Legal services market visit to Nigeria: apply now

The Law Society of England and Wales and UK Trade Investment (Nigeria) will be leading a legal services market visit to Lagos and Abuja between 5-10 November 2012.

The delegation will bring together the best of both UK and Nigerian legal excellence. Firms will benefit from first-hand insights into forthcoming business developments and opportunities, networking with government, regulators, investors, commerce and industry and building new contacts and relationships with the leading domestic and international law firms.

Full programme information (PDF)

Application form (Word)

Programme highlights:

• Economic briefing and legal services overview
• High-level business and legal networking dinner at the British High Commission
• Regulatory agencies forum
• PPP, financial Services and regulatory agnecy forums
• Law-firm match-making event - beat the Lagos traffic: one-to one meetings with firms relevant to you, brought to you.
• Evening networking reception at the Deputy High Commission (Lagos)
• Optional participation in Lagos State's premier business finance, law and development, the Kuramo conference
• Firm profile in mission brochure
• Support of Law Society Africa Policy adviser and UKTI trade adviser to help your firm make the most of the mission.

The UK and Nigeria

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country with a growing population of 150 million. As the second wealthiest nation in sub-Saharan Africa its economy is continuing to grow and an emerging middle class is presenting further new opportunities to business and investors.

It is of course also one of the largest oil producers on the continent alongside a growing diversification of industry including banking, financial services, clothing and textiles, telecommunications, manufacturing, oil and gas, mining and tourism.

Eligibility and selection

The mission is open to UK and Nigerian law firms and general counsel. Participating UK firms must be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Interested participants are invited to complete the attached application by 1 October 2012. A maximum of two delegates per firm may be represented on the programme.

Places are limited and firms will be selected to participate based on merit-based evidence demonstrating:

Extensive capability in one or more of the following areas: energy, banking & finance, capital markets, telecommunications, maritime, aviation, intellectual property, international arbitration and dispute resolution, PPP structuring, financing and implementation.

Experience in Nigerian and/or other sub-Saharan markets;

Unique capabilities and characteristics that your firm can bring to the mission in support of UK-Nigeria legal excellence.

The programme is free to members of the Law Society's International Division.  There is an administration fee of £150 (N40,000) to non-member firms joining the programme. Participants pay their own costs for flights, visas, local travel, accommodation and other subsistence expenses. Airport collection and domestic road-travel to programmed meetings will be provided subject to participant’s following the preferred travel and accommodation itinerary.

Contact lucy.hicks@lawsociety.org.uk Policy Adviser (Africa & the Middle East) for more information.