Welcome to Zitel Solicitors & Consultants

Our Objectives

1. To use the law resourcefully to achieve the best interest of clients

2. To constantly deliver first class service built on excellent professional practice and sustainable client relationship, and it is hoped that when we adhere to these maxims, everything else will fall into place.

Our Vision

To uphold the Rule of Law as we deliver first class legal services.

Who We Are

Zitel Solicitors and Consultants is a full service law firm committed to excellence. As a leading law firm in Nigeria, ZSC draws from wealth of knowledge of the local business environment and an in-depth understanding of the country's complex socio-economic and political climate. Our timely performance with quality and efficiency of service is premised on strong capacities and experience. Essentially this enables us to offer technical legal services of the highest caliber in the context of sound, practical business advice.The combination of ZSC's committed and diverse team of corporate attorneys, years of experience in the industry and in-depth legal expertise has created a winning formula that has earned us series of accolades.

What we do

There is a rich vein of specialist knowledge and experience here at ZSC.

The firm's dynamic combination of local and international expertise has attracted high-profile clients both in Nigeria and around the world.

Our partners are renowned not just for their in-depth understanding of a particular area, from admiralty and insolvency to business re-organization and investment, but because of their spark, commercial savvy and integrity as individuals. Investment banks, industrial conglomerates, financial institutions, government, State authorities are just some examples of clients who depend on ZSC for the success of their corporate legal affairs. The firm is organized into two divisions namely: LITIGATION and CORPORATE.

Our services include:

• Admiralty

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Banking and Finance

• Corporate and Commercial

• Energy and Natural Resources

• Equipment Infrastructure and Project Financing

• Foreign Investment

• Immigration and Family Law Practice

• Insolvency and Recovery

• Intellectual Property

• Labour and Employment Practice

•  Maritime

• Outsourcing

• Real Estate

• Taxation

• Telecommunications

• United Nations & World Bank Group

Our Services

Admiralty

The Admiralty Department provides consultancy services and appellate practice in admralty matters. Our expertise covers corporate, commercial, transactional, structured finance, senior and subordinated loans, sales/leasebacks, dispute resolution matters, towage companies, chatters, shippers, consignees, sailors, suppliers of goods to ship and all related maritime issues. Our lawyers render services on maritime related personal injury claims against cruise lines and other boat owners. We have team of lawyers with extensive experience in advising and representing clients on all other aspects of maritime law. At the present, we are advising a major international airline on its bid to establish aircraft maintenance facility in Nigeria, and we hope that more clients will be attracted to our services in this regards as time goes on.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Zitel Solicitors has the capacity to negotiate in this area of law. We have successfully resolved number of disputes varying from loan interest, debts, labour and employment using Arbitration, conciliation and other modes of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

We have the strength, experience and depth to advice and deal with the most complex matters. We have a reputation for taking pro-active actions and measures to best protect client’s interest by providing cost effective solutions to the most intricate legal dispute.

Banking and Finance

The banking and finance practice of ZSC has won the respect of clients and practitioners for quality of its advisory and transactional work. Our team of skilled and experienced lawyers has consistently demonstrated an ability to deliver clear, frank and timely responses to client's enquiries. Clients recognize our expertise in transaction management and trust in our ability to provide that crucial legal and regulatory support needed to consummate their transactions with the result that ZSC is regularly consulted on corporate finance matters for projects in the oil, gas, telecommunications, productions and aviation sectors, to mention but few. We advise on financing structure, subordination and credit issues, tax aspects of transactions and regulatory compliance issues, amalgamation, merger and acquisition. Our clients are satisfied with our consultancy on investment and divestment, structuring credit transaction, foreign exchange remittance and restrictions, recording and disclosure requirements, taking effective security whilst minimizing costs, and insolvency. We represent lenders and borrowers including leading international financial institutions, brokerage and investment companies and other financial institutions.

Corporate and Commercial

"A class act - we don’t cloud things in legal smoke. An impressive outfit, providing outstanding quality"

ZSC has a team of commercially astute lawyers whose aim is to help find a way through a mine­field of complex, confusing and often bureaucratic law that governs the way businesses operate, both in Nigeria and internationally.

We are approachable, open lawyers whose time-sensitive advice ranges from straightforward, through innovative to complex service delivery. Knowing the law is taken as a given, it is the way our commercial lawyers apply it that makes them special.

ZSC has an in-house team of corporate and commercial expertise including non-lawyers solely dedicated to this practice area. You may be acquiring a business, property or other assets; refinancing or extending your lines of credit; whatever your need, we will provide advice and negotiate finance arrangements that is appropriate in the context of your business requirements. Our expertise includes: debt recovery, credit security documentation, collateral mortgages, equity offerings, floatation, competition law, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, as well as information technology.

Energy and Natural Resources

The specialist skills and significant deal experience gained by our team of experts from several landmark assignments throughout the energy sector present our clients with a unique one -stop service for energy related issues.

The firm’s expertise covers all aspects of acquisition, management, legal, regulatory and policy issues as well as commercial and fiscal matters that arise in oil, gas, mining, power and renewable energy transactions. We provide advice on energy and utilities finance, energy, mergers, joint ventures, electricity and gas transmission, distribution

Immigration and Family Law Practice

“You are one step closer to a new life abroad” (ZSC)

Welcome to Zitel Solicitors, Immigration & Consultancy Services. We are one of the leading officially recognized, private consultancies handling emigration to and from Nigeria, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA etc to any part of the globe.

Our professional advisers are licensed by the official regulatory authorities of each destination country- MARA (Australia), IAA (New Zealand), ICCRC (Canada), SBC (USA), NBA (Nigeria), SRA (UK). ZSC aims to offer all-round assistance to our clients, above and beyond the core immigration services in a professional, efficient and cost effective network of specialists. We advise our high net-worth clients on all aspects of immigration law and represent business and organizations in a variety of immigration issues.

Our enviable track record of success is based on our belief that will only assist migrants who will succeed. We do not wish to waste our time or yours. After availing yourself of our free appraisal service, we can tell you if you qualify and, if so, our advisers are official recognized and able to assist you with your entire permanent visa application to increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. With continuous amendments and changes to immigration law and policy you are sure of 100% up to date relevant advice to suit your particular circumstances.

Our practice areas includes: Adoption and Custody, Expatriate Quota, Matrimonial Causes, Corporate Immigration Law, Permanent and Temporary Visas, Shopping, Security, Accommodation, Bank, Cars and Transportation, Luggage shipping, Expatriate Health Insurance and Travel Insurance.

Labour and Employment Practice

“ZSC make it their business to know you and your business, which is a great asset”.

ZSC is a one shop solution and a market leader in labour and employment law in Nigeria. Approachable and commercially aware, the team’s specialists have in depth experience of the challenges faced by businesses when it comes to their staff. The firm’s proactive advice helps clients minimize risk and avoid potential liability.

We have extensive experience in the wide range of services needed to manage the ever dynamic and complex relationship between employers and employees, including labour management relations, employment litigations, retirement benefits and pension plans, work safety and health, job mobility and immigration, counseling, dispute resolution through arbitration and mediation, outsourcing, collective bargaining, immigration and employee issues arising from corporate take-over. We draft standard employment contracts and employee handbooks for several local and multinational clients. Our approach is simple rather than give dire warnings about legal responsibilities; we look at the reality of a situation design efficient policies taking into account, development in the legislative, judicial and commercial arena. Our team act for public companies, groups of companies, owner managed business, academic institutions and other not-for-profit organizations, start-up companies and senior executives. We provide a fast response by telephone or email to urgent employment problems, as well as support in handling on-going procedures or preparing policies. Our advice covers: compromise agreements, contract of employment, data protection and workplace monitoring, disciplinary/grievance procedures, discrimination issues, dismissals and redundancies, employment tribunal and court claims, flexible working and parental rights, industrial relations, restrictive covenants.

When faced with litigation, the team actively runs the case, guiding and advising in the tribunal or high court in areas such as contractual disputes, injunctions, unfair and wrongful dismissal, all aspects of discrimination, whistle blowing and industrial relations.

Our Litigation Department has developed ZSC's Employer Protection Scheme. We also work closely with the compliance group to provide specialist employer services such as payroll, HR administration, recruitment, compliance and health & safety.

Equipment, Infrastructure and Project Financing

"If you can't be a practicing lawyer you deserve one as a friend" (ZSC)

Complex projects require experienced and innovative legal advice. Whether you are a public authority or a commercial organization involved with the public sector, you need to ensure you have specialist legal experts on your team. Our practice brings together an interdisciplinary team of professionals with extensive expertise needed to handle complex assignments. The multidisciplinary background of our members combined with local and international exposure to infrastructure transactions, places ZSC in a prime advisory standing in this emerging sector.

Our experts don't just advise. We are familiar with the world of complex projects, enabling us to participate positively in the project management process. With our wealth of experience over the years, we are conversant with common pitfalls and delays associated with project management and will use our expertise to assist with finding efficient, commercial solutions to your legal issues, all delivered at competitive prices. Our team knows how to close deals involving multiple parties and multi-tiered contractual arrangements, and how to apply risk-based analysis to the negotiation of contract documentation.

Key project finance experience include court buildings, rail and bus infrastructure, schools and universities, hospital and key worker accommodation, library and leisure facilities, waste handling and energy plants, hospital facilities, roads, port, transit, telecom, oil and gas.

We assist public/private partnerships, hybrid financings, blending elements of cash-flow, lending and project.

We are regularly involved in complex capital structures with debt/equity co-investment and sophisticated inter-investor/creditor arrangements.

Foreign Investment

Seeking legal advice outside of your home jurisdiction can be a daunting prospect. You may be unfamiliar with how the relevant legal system works or what type of firm would best suit your particular needs. This taken together with the often pressing nature of advice required can make the whole process challenging and time consuming. At ZSC we provide a complete service package including but not limited to advising on Direct Foreign Investment, Business formation and operation, acquisition of interest in companies, assets and properties. We also pride on global immigration laws, services to embassies and personnel of embassies, compliance and regulatory issues, taxation, acquisition of pioneer status and Government Incentives.

Intellectual Property

"The lawyers care about our company as much as we do" (ZSC).

The Management, protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights, are core to modern businesses. The individual facets of an intellectual property strategy should not be viewed in isolation from each other. The IP Unit at ZSC has established a truly seamless one stop service, advising on all types of contentious and non contentious IP matters relating to trade­marks, patent prosecution, copyright, franchising, licensing, distributorship agreements, technology transfer, electronics software, internet and e-commerce advertising, marketing, confidentiality and trade secrets, brands, data protection and information management.

Real Estate

"Knowledgeable, responsive, accountable and easy-to-reach lawyers" (ZSC) "I don't want a lawyer to tell me what I cannot do; I hire him to tell me how to do what I want to do" (J.P.Morgan).

ZSC expert property lawyers cover all aspects of commercial, industrial, retail and mixed use of property transactions and then continue to support in ongoing property management. Our .specialists provide a personalized service for individuals, investors and wealth mangers. ZSC housing team work with investors, developers and other stakeholders to ensure that the clients maximize the value of their investments. Our property clients get a commercial approach, quick responses, a high level of partner involvement and cost effective team structure. Our clients includes investors, developers, landlords and tenants, both domestic and international - who seek to own or lease residential and corporate office space in any part of Nigeria.

Our expertise in the property industry includes acquisitions and disposals, development, environment and energy efficiency, investment and finance, inward investment in Nigeria property, leases, litigation, planning, portfolio management, private property, commercial and residential development, mortgage agreements, tax effective structures.

Taxation

Tax affects business from global enterprises to sole traders. The right advice not only reduces risk but saves resources. We advise both local and foreign clients on a variety of tax issues in sectors ranging from banking to aviation and oil & gas.

Drawing upon the knowledge and experience of our lawyers and the firm's larger network of contacts within and around the revenue establishment, ZSC tax advisory services addresses specific needs of our clients in the following practice areas: corporate taxation, petroleum profit tax, taxation of employment income, value added tax, custom and excise, permanent establishment issue, transfer, pricing and withholding tax. We provide support for consortium instructions, bringing our expertise to bear in developing and implementing tax efficient transaction and project structures for the benefit of our clients in such areas as tax planning in corporate finance, project finance, oil and gas inclusive of reviewing and restructuring the tax aspect of a proposed transaction for advantage.

Telecommunications

ZSC is reputed as the leading telecommunication practice among Nigeria firms with expertise in this area. We have developed professional relationships with regulators and government officials charged with overseeing the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

We not only assist our clients accomplish their commercial goals but leverage on our diverse practice and multiple geographical locations to deliver effective and efficient services to our clients. Our dynamic tax experts are fast to evolving deregulated telecommunication sector in Nigeria.

The firm handles matter relating to international joint ventures, telecommunications financing, venture development capital, regulatory and licensing matters, foreign investment strategy, acquisition of rights of way, competition law, information technology including software, corporate restructuring, debt restructuring and dispute resolution amongst others.

We frequently advise clients on the regulatory framework for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

Outsourcing

ZSC's cross-departmental outsourcing group gives you access to an experienced team with specialist experience necessary for the successful implementation and operation of outsourcing transactions. We cover transactions ranging from specialist single-function arrangements to full service outsourcing and cover services from building, advanced health, technical and IT functions. Our experts pride itself on taking initiative, working with clients on many different levels in order to support and complement their own in house project teams. Our principal aim is to assist clients in putting in place practical, durable and effective business relationships that reflect reasonable balance of responsibility, risk and reward.

We regularly advise outsourcing service providers, as well as customers in Nigeria and off-shore. It has experience of advising both public and private sector clients across many industries.

Insolvency and Recovery

ZSC business re-organization and insolvency experts take advantage of our diverse expertise practice especially in law, commercial and financial services to provide effective solutions and advise in all business re-organization and insolvency situations. We provide practical commercial advice to individuals, creditors, debtors, trustees, receivers, landlords, buyers, sellers, equity holders, bondholders companies, IPs, professional, financial institutions and directors of businesses, primarily advising on all bankruptcy and insolvency issues.

Our expert advice to companies and corporate shareholders in all aspects of insolvency law includes schemes of arrangement, restructuring and re-organization, either as part of new investments, or resulting from corporate receiverships and liquidations. Our experts regularly represent clients in out of court workouts, debt restructurings, acquisitions and liquidations. Our experts are not intimidated in instituting recovery proceedings and all other insolvency processes, both in Nigeria and overseas. We work closely with managers, directors and shareholders to find solutions to trading difficulties and financial problems. Whilst advising on the legal issues, we always pay close attention to the needs of the business, delivering creative and pragmatic solutions.

United Nations & World Bank Group

The United Nations is one of the largest buyers of public goods and services in the world. Over the last six years the annual volume of the UN Procurement Market has increased from $6.5 billion in 2004 to 13.8 billion in 2009, making it the largest market for public goods and services for humanitarian and relief aid and development projects in the world.

The increase in UN procurement volume offers opportunities for all types of businesses worldwide. Despite these growing opportunities, companies do not always reach their full potential on this market. This can be caused by a variety of factors such as: the complexity of the UN system; the decentralization of UN organizations and their procurement procedures; or a limited personal network with UN Procurement staff.

ZSC provides private companies, public organizations, and industry associates with assistance and strategic advice to penetrate the UN and the World Bank market in an effective way. ZSC with more than 10 years of experience offers an extensive spectrum of services, diverging from: market research, representation, organizing trade mission and seminars. ZSC serves clients both from the private and public sector, such as companies, governmental organizations and industry associations & their members.