Practice Areas

Our pride is finding solutions to problems whilst building good working relationships with our clients.

Our Practice Areas

OSOC is a pre-eminent law firm in Nigeria providing a wide range of legal services in the following practice areas:

Information Technology & Telecommunications

We run an Information Technology Law firm which is a transactional-based practice that addresses the issues that arise when companies develop, license, acquire, or sell information technology and computer-related products and services. We Specifically, advise clients regarding intellectual property, licensing, software, hardware, technology transfer, outsourcing, e-commerce, procurement, consulting services, Internet, telecommunications, joint ventures, and strategic alliances, in each case across a broad spectrum of industries and technologies. We counsel clients on regulatory issues involving information technology, such as export compliance, data security, and domestic and international privacy regulations, directives, and standards.

We support Clients that are users and providers of information technology, ranging from start-up enterprises to large multinational corporations. We draft, and negotiate agreements (Such as Service Level Agreements, Working Level Agreements and 3rd Party Underpinning contracts)  to meet the client’s needs and appropriately address commercial risk. The agreements involve the development, commercialization, and exploitation of IT-based assets and services between users and providers of IT products and services.

We help structure and negotiate license or purchase agreements for information technology or e-commerce resources a company needs to operate its business, both online and offline. These types of agreements can be software license agreements, software development agreements, software as a service (“Saas”) and cloud computing agreements, computer equipment purchase agreements, OEM agreements, and data and content acquisition licenses.

We also help structure and negotiate third-party services agreements needed to run a company’s IT infrastructure and operations. Examples of these types of agreements are hosting agreements, hardware and software support and maintenance agreements, systems integration agreements, consulting services agreements, and outsourcing agreements for a number of internal IT functions, including data center management, applications development and maintenance, desktop and device support, server management, and telecommunications.

We often structure and negotiate transactions that involve the commercialization and exploitation of intellectual property. This can occur through joint ventures, strategic alliances, or the license or sale of intellectual property.

We have serviced the following organisations in the delivery of IT Service Management from an operational standpoint working in lime with agreed Service Level Agreements, Working Level Agreements and 3rd Party Underpinning contracts: Sungard Ltd, UK; Shell Telecommunications Organisation; AT&T, Netherlands; Vodafone Group, UK, Three.co.uk; Huawei Uganda ,MTN Uganda and NNPC Nigeria.

Data Protection-GDPR/NDPR

Achieving compliance with data protection regulations albeit the Nigeria Data Privacy Regulation (NDPR) and/or General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 is an essential priority for any large business. With legislation in this area becoming ever more complex in Nigeria and Globally we can provide your business with the expert guidance you need to put the right security measures in place. We will provide you with pragmatic advice on how to prevent data breaches and exercise due diligence in all of your business activities. For expert legal advice on data protection and security matters, call us and/or write to us.

 

How we can help:

  • Data security policies – helping companies to develop robust standards of practice in terms of data protection
  • Regulatory compliance – ensuring businesses are aware of the latest laws and are ready to demonstrate their compliance
  • Data Subject access requests – putting measures in place for businesses to respond when individuals request access to their personal data
  • Crisis management – assisting companies in responding effectively and proportionately when a data breach or security issue arises
  • Support for data protection officers – providing legal support for clients’ in-house data protection teams
  • Data protection training – helping businesses to train their staff on essential data protection requirements

 

We can with small and large businesses, as well as public sector organisations and charities, to help them understand their obligations under the NDPR and GDPR and the Data Protection Act, and to provide training and support for those responsible for upholding these standards.

We can help corporate clients to develop a tailored and responsive legal framework for data protection, security, and access, in line with the latest best-practice standards. We understand the complexities involved in data protection compliance and the costs associated with data breaches and will support you in developing a solution that works for your business.

Intellectual Property

The identification, registration and commercialisation of intellectual property (IP) are crucial to the success of any business and, like any key asset, it must be protected from competitors who wish to unfairly emulate your business’ accomplishments.

The expert IP team at OSOC offers a full service in relation to all intellectual property matters. Our goal is to maximise the value of clients’ intellectual property assets by providing tailored and proactive guidance that will meet your aspirations.

OSOC is regarded as one of the leading intellectual property law practices in Nigeria, with our substantial sector experience, enabling us to strike the right balance between our clients’ aims and their legal potential.

For your business, seeking legal guidance from specialist intellectual property solicitors will help you maximise the value of these assets and prevent your rights from being infringed, which will save you time and money.

 

How can we help

OSOC’s comprehensive range of intellectual property services covers all aspects of IP rights management, commercialisation and protection, including:

  • IP training, providing your management team and staff with the knowledge and skills they need to identify and manage the key intangible assets within your business. We also offer IP Audits to ensure any cracks in your intellectual property are identified and remedied.
  • IP registration and strategy, providing your business with strategic advice to properly register and effectively protect its IP, including trademarks, designs and patents both in Nigeria and Globally. We are also experienced at dealing with registry proceedings including trademark oppositions, revocation and invalidity proceedings.
  • IP Infringement, minimising any damage to your commercial interests by applying remedies, including injunctions, compensation (damages or account of profits), delivery-up, and costs.
  • IP commercialisation, assisting businesses to make money from their IP rights through licencing, franchising and selling their IP.
  • IP disputes, preventing others from benefiting from your intangible IP assets and taking action against those who are infringing your copyright, trademark, design and patent rights. In addition, preventing your confidential information and trade secrets from being misappropriated and misused. We also have extensive experience in dealing with counterfeiters who attempt to imitate your brands, products and designs. Alternatively, defending your business from groundless threats of IP infringement.

OSOC has expert knowledge and an up-to-the-minute understanding of all the relevant legal issues, having worked with businesses across a broad range of industries on IP matters.

We will advise you on everything you need to protect and make the best possible use of these assets, informed by a strong understanding of your interests.

As a full-service law firm, the intellectual property team has access to experts from other departments at OSOC, including our employment team, data protection experts, contracts and agreements gurus, media law, advertising law, and wealth management lawyers, who can further assist in ensuring your IP can be identified, secured and protected in the most efficient manner.

Commercial Practice

Contract Agreements Formation- Well-drafted contracts can provide a business with certainty that deals will deliver all the benefits and revenues that are anticipated. They can also help prevent costly litigation if problems arise, and can protect businesses if a third party seeks to deviate from an agreed contract. We always strive to help our clients avoid costly litigation and business disruption this can lead to, and a well-crafted contracts represent one of the most effective ways of achieving this.

How we can help

 

Employment Law

Employment Law in Nigeria is constantly changing and getting a lot of traction with regards the vulnerable Labour force and employer where due advice is not provided at the onset, during and termination of an employment contract on both sides. Therefore it becomes apparent that business/individuals requires a Legal Practitioner capable of giving you accurate guidance on current laws and regulations and how they apply to you. We are here to provide expert advice to you and your business regarding the often complex area of employment law in an easy-to-understand format.

How we can help

OSOC is a member of the Employment and Labour Lawyers Association of Nigeria (ELLAN), which makes us a contributor to the voice of authority regarding employment law. The organisation, founded in 2015, exists to represent the views of its members (all of whom are specialists in employment law) and to promote best practice in the field among those members with the objective of making it the largest network of individuals and firms with the finest expertise on the subject.

The knowledge and influence that ELLAN membership brings to our employment law practice contribute to our ability to provide an excellent service to both employers and senior employees. Our team aims to keep costs at a minimum and makes dealing with issues – both contentious and non-contentious – as hassle-free as possible.

Our commitment to working with our clients on a highly personalised, partner-led basis means we can ensure your business receives the most appropriate commercially-minded solutions to your employment law needs. We have a wealth of experience in this difficult area of law and have an excellent track record, even in the most complex of cases.

Property Law (Real Estate Commercial)

OSOC’s real estate commercial team deals with all legal aspects of the acquisition, disposal, development, letting and management of property, including the financing of transactions, planning, construction and any property litigation matters.

Our solicitors have a broad range of experience supporting clients with property transactions in a wide range of sectors. Whilst our expertise is broad, we have considerable experience of working in the following markets: (a) Development (b) Residential Development (c) Retail

Family Law

We provide services from divorce and child arrangement to wills and probate and even handle complex and difficult litigation services that span multiple jurisdictions. We are used to dealing with extremely unique and difficult situations that may be having a great effect on your personal life. If you are not sure what type of problem you need assistance with please give us a call. A conversation with one of OSOC family law solicitors can help you gain clarity. After a consultation, we will assign you with an expert in personal law to help enforce your claims and protect your interests.

Even if it is only initial information that you are seeking in the first instant, we are here to offer you expert legal advice and provide you with knowledge of the options that may be open to you

Wills and Probate

Will Writing:

AVOID UNNECESSARY STRESS FOR YOUR FAMILY…

Everyone should have a will prepared – it offers peace of mind to your family after your death and ensures you have control of the allocation of your assets. Regardless of the size of your estate or your relations with your family, you should seek to speak to one of our trained will writing solicitors.

OUR WILL WRITING SERVICES

We strongly advise our clients that they should have a will prepared so that their estate and assets can be properly allocated and managed after their death.

Losing a loved one is an extremely emotionally testing time, this is made even more complicated when there is no will present and where disagreements between assets and the estate arise. Knowing this, we work alongside our clients to ensure every consideration is made and asset accounted for. We strive to make the process of writing and executing a will as least stressful as possible

WHY DO YOU NEED A WILL WRITING SOLICITOR?

Wills can be complex – we do not advise that you use a ‘write your own will kit’ as they are often open to scrutiny and do not guarantee that your wishes will be carried out. With a will writing solicitor on your side, we can oversee the appointment of your chosen Executors who will handle your estate after death.

In choosing to work with an expert will writing solicitor, we can work with you and your family to help maintain relations during, what can be, a complicated and contentious time.

For those who are unmarried and cohabiting with a partner it is essential that you have a will as by default the law does not recognise cohabitees as your next of kin.

OUR WILL WRITING SOLICITORS

We take the time to properly account for all assets and stipulate any conditions set by the will writer. We’re happy to handhold you throughout the process as we understand that writing a will can be a difficult and emotional process.

If at any point your wishes or circumstances change we will be on hand to help amend your will and look to support you whenever you need either action or just advice.

Probate

Probate is the process of resolving a person’s affairs after they have died. All assets that they were entitled to need to be listed, scheduled with some of this information sent to the applicable probate office in the High Court to determine if there is any inheritance tax to pay. Our probate and contentious probate solicitors in OSOC can assist with executing a will to ensure the process runs as smoothly a possible during such a difficult time

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

The complexity and length of a probate or administration can vary which is why you need a trusted probate solicitor by your side. Difficulties usually arise over disputes concerning the assets that form the estate. This could be property, bank accounts, antiques and art or stocks and shares. This could be property, bank accounts, antiques and art or stocks and shares.

We are used to dealing with all types of probates, from very small estates that just need a small amount of administration or legal advice for the executors to multi-million-pound estates that have assets in Nigeria, the rest of Africa or all over the world. We have experience dealing with assets in many different jurisdictions.

WHAT ARE CONTENTIOUS PROBATES?

Contentious Probate is the situation where a will or the estate of someone who has died is being disputed in some way. This can be by a family member who is not happy with how the will distributes assets, someone who has doubts about the authenticity of the will or disputes between executors as to how the estate should be managed.

We have a great deal of experience in disputing wills, assets, and ownership of property within an estate. Our probate and contentious probate solicitors have acted in large probates that have assets all over the world with executors in disagreement. Families can be torn apart by the disputes as the emotion of losing a loved one doesn’t help with feelings of distrust and suspicions that may already be there. With one of our trusted probate solicitors by your side, you can rest assured that we will act firmly in your best interest.

 

Business Immigration

If you are looking to set up, take over or be actively involved in the running of a Nigerian business, we specialise in helping eligible entrepreneurs from overseas through the visa process to establish themselves in Nigeria

Our business immigration solicitors provide expert legal advice to Nigeria and international businesses and investors on all matters related to immigration. We will work with you to secure the right of you and your employees to work and invest in Nigeria

How OSOC Can Help

As specialists in Nigeria immigration law, OSOC understands the challenges entrepreneurs face and the risks they have to take for their company to grow. Our approach is to form a strategic partnership with you to become your trusted business advisers.

Our services include:

If you have an idea that you believe is original and innovative, the innovator visa, provides an exciting opportunity to set up a business in Nigeria with little or no initial investment. The application process does not only demand legal knowledge but a combination of highly specialised technical expertise together with a creative world-smart approach. OSOC  is one of a handful of firms that have truly mastered innovator visa applications. We have proven experience in successfully handling these applications with a complete solution.

 How OSOC Can Help

  • Our team of experienced solicitors will hold an initial no-obligation consultation with you in order to discuss how we may assist you in translating your innovative idea into a strong pitch, detailing core aspects of your business model. The 30-minute consultation will also help to determine the business concept and gauge whether you have the potential to make an application under the innovator visa category and advise accordingly.
  • We will then ‘stress test’ your business concept, which involves a deep dive into your idea to focus on the innovative and business elements. Further to conducting research on facts and figures, where necessary, we will work to crystalise core elements to meet the set criteria by both the Home Office and the relevant endorsing body.
  • The information is then married into a critical synopsis, which will then be presented to appropriate endorsing bodies to gauge feedback as to whether your idea is likely to receive the required endorsement or not. This is a service unique to OSOC, which is just one of the reasons we have become one of the few law firms in Nigeria to successfully complete numerous applications for innovators.
  • Once positive feedback on the business concept has been received from the relevant Internal Office endorsement body, we will continue to work closely with you and the relevant endorsing body to gain endorsement, which may require a formal pitch of your business concept or the presentation of a more detailed business plan.
  • The final stage of the innovator visa application process, following endorsement, will be to prepare and present your visa application in order to be granted leave as an innovator.
  • Our focus is to take your application in stages to manage expectations and fees whereby we would only move to the next stage of the application process once the previous stage has been successfully completed.

In order to qualify for an Investor visa, you must have at least £2 million in an account in your name to invest in permitted investments. If you have the right amount of investment and are looking to making a visa application, our team of immigration solicitors can give you all the advice and assistance you need. We will not only explain how you can make sure you are eligible and take care of the details of your application, but we will also help you invest in the UK or set up a business here.

 

How OSOC Can Help

The process of applying for immigration into Nigeria as a high-net-worth individual can be complicated, particularly as the rules are complex and the legislation governing them changes frequently. Our service will make immigration to Nigeria an effortless experience, and we can provide advice and guidance for spouses and dependents.

Our immigration team will explain clearly the requirements you need to meet, check that you are able to meet them, and advise on the most appropriate application for you to make. We will monitor your investments to ensure that you continue to meet the requirements of the investor visa since failure to adequately maintain investments can result in a visa being curtailed.

Once your application has been submitted for consideration, we will liaise with the Immigration Office if any queries are raised and follow the progress of your application until completion

  • (iii) Investor visa extensions After you have resided in Nigeria for three years, you will be required to prepare an application to extend your Investor visa. At this stage, you will need to demonstrate that you have maintained the required investments consistently over the three years. The immigration solicitors at OSOC will provide advice and assistance to ensure that you receive the desired outcome. Our team has been commended by the Immigration Office for the quality of our applications, so you can rest assured that your case is in the right hands.
  • (iv) Setting up a business in Nigeria – To prosper on a global scale, businesses face constant challenges to develop and expand their operations in countries across the world in a bid for corporate success. An important consideration for any organisation wishing to establish a branch or subsidiary in another country must be whether their business will be a success.
  • Our specialist immigration team is able to advise on the intricacies of establishing your company in Nigeria, including the transfer of a sole representative, the transfer of workers from your overseas parent organisation, and the recruitment of talent from outside of your existing organisation.

How OSOC Can Help

We have assisted numerous clients, from fast-growing companies to established multinationals, seeking to establish their organisation in Nigeria. We understand that businesses need the process to be as expeditious and cost-effective as possible, and we can offer high-level technical expertise to support the most complex requirements.

The specialist Nigeria and international employment team has expertise in providing support to companies and organisations for their strategic HR requirements, wherever it is needed in the world. Our services include assisting clients looking to establish and grow their workforce in Nigeria and recruiting the best talent to ensure that your business enters the market with confidence.

For businesses that already have a sophisticated presence in Nigeria or globally, we work alongside you to provide commercial, bespoke employment and HR assistance that is designed to align with your key growth drivers.

We also have significant expertise in the following areas:

Moving personal data in and out of the European Union (EU)

Implementing international data protection policies, including binding corporate rules and mapping data flows

Updating supplier agreements, website terms and conditions, and internal policies and privacy notices to ensure compliance with the EU and other laws

Our legal team has considerable in-house expertise, with members of our team having served as head of legal, company secretary and data protection officer in the legal, technology, media and financial services sectors

The Process of Setting Up a Business in Nigeria

OSOC’s dedicated team will work with the Ministry of Trade to help you through every stage of your journey to Nigeria. This includes three stages:

  • Planning and strategy – we are able to identify market opportunities in Nigeria and Africa within the specific sector your organisation operates within, and can provide all the evidence, analysis and market research you need to set up in Nigeria quickly and efficiently.
  • Setup – we will help you take care of all the practicalities you need to support getting to opening day, including location, tax advice and the opening of Nigeria bank accounts
  • Growth, diversification and export – we will continue to support companies after they have landed in Nigeria to grow, innovate and diversify as applicable
  • (v) Sports immigration and transfers– The UK/Europe is a top destination for athletes and sports professionals around the world in a diverse range of disciplines.
  • Our corporate immigration team has in-depth knowledge of the international and domestic regulations related to visas.
  • We have advised football clubs, agents, international federations, and individual players and their families on all aspects of immigration to the UK and global travel. 

How OSOC Can Help

Our experience allows us to quickly assess eligibility and spot issues before they develop into problems. 

We have an extensive network of contacts at the UK Home Office and worldwide, which helps us to offer practical and commercial solutions, meaning our clients can get the players, coaches and backroom staff they need with a minimum of fuss.

Also, OSOC is a market leader in advising third-party investment in football, having acted for some of the world’s biggest investment funds for several years.

These are the options available to sportspeople seeking to enter the UK:

  • Sportsperson visa
  • Temporary worker visa

If you want to work as a sportsperson or coach in the UK, you will normally need to have one of the two types of visas mentioned above. The Home Office points-based system contains special categories and rules for those within the sporting industry and covers both professional and amateur athletes.

Sportspeople and coaches will have to be sponsored by an employer who will need to hold a Home Office sponsor licence. However, if you are intending to be in the UK briefly, i.e. for a single event or activity, a visitor visa may be more appropriate.

 

 

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