Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie is a full-service commercial law firm founded in 1983 by Udoma Udo Udoma. The firm has 16 partners and offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has a strong practice in banking debt and equity capital markets and M&A in all of which the firm is in the top tier for Nigeria. The firm has a specialism working with clients connected to financial services.
Key clients
The firm has developed strong relationships within the banking practice with African Development Bank, Branch International Financial Services, Union Bank of Nigeria, and Citibank Nigeria.
In capital markets the firm is connected with BUA Foods, British International Investment, Africa Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, Africa Export-Import Bank, Coronation Merchant Ban, Ecobank, AG Mortgage Bank, and the Federal Government of Nigeria on the debt side and Quantum Zenith Asset Management & Investments on the equity side.
In M&A the firm has ties with Aruwa Capital Management, Biontech, Leapfrog Investments, Actis Group, Verod Capital Management, Synergy Capital Managers, Pepsico, Monument Distillers Nigeria, and Blue Orchard Finance.
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In project development the firm has relationships with Sahara Energy, Seplat Energy, CMA CGM Terminals Group, Daystar Power Group, Chapel Hill Denham/Nigerian Infrastructure Debt Fund, and Agility Logistics.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period, the firm was active in banking, debt and equity capital markets, M&A and project development.
In banking the firm worked on loans and financings including project financings mostly lenders in the banking, financial services and energy sectors.
In debt capital markets the firm worked on note, bond and sukuk issuances mainly for clients in the banking and financial services sectors.
In equity capital markets the firm worked on IPO and secondary share offering for underwriters and issuers in the financial services and consumer goods and services sectors.
In M&A the firm worked on acquisitions and mergers for clients linked to the investment management, technology and manufacturing sectors.
In project development the firm worked on energy and infrastructure projects for clients connected with the power, oil and gas, financial services and construction sectors.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Airtel Networks $120 million financing
Lekki Deep Sea Port project
BioNTech $440 million acquisition of Instadeep
MTN Nigeria Communications $325 million note issue
Stanbic IBTC Bank $300 million financing
Zenith Bank $250 million financing
Client Feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Banking
“They are very thorough and speedily resolve grey areas.”
“They are very responsive and thorough in their approach to delivering comments and feedback.”
“Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie have been responsive to all queries, and efficient with client management and correspondence with other counsels to the transaction.”
“They were extremely responsive, very helpful and provided clear and articulate guidance throughout. Their advice was much appreciated, especially given both we and the client had limited understanding of the Nigerian legal system.”
“The firm and the stakeholders I was working with provided value-added legal advice, they were available and very responsive to queries posed.”
“A good team that was able to provide quick and complete feedback. The quality of their work was good.”
“Timely, professional and diligent.”
“Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie are efficient and responsive and provided full information.”
“They are the top firm in Nigeria. Solutions-driven with a client-centric focus.”
“Deep market awareness, constant availability, strong commitment to client, etc.”
Capital markets : Debt
“They are very professional, understand and keep to tight project timelines where necessary. The quality of their work is top-notch.”
“They provided transaction documentation, transaction structuring and legal due diligence.”
“They are up to date on evolving matters, offer timely responses and availability, have deep knowledge of the subject-matter and are forward thinking.”
“They are very well experienced in their fields. They come with a lot of knowledge and confidence. A pleasure to work with.”
“They have thorough knowledge of the transaction scope and provide support with review of regulatory landscape. Excellent review of transaction documents.”
“The corporate practice is superb and second to none in Nigeria. Their attention to detail in handling transactions is great.”
“The team had a thorough appreciation of all the issues, showed depth and technical expertise in this transaction. They were also proactive and quick in closing the transaction.”
“Very responsive and knowledgeable.”
Capital markets : Equity
“Sound technical knowledge, prompt feedback and proactivity.”
Investment funds
“They are organised, detailed and prompt.”
“Udo Udoma has been professional, dependable, creative and most valuable in their insights, contributions and advice. One could not ask for a better external counsel. The wealth of experience brought into the negotiations and skills deployed to guarantee protection for the client is second to none.”
M&A
“UUBO is a firm that places emphasis on the success of our business. UUBO is always willing to help at little or no notice. The firm sends out training invites to its clients at no charge to the clients. UUBO parades a team of experts on different projects and has staff who are pleasant and always willing to help.”
“The team is professional, efficient and good to work with.”
“I value their ability to provide practical and commercial advice that is tailored to the nuances of specific situations.”
“Commercially savvy and solution focused.”
Project development
“The team of lawyers at Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and are great at analysing legal issues while communicating excellently and paying attention to detail. The team has sufficiently helped our business navigate new areas of business by providing sound advisory services.”
Project finance
“They provide prompt responses to emails and detailed and bespoke legal advice. Willing to conduct research and provide advice on operational items, with the goal of breaking issues down for a better understanding of operational teams.”
“They were able to assist in providing proper structuring for the transaction and their drafting skills were top notch.”
“They are responsive and responsible.”
Oluwatobi Akintayo
“Always ready to provide quick and clear feedback to the client. Very agreeable to work with.”
Modupe Balogun
“Modupe is friendly and responsive and is able to assist with complex matters.”
Yinka Edu
“Professional and knowledgeable.”
“Yinka is highly knowledgeable, knows the Nigerian market and fully understands concerns.”
“Knowledgeable, responsive and a problem-solver.”
“Yinka is a very smart lawyer, with a great reputation and experience in M&A/corporate law.”
Joseph Eimunjeze
“Joseph was extremely responsive, very helpful and provided clear and articulate guidance throughout. His advice was much appreciated, especially given both we and the client had limited understanding of the Nigerian legal system.”
Lisa Esamah
“She is very friendly, very helpful, very resourceful and very knowledgeable.”
“She is organised and prompt. She is responsive.”
“She is very proactive. Always willing to go the extra mile to meet deadlines and provide quality deliverables. She's approachable and very reachable at all times. She's an excellent and value-adding person to have on any transaction.”
“Lisa is super-responsive and prompt in her feedback. She has sound technical knowledge of my business and how to support on transactions.”
“She is attentive, detailed, and seeks to provide innovative solutions.”
“Great responsiveness.”
“Sound knowledge of the capital market and the law.”
“Personable and knowledgeable.”
“Lisa is intelligent, innovative and able to quickly resolve complex commercial issues within the stipulated timeframe.”
“Lisa is intelligent, innovative and able to quickly resolve complex commercial issues within the stipulated timeframe.”
“Knowledgeable about her field. Always meets deadlines.”
Godson Iwuozo
“Provides timely advice and is responsive and responsible.”
Ozofu Latunde Ogiemudia
“Always available to provide timely, practical advice.”
“She has knowledge of our business, is solution-oriented, and maintains relationship management.”
Nicholas Okafor
“He is very knowledgeable and always innovative in proffering solutions. His commitment to his clients is total.”
“Sound judgement, deep analytical mind, knowledge, negotiation skills, experience, expertise, professionalism, passion – you name it, he has got it! He is excellent at using all of these to give clients the best advisory experience.”
“He is an astute legal professional who is versed in diverse subject matter. He is well acquainted with our business providing sound legal risk assessment. His attention to detail is second to none. He is well-rounded and experienced with a strong work ethic. His experience is displayed in his sound analytical and creative problem-solving skills.”
Onyinye Okafor
“Onyinye pays attention to details and is highly knowledgeable on debt capital market transactions.”
“She is very comfortable and suave in selling difficult opinions that others consider unpopular. She's very friendly too.”
Chisom Okolie
“Very resourceful and responsive.”
“Chisom was extremely responsive, very helpful and provided clear and articulate guidance throughout. His advice was much appreciated, especially given both we and the client had limited understanding of the Nigerian legal system.”
Pamela Onah
“She provides quick response to issues and has vast knowledge of the issues under review.”
Ekundayo Onajobi
“Professionalism.”
Victor Samuel
“Victor attends to emails and calls promptly with effective and efficient responses to queries. Victor thinks out of the box and on his feet. Victor is also very willing to go out of his way to ensure he provides value.”
Adeola Sunmola
“She is well versed with capital market industry knowledge and pays attention to details, which has been of great service to us.”
Tomisin Taiwo
“Very responsive and very knowledgeable. Expert in her field.”
