Energy Law

The Firma Advisory is not just a law and consulting firm — we are a catalyst for a brighter future in Nigeria's energy sector. We stand at the forefront of legal and advisory services, dedicated to transforming Nigeria's energy landscape. We understand the dire need for energy access and energy transparency and accountability, particularly in host communities. With only 45% of Nigerians having usable electricity, the situation is especially dire in host communities, leaving residents disproportionately burdened. This, coupled with the harsh realities of global warming and environmental degradation from extractive industries, has become a defining challenge for the Niger Delta.

Here at The Firma Advisory, our purpose is deeply personal. With 90% of our team hailing from oil-producing states, we have witnessed firsthand the struggles of the Niger Delta people, and have become their advocates of the region through their active participation and unwavering support to policy changes and issues that promote transparency and accountability in the region.

We leverage this deep local understanding alongside a comprehensive grasp of global trends, regulations, and market dynamics in the extractive industries. This unique blend allows us to offer proactive and informed advisory services. We empower stakeholders to make decisions that foster sustainable development and deliver a competitive advantage while prioritizing the well-being of host communities and environmental protection.

For clients within the extractive industries, The Firma Advisory spearheaded negotiations for high-value contracts including Crude Supply and Purchase Agreements, Gas Supply and Purchase Agreements, and Risk Service Agreements valued at over millions of dollars, ensuring favorable terms and mitigating risks. We have demonstrable proficiency in drafting and reviewing a wide range of agreements critical to extractive industries, including Joint Operating Agreements, Shareholders' Agreements, Oil Trading Agreements, and Service Contracts, ensuring alignment with industry standards and client objectives.

The Firma Advisory, committed to addressing implementation challenges of sectoral laws and policies through innovative approaches and establishing robust frameworks, authored the insightful article titled "From Policy to Pipeline: The Evolution of Nigeria’s Gas Sector in the Decade of Gas." This article explores the transformative journey of Nigeria's gas sector, highlighting key policy advancements, operational milestones, and future directions amidst the evolving global energy landscape.

On the invitation of the Ondo State Government, our Managing Partner, Ms. Chinenye Uwanaka was an expert panellist at the Ondo Investment Summit where she discussed the impact of energy, mining and renewable energy on Ondo State’s economy. We also participated in a Public Dialogue on Climate Finance organised by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS) and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development. During this dialogue, our Managing Partner, Chinenye Uwanaka, shared her insights which centered on navigating the complexities of renewable energy transitions within Nigeria's regulatory and fiscal landscapes. Additionally, she emphasized strategies for enhancing accountability through decentralized governance structures in the context of public finance management.

On the invitation of the Canadian government through the Deputy High Commission of Canada to Nigeria, we participated in the Global Energy Show in Calgary, Canada, alongside industry leaders and players from around the world, with a particular focus on key figures in energy transition and technology. This participation supports energy transparency and accountability in the sector, especially as the global shift towards cleaner energy sources and markets continues. We also participated in site visits focused on innovative methane emissions detection and mitigation solutions, and the issue of decarbonization needs was addressed at the Emissions Reduction Theatre at the Global Energy Show. The Firma Advisory also actively participated in the Nigeria- Canada Decarbonization Forum and a special session on optimizing mature assets during the event.

We also participated as a key panellist at the Nigeria International Energy Summit alongside industry players and regulators. The event, themed "From Blueprint to Reality: Navigating Nigeria's Gas Decade and Balanced Narrative on Energy Transition," featured insights from the Managing Partner, who emphasized Nigeria's need for a comprehensive vision for industrialization.She underscored the critical importance of power and energy sectors, as well as the necessity for coherence in laws and policies. Furthermore, she highlighted that the primary challenges lie not in inadequacies of laws and policies, but in Nigeria's rule of law, contract enforcement, and access to justice.

non-renewable energy

The Firma Advisory has established its prowess in the energy sector with its distinctive approach to solving problems, understanding of contemporary issues affecting the sector and an apt arsenal to meet client’s expectations.

The Firma advises both indigenous and international oil companies and have worked with an array of oil companies.

The Firm’s Oil and Gas Practice includes legal & policy advisory services to companies intricate in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons. The firm has an in depth understanding in all facets of oil and gas reserve and resource matters, which include licensing exploration rights and registrations, transportation and storage, advice on arrangements and financing, and advice on leases and Production Sharing Contracts (PSC).

The firm consults on extensive and extractives industry and appraises policy performance including the ongoing industrial reforms.

renewable energy

Our energy pratice also covers the legal, regulatory framework and policy advisory for infinite energy sources like solar, wind, bio-fuels.

ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE & FINANCING

We offer quality advisory expertise in the extensive areas in up-stream, main-stream and down-stream sub-sectors of oil and gas development schemes, the acquisition and disposal of interests in oil and gas fields, marginal fields and other concessions, as well as advisory and transactional constituting work in the project financing of petroleum investments.

CLIMATE CHANGE LAW AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

We recognize that the energy sector is not excempted from the impact of climate change. Hence, we have garnered an understanding of climate change laws including the Climate Change Bill 2017, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) along wih other policies.

We also understand that mitigating the negative impact of climate change is key to achieving sustainable development in the energy sector

energy security & efficiency

Effective implementation of law and policy has a role to play in achieving optimal energy security and efficiency, and we at the Firma are acquianted with tvarious laws and policies in this aspect.