Legal Practice Area

Intellectual Property Law

Protecting and enforcing your most valuable intangible assets â€” from patent filings at the Nigerian Patents and Designs Act registry to trade mark protection, copyright enforcement, and technology licensing.

Request a Consultation →

Overview

Safeguarding innovation and creative value

Intellectual property is among the most valuable assets of any modern enterprise. Our IP practice advises individuals, corporates, technology companies, media houses, pharmaceutical firms, and consumer goods brands on the full spectrum of intellectual property rights in Nigeria and across Africa.

Nigeria's IP framework is governed by the Patents and Designs Act, the Trade Marks Act, the Copyright Act 2022, and the Geographic Indications Act. We advise on registration strategies, portfolio management, licensing, assignments, and enforcement â€” both through administrative proceedings and litigation in the Federal High Court.

We work closely with the Commercial Law Department Registry (COMAC), the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), and relevant ARIPO and OAPI regional offices to provide clients with comprehensive regional IP protection strategies across West and Central Africa.

What We Handle

Key Areas of Practice

Trade Marks & Branding

Trade mark search, filing, prosecution, and registration in Nigeria; opposition proceedings; portfolio management; brand protection strategies across multiple classes.

Patents & Designs

Patent filing and prosecution, patent validity opinions, design protection, freedom-to-operate analysis, and patent licensing negotiations.

Copyright & Related Rights

Copyright registration with the NCC, content licensing, assignment agreements, moral rights advice, and enforcement against infringement and piracy.

Technology Licensing

Software licences, technology transfer agreements, SaaS agreements, source code escrow, open-source compliance, and franchise IP arrangements.

IP Litigation & Enforcement

Infringement proceedings in the Federal High Court, Anton Piller orders, Mareva injunctions, border enforcement measures, and customs recordal for IP rights.

IP Due Diligence & Transactions

IP due diligence in M&A and financing transactions, IP valuation support, assignment of IP rights, and IP warranties in commercial agreements.

Our Methodology

Strategic protection from creation to commercialisation

IP Audit & Identification

We conduct a comprehensive IP audit to identify all protectable assets â€” registered and unregistered â€” and assess their current protection status and value.

Registration Strategy

We develop a cost-effective filing strategy, prioritising key markets and rights, and managing prosecution through to grant.

Commercialisation

We structure licences, joint ventures, and technology transfer agreements to maximise the commercial value of your IP portfolio.

Enforcement & Defence

Where rights are infringed, we pursue swift and decisive enforcement action â€” in court, through customs, or via negotiated settlement.