Global Excellence Awards 2018

Acquisition International - Global Excellence Awards 2018 15 32 Acquisition International - February 2018 Fred-Young & Evans LP is a full-service commercial law firm in Nigeria dedicated to providing its clients with prompt and effective legal services. We spoke to Managing Partner, Emmanuel Ekpenyong to find out more about the firm, which was named Most Influential Cross-Border Debt Recovery Specialist 2018 – Nigeria in our 2018 Global Excellence Awards. stablished in 2014, Fred-Young & Evans offer an array of legal services in support of its valued clients. Its sister firm, Fred-young Recoveries is a dedicated international debt collection organization and the sole Nigerian partner on International Credit Exchange. This enables it to collect debts worldwide. Emmanuel talks more about the firm’s services and how it works to support its clients, who include foreign investors, businesses and hospitals, real estate, construction firms, financial advisory companies, betting and lottery companies and intellectual property firms. “Here at Fred-Young & Evans, our firm is divided into three practice groups; namely, dispute resolution, corporate/commercial and intellectual property. The dispute resolution group represents clients in legal proceedings, negotiation, mediation and arbitration towards resolving commercial disputes. The corporate/commercial group provides consultation on corporate and commercial law matters. The intellectual property group provides legal services on intellectual property matters, such as registration of trademarks, copyrights, patents, and designs. “Together all three practice groups work to ensure excellence for our clients, andwe have carved a niche for ourselves because of our genuine commitment to our clients’ business. We ensure that in spite of our clients’ dispute with their customers, they maintain their business relationship with their customers. This is why we explore amicable options for settlement of our clients’ disputes without compromising their interests. If amicable settlement fails, we usually propose quicker dispute resolution mechanisms such as negotiation, mediation, conciliation or arbitration. If litigation is inevitable and our clients’ claim is a liquidated sum, time would be saved by commencing a summary judgment proceeding. If our client is the defendant, genuine admissions and reasonable offer towards timeous resolution of the dispute are veritable options in preventing litigation from escalating.” This focus on offering innovative solutions stems from the firm’s mission, as Emmanuel explains. “Our mission is to consistently proffer commercially focused, time and cost-effective, as well as result- Company: Fred-Young & Evans LP Contact: Emmanuel Ekpenyong Esq. MCIArb. (UK) Address: Suite 217A, Jinifa Plaza, Plot 1014, Samuel Adesoji Ademulegun Street, Central Business District, Federal Capital Territory- Abuja, Nigeria Phone: 00234 803 491 2096 Email: emmanuel@ fredyoungandevans.com Web Address: www.fredyoungandevans.com Creating Success inCross-Border Commercial Law E 1802AI28 oriented legal advice to challenging commercial transactions and disputes. To achieve this, we integrate innovation into every aspect of our work by identifying international best legal practice and recent decisions of Nigerian superior courts and other commonwealth countries on our practice areas. Also, we carry out research on developments in other jurisdictions as it relates to budding areas of Nigerian law and practice. This ensures that our service offering is cutting edge and tailored to meet the individual needs of each of our clients.” Overall, Fred-Young & Evans looks set to enjoy a prosperous future, as the firm has a number of exciting plans ahead, as Emmanuel concludes. “Looking ahead, the future is very bright for our firm. We have been invited to contribute as a specialist contributor to a book titled- “Contemporary Issues in Law and Society: Legal Essays in Tribute to the Hon. Justice Chinwe E. Iyizoba J.C.A.” on the topic, “Enforcement of Arbitral Awards and Foreign Judgments in Nigeria”. Also, I will be attending the International Credit Exchange Conference in Europe in October 2018 to speak on the topic of ‘Debt Collection in Nigeria’. “Additionally, we will publish a book titled The Impact of Nigeria’s Company Law and Practice on Foreign Investments in Nigeria with Editions in European Universities before the end of March 2018. “Finally, our originating summons in the case of Emmanuel Ekpenyong v. Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division for an order of Court compelling the Federal Minister for Justice to promulgate an Order to bring Part I of the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act, Cap F35, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 into operation, make modern rules for the effective process for recognition and registration of foreign judgments and for the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgment Ordinance, 1958 Act and Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgment Rules, 1922 to cease to apply in Nigeria, will be heard soon. All of these projects will provide us with many opportunities to build upon our current knowledge and success, and we look forward to taking advantage of these.”