trustees
Not sure whether we can help? Send us a short outline.
What do I need to register a company in Nigeria?
Registration is completed with the Corporate Affairs Commission. You will generally need an approved company name, the details of the directors and shareholders (including identification), a registered office address in Nigeria, the share capital and the objects of the business. We prepare and file the documents and explain the post-registration obligations, such as annual returns.
Can a company in Nigeria have a single director or shareholder?
CAMA 2020 permits a private company to be formed with one shareholder, and a small company may have one director. Larger companies and public companies have further requirements. We will confirm what applies to your business before you incorporate.
Do we need a shareholders’ agreement if we already have articles of association?
The articles are a public document that governs how the company is run. A shareholders’ agreement is private and can deal in more detail with matters such as decision-making, transfers of shares, exits and how disputes between shareholders will be resolved. Many businesses with more than one owner benefit from having both.
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Book a consultation about corporate and commercial, or reach us directly by phone or WhatsApp.