Corporate & Commercial

Overview

Market leaders across the full spectrum of corporate and commercial matters.

Aluko & Oyebode’s Corporate & Commercial practice advises on Nigeria’s most significant and complex transactions. For over two decades, we have been the trusted counsel to multinational corporations, private equity investors, family enterprises, and leading Nigerian companies navigating the country’s evolving business landscape.

We combine deep Nigerian market expertise with an international perspective. As the preferred Nigerian member of the Africa Legal Network (ALN), we deliver seamless cross-border solutions across 14 African jurisdictions and the UAE, supporting complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions with both sophistication and local insight.

Our team guides clients through the full spectrum of corporate and commercial challenges: mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, private equity investments, commercial contracts, restructurings, and regulatory compliance. Operating from Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, we provide timely, strategic support for mission-critical transactions.

What sets us apart is our pragmatic approach. Whether structuring a cross-border joint venture, negotiating shareholder agreements, or guiding a multinational acquisition, we deliver solutions that are legally robust, commercially sound, and strategically aligned with our clients’ objectives.

Our recognition speaks for itself: Band 1 in Corporate/Commercial (Chambers Global) for 20 consecutive years, Tier 1 (Legal 500), and consistently ranked by IFLR1000 across M&A, Capital Markets, Banking, and Private Equity.

What We Do

Commercial Contracts

Drafting and negotiating commercial agreements tailored to industry-specific requirements: joint venture agreements, distribution and franchise contracts, licensing arrangements, and technology and IP-related agreements.

Corporate Structuring & Governance

Full lifecycle corporate advisory: incorporation, restructuring, group reorganizations, governance frameworks, and compliance. We support both Nigerian and multinational clients on corporate governance best practices and statutory obligations.

Mergers & Acquisitions

End-to-end advisory on domestic and cross-border M&A. We handle share and asset acquisitions, minority and majority stake transactions, comprehensive due diligence, transactional documentation, and post-closing integration.

Private Equity & Venture Capital

We advise investors, sponsors, and portfolio companies on private equity, venture capital, joint ventures, and strategic alliances, covering structuring, financing arrangements, governance frameworks, and exit strategies.

Regulatory & Compliance

Securing regulatory approvals and licensing, statutory reporting, designing compliance programs (AML/CFT, data privacy), and corporate secretarial services, helping clients maintain sustainable operations and regulatory readiness.

Restructuring & Divestments

Strategic guidance on corporate restructurings, divestments, spin-offs, and liquidations, ensuring regulatory compliance while achieving your business objectives.

Representative Transactions

Access Pensions Acquisition & Merger

Advised Access Golf Nigeria on acquiring ARM Pension Managers and executing the merger with Access Pensions, conducting due diligence, drafting merger documentation, and obtaining PenCom regulatory clearances.

Africa Finance Corporation $500M Hybrid Bond

Sole Nigerian counsel on AFC’s debut $500 million hybrid perpetual bond issuance on international markets, advising on Tier 1 capital structuring, drafting offering documents, and coordinating cross-border syndication.

Allianz-Sanlam Pan-African Joint Venture

Counseled Allianz SE on combining select operations with Sanlam into a South African joint venture encompassing Nigerian assets, structuring cross-border governance frameworks and navigating multi-jurisdictional approvals.

Arnergy $18M Series B Funding

Represented Arnergy Solar in raising $18 million from impact investors, handling investment structuring, due diligence, shareholder negotiations, and SEC filings to fuel expansion of off-grid solar solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Diageo Divestment from Guinness Nigeria

Nigerian counsel to Diageo on divesting its 58.02% stake in Guinness Nigeria through a scheme of arrangement, negotiating long-term licensing and royalty agreements, and securing SEC approvals

GTCO Dual Listing – NGX & LSE

Advised Guaranty Trust Holding Company on its pioneering $100 million dual listing on the London Stock Exchange while maintaining its NGX quotation, structuring the termination of its GDR program and facilitating seamless share transfers between exchanges.

Moniepoint Inc. US$110 Million Series C Funding

Advised Moniepoint Inc. as Nigerian counsel on its US$110 million Series C funding round, structuring the investment terms, conducting due diligence, negotiating shareholder agreements, and securing relevant regulatory approvals to support the fintech’s growth as a unicorn providing banking, payments, and credit solutions across Africa

Client Quotes

“The team at Aluko & Oyebode understands the Nigerian market well. The team is very responsive and well resourced, with well-rounded associates.”

“Aluko & Oyebode is a highly skilled law firm at the forefront of the Nigerian market, which is well known for its involvement in high-value banking transactions, acting on behalf of both domestic and international companies. It is adept at handling a variety of matters including structured trade agreements, foreign exchange contracts and secure lending agreements. The team earns recognition for its exceptional handling of a range of project finance matters, particularly in the oil and gas sector.”

“A & O reviewed and advised on the transaction with such distinct level of depth and made the bank understand all the options available in the circumstance. Their advice was a guiding light for the bank.”