AI Issue 9 2017

26 Acquisition International - September 2017 Founded in 1994, G. Elias & Co. is one of Nigeria’s leading business law firms. They were delighted to receive the exclusive Most Outstanding Law Firm 2017 – Nigeria accolade, after which we took the opportunity to interview Tomilehin Babafemi to find out more about them. he firm’s Tomilehin Babafemi begins the interview by outlining the legal areas they specialise in “G. Elias & Co. has an international outlook and an outstanding record of carrying out critical, innovative and complex work to the highest standard. We are active on the ‘cutting edge’ of Nigerian law and legal practice, particularly in the fields of corporate finance, sales of businesses, infrastructure financings denominated in hard currencies, tax, shipping and other commercial disputes. As a firm in Nigeria, one of the challenges G. Elias & Co. is facing, is the slow process involved in resolving disputes through litigation and the administrative bottlenecks that beset the process of getting approvals from relevant governmental agencies. “During the last three years, we have been consistently ranked as top tier by the International Financial Law Review (ILFR) and Chambers Global - in all the areas of law practice that we cover in Nigeria. We are organised in seven practice areas, covering eight industry sectors. “The practice groups are: dispute resolution, corporate (including mergers and acquisitions and private equity); banking & finance; capital markets; insolvency; tax; intellectual property and employment. The eight sectors are: financial services, oil-and-gas; electricity power; telecommunications; media and technology; trade and industry; transport and logistics and construction and real estate.” “We are a firm of 33 lawyers, comprising of 29 associates and four partners. Every assignment that G. Elias & Co. undertakes, is overseen by a partner, who is responsible for the quality of the service that we render and liaises regularly with the client on the progress of the work. We are members of the African Legal Network (ALN), an association of leading independent law firms, which was founded in and has its headquarters in African countries.” Company: G. Elias & Co Name: Tomilehin Babafemi Email: tomilehin.babafemi@ gelias.com Web Address: www.gelias.com Address: 6 Broad Street Lagos, Nigeria Telephone: +234 1 4607890 , +234 1 2806970 On the Cutting Edge of Nigerian Law and Legal Practice T 1708AI34 Tomilehin then reveals how it feels to be selected for the exclusive Most Outstanding Law Firm 2017 – Nigeria accolade and outlines his own role at G. Elias & Co. “We feel elated as it is another indication that our continuous, consistent and persistent efforts over the years have paid off. This means we need to work harder, to maintain the standard of being outstanding and excellent in all our work. “As a legal practitioner, my roles in the firm includes rendering legal advisory services, the legal review of documents, preparation of legal documents and representing clients in court. The areas I specialise include dispute resolution, banking and finance, as well as corporate practice areas.” Tomilehin then details the nature of the firm’s client base and the crucial role of the team there. “We serve all kinds of client, whether big or small, local or international, famous or self-effacing, young or old. The firm’s paramount aim is to always offer each client a service that is of the very highest quality. That means we emphasise technical proficiency, attention to detail and creativity in developing practical solutions to our clients’ problems. We are known for our sensitivity to clients’ business needs and concerns, as well as promptness in responding to and executing their requests, in dealing with business law assignments of every complexity, magnitude and novelty. “Our team is hardworking and committed to the firm’s quality management system. The lawyers in G. Elias & Co. are skilled and are able to discharge with excellence the challenging tasks we take on.” In closing, Tomilehin reveals the firm’s vision and plans for 2017 and beyond. “G. Elias & Co’s vision is of a coherent unit, with an exceptional team of specialists, advising business clients in every sector on challenging cases. At the same time, we aim to always maintain the highest possible standards, with versatility. “Looking to the future, we aim to grow at a much faster pace than before, but at the same time ensuring that all our clients are fully satisfied with the firm’s high-quality services. G. Elias & Co is unique in that we have the ISO 9001:2008 certification and are in the course of moving up to ISO 9001:2015 certification.” “Our team is hardworking and committed to the firm’s quality management system. The lawyers in G. Elias & Co. are skilled and are able to discharge with excellence the challenging tasks we take on.”