Through our law office, Zuriel Law Practice formerly ZCL Solicitors, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zuriel Consulting Limited, we provide dedicated legal services to the clients of Zuriel Consulting among others.
The entity was incorporated in 2015 as ZCL SOLICITORS and in 2020, it changed its name to Zuriel Law Practice. Its primary objective is to ensure that clients are fitted with tailor-made, practical and prompt solutions for both every day and high level legal need.
Zuriel Law Practice is recognised by clients locally and internationally as a leading corporate law firm. Its lawyers possess in-depth experience and have earned a superior reputation for providing high quality service and advice to clientele.
Immigration
The firm provides excellent services to foreign clients in relation to immigration matters. It assists foreign clients in procuring and regularising immigration documents such as business permits, Subject To Regularisation (STR) visas, Residence Permit Applications (or extensions), temporary work permits / cable visas, expatriate quota positions and all other documents that would ensure the smooth operation of any foreign business venture and stay of expatriates in Nigeria.
Banking & Finance
The firm is experienced in the preparation and perfection of all forms of security and financial documentation for various financial institutions including banks, mortgage institutions, micro-finance establishments and corporate thrift institutions. Our services span from consortium and individual loan agreements, public and private issues to international project financing, securities acquisition and sales, share pledge agreements, mortgages, bills of sale, guarantees, debentures, debenture trust deeds, chattel mortgages, equipment leases and debt rescheduling documentation. We also provide representation and advice on all forms of security and financial documentation. We are involved in acting as external counsel to several international financial institutions and local banks.
Intellectual Property
Protecting ideas, concepts, operating plans and know-how can become a difficult challenge for many businesses. At Zuriel Law Practice, we recognise the importance of the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. Our clients benefit from our well established expertise and extensive practice of intellectual property law. The firm’s practice within this specialty is diverse and includes working with clients to ensure the safe-keeping of internal business operating information, product or service information, works of authorship and advertising including the protection of trademarks, service marks and trade names.
Tax
The inevitability of tax in all corporate and project concerns demands that the firm be constantly available to minimize the incidence of taxes on its clients. The firm’s underlying philosophy which governs transactions in this area is to fully utilize all exemptions and incentives provided by the tax laws and administrations for the benefit of its clients. Our tax planning, tax management and tax appeal practices extend to each of our practice areas including oil and gas, maritime and shipping, foreign investments, intellectual property, real property, telecommunications, banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, electricity, company and commercial, privatization and immigration law practices. We have also advised in other practice areas including insurance, trusts and environment. Our tax group has the distinction of a 100% win rate in resolving tax disputes.
Project Finance
The firm has gained a reputation as leaders in this area due to the expertise shown in every transaction we handle. With particular emphasis in secured project financing, the firm continues to provide advice and guidance on the securities structure and registration process in transactions to its various clients including sponsor/project companies, lenders and credit agencies. Over the years, the firm has been intrinsically involved in advising clients in project financing transactions across the various sectors of the Nigerian economy, and has severally advised from the project sponsor perspective and from the financier’s perspective. Our experience in this regard spans across the oil and gas, power, health and infrastructure sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Litigation & Arbitration
With a highly skilled and experienced litigation and dispute resolution team, we offer high quality advocacy and dispute resolution services to our diverse clients.
The firm’s primary aim is to help clients, mainly leading multinationals, financial and other commercial institutions and also individuals, to resolve their disputes as expeditiously as possible. Where litigation becomes unavoidable or even a strategic option, the team, working with the client, remains focused on the business objectives of the client in assessing the client’s legal, commercial and reputational risk. We recognise however, the value of a well-timed negotiation towards settlement and endeavour to resolve disputes in the best interest of our clients. We engage the most effective, efficient and practical methods in settling disputes on behalf of clients, whether by litigation, arbitration, mediation, conciliation or other hybrid forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Property
The firm has been intrinsically involved in advising clients in project financing transactions across the various sectors of the Nigerian economy, and has severally advised from the project sponsor perspective and from the financier’s perspective. Our experience in this regard spans across the oil and gas, power, health and infrastructure sectors of the Nigerian economy. We advise local and international project sponsors, international lenders, local lenders and syndications (of local and international lenders) on all facets of project finance and securities law and practice in Nigeria.
Corporate & Commercial
The firm advises clients in all phases of the client’s operations, from establishment, diversification, reconstructions and mergers and acquisitions through to dissolutions, working closely with the client to best determine the most suitable corporate vehicles for proposed businesses and objectives. We work with our clients in structuring and maintaining varied business arrangements including 100% foreign-owned companies, incorporated joint ventures, companies limited by guarantee and partnerships. Our expertise extends to the various disciplines that bear upon basic corporate decision making, such as, securities, accounting, taxation, and regulated industry law.
Foreign Investment
ZCL is experienced in providing services to assist foreign corporate or individual clients wishing to establish businesses in Nigeria. These services include the incorporation and establishment of various corporate vehicles (suited specifically to the client’s needs) as well as obtaining business permits, foreign investment approvals, expatriate quota approvals and pioneer status (where applicable). The firm also advises on corporate compliance issues, Nigerian laws and procedures relating to foreign investments and the foreign exchange laws that enable the repatriation of expatriates salaries, bonuses, profits, dividends etc.
Privatisation & Concessioning
Our experience in this area includes settling a transaction structure, dealing with issues regarding interference with existing assets that may affect transport routes on land, conducting regulatory due diligence on the project infrastructure projects and providing opinions on constitutional issues such as the delineation of State and Federal powers in relation to the project. The firm has successfully advised clients in numerous bidding exercises leading to the award of concessions to our clients, usually to develop and operate infrastructural assets of major importance to Lagos State and Nigeria. We have assisted clients in negotiating and reviewing documentation relating to such concessions including Concession Agreements, Investment and Financing Agreements, Operations Management Agreements, State Direct Agreements and the Federal Support Agreements.
Structured Finance
With extensive hands-on experience in structured financing for the development of new transaction structures, one of our strengths is our ability to advise on the legal, collateral, financial and operational issues involved in such transactions. As esteemed business advisors, we realize the practical effect our legal advice has on our clients’ businesses. We represent investment banks, institutional investors, financial guarantors, investment advisors and funds.
Company Secretarial
We offer a seamless service to enable clients to function efficiently and with minimum inconvenience, according to their peculiar needs through Zuriel Law Practice, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zuriel Consulting Limited. Zuriel Law Practice comprises a team of specialist lawyers who provide a dedicated and effective range of company secretarial and administration services. In addition to standard company secretarial and administration services, Zuriel Law Practice also provides bespoke services where required.
Real Estate & Construction
The firm engages in various aspects of property law including the preparation and perfection of leases, tenancy agreements, assignments, transfers and mortgages, and in obtaining governmental consents and approvals incidental to these transactions. It also has experience in investigating and deducing title and in title registrations generally, as well as the preparation of building leases and agreements and contractor-finance contracts. The firm also handles land litigations, compensation claims and land dispute settlements.
Labour & Employment Law
We offer full range advisory services in labour and employment matters including: advising employers on compliance with numerous labour, employment and benefit laws; preparation and/or review of employment contracts; employment benefits plan design; collective bargaining negotiations; labour arbitration and litigation.
Mergers & Acquisition (M&A)
We advise on domestic and cross-border M&A, including takeovers, corporate restructurings, joint ventures and strategic alliances and outright sales. We have advised multinational organisations on some of the steepest and most challenging corporate transactions locally and internationally and have developed a notable reputation for handling complex and innovative transactions.
Transport and Infrastructure
We have experience representing and advising all types of stakeholders on diverse transport and infrastructure transactions, including the successful privatisation and concessioning of the largest container terminal facility in Nigeria, road toll projects in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre as well as several build, operate and transfer infrastructure projects. We know the sector well – the regulatory frameworks, its business dynamics and key players and we are able to provide well-rounded legal services to clients on all aspects of this sector.