Goldsmiths Solicitors is a leading business law firm based in Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria.
We are passionate about offering all our clients first-class professional services which is based on commercial realities. Our services are built around the delivery of clear, pragmatic, accurate and commercially aligned advice. We listen to our clients and develop long-term value-adding relationships. Our clients benefit from our thorough understanding of the business environment in which they operate and the challenges they face.
We are proud of our excellent reputation gained over many years of providing first class legal services. With lawyers from diverse international backgrounds, we have developed a reputation as ‘the firm to instruct’ in Nigeria. We are committed to meeting and exceeding our clients’ needs and high expectations. We continue to build on this reputation through the delivery of effective and result-driven service for the benefit of our clients.
Our founding partners are all England & Wales/Nigerian dual qualified solicitors, have lived and practised in both jurisdictions for many years. They have assisted clients in multi-jurisdictional transactions across sub-Saharan Africa. These cross-legal qualifications and experience place us in a very unique position to give our diverse clients unparalleled advice drawing from our many years of international legal practice.
With continued investment in the best qualified members of staff and modern technology, you can be assured that by instructing us, you will receive the best possible legal advice to meet your needs.
We focus on listening to our clients and on developing long-term partnering arrangements. Our approach is not simply transaction-driven it is about adding value.
We have an excellent track record of working with diverse clients in what can be a challenging and complex operating environment. With two offices in Nigeria and a network of local law firms across sub-Saharan Africa, we understand the local markets and the regulatory, political and economic environments and are able to assist our clients in most countries on the continent.
We pride ourselves in providing legal services to our diverse clients that include state-owned enterprises, multi-national companies, private companies, government agencies, finance institutions, small and medium sized enterprises, technology companies, individuals and other organizations from various sectors of the economy such as: security, insurance, real estate, construction, oil and gas, internet gaming, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, FinTech, food, beverage, consumer electronics, private equity, media, aviation, maritime and shipping.
Colin heads our Corporate/Commercial Practice Groups and is an integral part of our Capital market, Project Finance, Business Advisory and Startups and MSME Practice Groups.
He is a dual qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Colin graduated with an LL.B (Hons.) law degree from the University of Nigeria, thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, where he obtained his BL and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 1993.
Upon being called to the Nigerian Bar, Colin then attended the College of Law (now the University of Law) Bloomsbury, London, where he sat the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) and cross-qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1998.
Colin also has an Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Middlesex University Business School, London. He also attended the prestigious United Nations University Tokyo, Japan, where he undertook the United Nations International Courses on Environment and Sustainable Development.
Colin’s professional experience includes acting as a part of the lender’s due diligence team in a $750 million Category A Greenfield Cement plant in Calabar, Cross Rover State, Nigeria.
Acting as part of a team of international consultants, he was engaged in a $20 billion Liquefied Natural Gas Project in Nigeria. He also acted as a consultant on the £1.4 billion, Kosovo East-West Highway, connecting Pristina, Kosovo to the rest of the country and the $450 million Chiansi Irrigation Project, Lusaka, Zambia.
Other experience includes acting as the lead legal adviser to confidential American insurance bondholders of US $63 million in a share sale and asset acquisition in a leading commercial bank in Nigeria.
Colin acted as lead legal adviser to the Plateau State Government of Nigeria on a multi-million Naira Public-Private Partnership project (PPP) on the rehabilitation of Jos International Market as well as retained as lead legal adviser to the transaction advisory team on the $1BN, 167KM Lagos/Ibadan Express Road expansion project.
Emmanuel is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and heads our Banking and Finance and Tax Groups and our Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practice Groups. He has acted for clients in ICC and LCIA arbitrations and has also published scholarly articles for the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.
Emmanuel initially graduated with a B.A honours degree in English from the University of Calabar, before proceeding to study law at the University of Nigeria, where he obtained his LL.B (Hons.) law degree. He obtained his Masters in corporate and commercial law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London and was also admitted as a member of the Association of Taxation Technician (ATT) of England and Wales. Emmanuel also has an M.Sc., in Constructions Law and Dispute Resolution from the prestigious Kings College, University of London.
Emmanuel is regularly called upon to advise clients on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters including constructions disputes, commercial disputes, foreign direct investments and taxation matters.
A Sloan Fellow at the world class London Business School, Nnamdi heads our Aviation and Maritime and Shipping Practice Groups.
Nnamdi is a trained air force pilot and obtained his LL.B (Hons.) law degree from the University of Benin. He also has a post graduate diploma in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.
Upon leaving the Nigerian air force proceeded to London Business School where he obtained his M.Sc. as a London Business School Sloan Fellow. Nnamdi had a distinguished career as a Nigerian air force officer, where he served in many senior positions, including serving as the Head of Legal Department of the Nigerian air force. He rose to the rank of Group Captain (Colonel equivalent), and his last position before he voluntarily left the air force was Director of Plans. He has also attended the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos, Nigeria
Since leaving the air force, he has dedicated his time to full time practice. Nnamdi is usually called upon to participate in many issues of national importance at various senior levels. He also acted as legal adviser to the acquirers of $2,300,000 acquisition of floating dry dock and establishment of ship repair yard project in the Oil & Gas Free Zone, Federal Ocean terminal.
Kingsley is a partner and Head of our Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Practice Groups and is an integral part of our FinTech and Corporate and Commercial Practice Groups.
He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and graduated from the University of Nigeria with an LL.B (Hons) law degree in 1991. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigeran Law School, where he obtained his BL and was called to the Nigerian Bar, in 1992. Kingsley is a Project Management Professional (PMP) awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI), United States of America. He is also a certified Scrum Master, which was awarded by the United States Scrum Alliance.
Kingsley was a senior manager, Litigation and ADR in Airtel Networks Limited, one of the leading telecommunication companies in Nigeria before joining Goldsmiths Solicitors as a partner.
Kingsley is recognized as a leading authority in Telecoms law in Nigeria and is a very well respected senior legal practitioner in his chosen area of practice.
Patrick heads our Labour and Employment Law Team and is an integral part of the Goldsmiths Solicitors Corporate and Commercial and Business Advisory Teams. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and graduated from the University of Nigeria with an LL.B (Hons.) law degree in 1992.
Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigeran law school, where he obtained his BL and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1993. Patrick also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Organizational Leadership from the Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington State, United States of America.
Patrick is mostly described as an astute leader. His ability to assist clients in promptly and creatively resolving their issues and responding to their diverse need has been described by Clients as astounding.
He is also recognized as a leading authority in his chosen areas of practice and regularly assists clients with all aspects of Immigration and Labour and Employment law in Nigeria.
Nneka is a partner in our Energy and Natural Resources Practice Groups and is an integral part of our Projects Team. She is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and also a licensed attorney authorized to practice law in the State of New York, United States of America.
Nneka graduated with a LL.B (Hons) Law Degree from the University of Nigeria in 1992 and thereafter proceeded to the Nigerian law School, Lagos, where she gained the BL qualification and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1993. Upon being called to the Nigerian Bar she proceeded to Pace University School of Law, White Plains, New York, where she gained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Environmental Law in 1997.
Nneka is a leading authority in environmental law and practice in Nigeria and is described as a very astute commercial lawyer who fearlessly defends her clients’ corner, whilst maintaining a very calm disposition.
Uba is a Managing Associate in our Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practice Group. He attended Madonna University, Anambra State, where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2010 and was admitted into the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in February 2012.
After a brief stint in the Legal Department of United Bank for Africa, Plc, Uba went into legal practice as an associate in a Corporate/Commercial and Litigation law firm based in Lagos where he worked in the litigation department and handled contentious matters in the superior courts including the appellate courts in Nigeria.
Uba successfully acted for a claimant in a $1.7M USD international arbitration matter brought under the ICC Rules. Uba is currently involved as part of the Goldsmiths team and other international consultants acting for a Nigerian State Government on a build, design, rehabilitate, operate and transfer public-private partnership project in Nigeria.
Uba has also acted as legal advisor to United Arab Emirate Aviation Company on various regulatory and tax matters. He also acted as part of a team of legal advisors for confidential American insurance company bondholders of US$63,400,000 in a share sale and asset acquisition in a leading commercial bank in Nigeria.
He successfully acted as a defence counsel to an oil and gas company in their over GBP 130, 000 British Pounds dispute with a former employee at the National Industrial Court.
Shola is a Senior Associate in our Project Finance, Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and Startups and MSME Practice Groups. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree, LL.B (Hons.). Thereafter, he attended the Nigerian Law School and was subsequently admitted into the Nigerian Bar Association as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Shola is described by his peers as intelligent, highly dedicated and focused with a strong focus on providing sustainable solution to clients. He interfaces with regulatory agencies and also attends court in respect of clients’ matters. His experience cuts across commercial and employment litigations, Alternative Dispute Resolution, projects and infrastructure development and finance advisory, FinTech licensing, corporate/commercial and general legal advisory services among others.
He regularly conducts legal due diligence for clients and has also prepared and reviewed contractual agreements which include Concession Agreements, Employment Agreements, Distribution Agreements, Service Level Agreements, Trust Deeds, etc.
Ada is an Associate in our Technology, Innovation and FinTech and Immigration Practice Groups and is an integral part of our Corporate/Commercial Practice Groups.
She attended the University of Abuja, Nigeria, where she obtained her LL. B (Hons.) law degree and graduated with a Second-Class Honors (Upper Division). She then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School where she graduated with a Second-Class Honors (Upper Division) and was subsequently called into the Nigerian Bar.
Ada is goal-oriented, has an eye for details and has a strong commitment to resolving clients’ complex issues whilst providing practical solutions to clients’ legal problems.
Ada regularly assists clients with several aspects of compliance matters in Nigeria and was a significant part of a team that represented a Nigerian Company in an International commercial dispute at the London Court of International Arbitration.
She was also an integral part of a team that advised a foreign company on the legal and regulatory requirements for e-hailing cab companies in Nigeria.
Uzoamaka is a goal-oriented lawyer who prides herself on providing excellent legal services that meet clients’ needs. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2019 after graduating from the Nigerian Law School with a Second-Class Honours (Upper Division). She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Abuja, Nigeria.
Since joining the firm, she has been involved in a wide range of matters, including corporate advisory, start-ups and MSME, immigration, tax, litigation and company secretarial where she has provided company secretarial and corporate governance advisory services to a wide range of clients in various sectors of the economy.
She advises clients on a continuous basis concerning regulatory compliance with Nigerian laws. Some of these Clients include companies in the finance, hotel and beverages and transportation sectors. She also sits on statutory meetings of companies where she performs advisory and company secretarial roles. She represents foreign and local clients before courts of record in Nigeria. She is known for her diligence and ability to give solutions to clients’ problems which has in turn resulted in her gaining clients’ confidence.
Josiah is a Senior Associate at Goldsmiths Solicitors. Josiah graduated from the Madonna University, Nigeria with an LL. B (Hons.) law degree. Thereafter he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, where he obtained his BL and was called to the Nigeria Bar. He obtained his Master of Arts (MA) degree in Criminal Justice and Human Security from the University of Bridgeport, United State of America.
Josiah is described by his peers as a seasoned professional who demonstrates an ability to resolve complex legal issues. He embraces challenges and is always eager to deliver excellent results to clients.
His interests and experience span across corporate/commercial law, energy, taxation, employment, competition and consumer rights, intellectual property, telecommunications and real estate. He is deeply knowledgeable in his practice areas and has proven valuable to our numerous clients.
Favour is an Associate in our Corporate/Commercial Practice Group and plays a key role in our Energy, Telecommunications, Startups, Immigration, and Company Secretarial Practice Groups.
She obtained her LL.B (Hons.) from the University of Benin, graduating with a Second-Class Honours. She then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, where she achieved a Second-Class Honours and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2022. Favour is currently advancing her expertise by pursuing her Master of Laws (LL.M) at the University of Lagos.
Favour is committed to excellence, known for her innovative approach and unwavering dedication to meeting client needs with sustainable and practical legal solutions. Her ability to build trust has earned her respect among colleagues and confidence from clients.
She has advised on various corporate and commercial matters, participated in board meetings, and provided comprehensive legal support across a broad range of sectors. Favour’s contributions have included assisting clients with compliance and regulatory obligations and advising startups on strategic business and legal frameworks.
