Lead Partner - Energy, Oil and Gas, Mining and Transportation.
Franklyn is the Founding Partner of Legalworks Associates and currently the Lead Partner. He oversees the Energy, Mining and Transportation unit which encompasses Natural Resources, Power, Infrastructure and Concessions, Telecommunications and Shipping. Franklyn has over three (3) decades of Legal practice experience in corporate/commercial law predominantly in the Energy, Mining and Shipping sectors. Previously at Pat Onegbedan and Co, Benin City, Edo State where he cut his legal teeth and then to Osereme Ogbeide and Co, Lagos island, Lagos State before Co-founding Okolocha, Ufuah & Co in 1994 where he presided over the Corporate and Commercial services needs of the firm for over 8 years.
A deep thinker, and pragmatic business advisor, Franklyn has advised on the entire gamut of corporate and commercial laws and has worked on oil and Gas, Mining, Power, infrastructure and shipping transactions and advises on Licensing, Investments, Regulatory compliance and Development, Financing, Fiscal and operational matters as they affect Natural Resources, Power and Transportation. Franklyn’s expertise focuses on Legal, Regulatory and policy issues in the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors and on the commercial and transactional matters arising in project developments and more particularly Foreign Investments, Joint Ventures, Acquisitions & Disposals, Corporate restructuring and project development and Finance. Whilst at Okolocha, Ufuah & Co, Franklyn worked on a variety of energy, corporate and commercial transactions for both domestic and international clients. Franklyn was part of the team of lawyers that advised the Nigerian Client that was promoting the 4 Nation Ministerial Steering Committee on the 4400 km Trans-Sahara Gas pipeline project.
Admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1989, Franklyn currently holds two (2) Degrees of Master of Laws in Petroleum Law and Policy (with Merit) from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom renowned Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) and Commercial Law from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Energy and Natural Resources (“SERL”) and Construction Law sections of the International Bar Association. Franklyn is also a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (“AIEN”), Energy Institute, United Kingdom and the Nigerian Gas Association. Franklyn holds Nigerian and British citizenships, is fairly widely travelled and has participated in several legal seminars, courses and conferences both in
Partner - Corporate and Commercial Law | Commercial Litigation
Matthew is a Partner of LegalWorks Associates and currently heads the Corporate Services and Dispute Resolution unit of the firm. Admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1989, he holds a Master of Laws Degree in Commercial Law from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Matthew is a member of the Capital Market Solicitors Association of Nigeria and he is responsible for the development of Banking and Structured Finance in the firm.
He is regularly consulted by a broad spectrum of Banks and Financial Institutions concerning Banking and Finance issues. Matthew is an astute commercial litigator and a seasoned Arbitrator and has made several appearances in the Superior Courts of record in Nigeria.
Matthew has at various times acted for and advised Nigerian Banks, Foreign firms, public and private sector entities. At other times he has advised on numerous Capital Market and Project Finance transactions. Prior to joining LegalWorks Associates, Matthew had worked with the highly reputable law firm: Abdulai, Taiwo& Co.; Solicitors (from November, 1990 – August, 1997) where he rose to the position of Senior Associate and acquired a broad range of experience and skills in advising blue-chip organizations such as Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, Procter & Gamble Nigeria Ltd, Union Trustees Ltd, Novartis (formerly Swiss Nigeria Chemical Co. Ltd) amongst others. He has attended various courses/seminars/conferences both in Nigeria and abroad.
The Partners are ably supported by four Senior associates in Chambers Viz Kathryn lyinbor, Ehinomen Efe-Urhobo, Mark Onyekachi Ogba and Juliet Nwani backed up by an annual intake of intern and extern, who bring on board a mix of talents, ideas and experience; and a full complement of para-legal and administrative staff.
In order to enhance the continuous education of its Team, Lawyers of the Firm are mandatorily members of most of the following professional associations:
