Financial Intermediation
We act as trusted independent and real-time advisors to financial institutions like banks as well as a variety of sophisticated and institutional investors, including investment banking firms, venture capital firms, accelerators and incubators, angel investors, endowments, pension funds and insurance firms. Our financial intermediation practice combines deep industry knowledge with comprehensive legal expertise, serving clients across Nigeria and Africa. We provide strategic counsel on Corporate & Private Banking, Fund Formation & Fund Operations, Legal Due Diligence, Mergers & Acquisitions, helping businesses navigate complex regulatory frameworks and achieve their commercial objectives.
Our team understands the unique challenges facing companies in this sector and delivers practical, business-focused solutions that protect client interests while facilitating growth and innovation. With extensive experience representing leading companies, financial institutions, and investors in financial intermediation matters, Balogun Harold has established itself as a trusted advisor in this sector. Our team's deep understanding of Nigerian law, combined with international best practices, enables us to deliver strategic counsel that helps clients maintain competitive advantage while ensuring regulatory compliance. We work closely with clients to develop comprehensive legal strategies that align with their business goals and support long-term success in Nigeria's dynamic market. Our financial intermediation practice combines deep industry knowledge with comprehensive legal expertise, serving clients across Nigeria and Africa. We provide strategic counsel on Corporate & Private Banking, Fund Formation & Fund Operations, Legal Due Diligence, Mergers & Acquisitions, Regulatory Guidance & Licenses, Leveraged & Acquisition Finance, helping businesses navigate complex regulatory frameworks and achieve their commercial objectives.
Our team understands the unique challenges facing companies in this sector and delivers practical, business-focused solutions that protect client interests while facilitating growth and innovation. We work with leading corporations, financial institutions, and investors to structure transactions, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage legal risks effectively. With extensive experience representing clients in financial intermediation matters, Balogun Harold has established itself as a trusted advisor in this sector. Our team's deep understanding of Nigerian law, combined with international best practices, enables us to deliver strategic counsel that helps clients maintain competitive advantage while ensuring regulatory compliance. We work closely with clients to develop comprehensive legal strategies that align with their business goals and support long-term success in Nigeria's dynamic market. Our approach emphasizes proactive risk management, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning, enabling clients to make informed decisions and achieve their business objectives.
We support our Clients with:
Notable Experience
Partial Risk Guaranteed Standby Letter of Credit
Advised a leading investment bank on a Partial Risk Guaranteed Standby Letter of Credit to be issued by the investment bank acting as L/C Issuing Bank under a USD$150 million Reimbursement and Credit Agreement;
Oil and Gas Asset Acquisition Financing
Advised an indigenous commercial bank in relation to a USD$ 200 Million financing to be provided in conjunction with an international financial institution for the acquisition of oil and gas assets;
Broadband Company Refinance Facility
Advised on the USD100million Refinance Facility to an indigenous broadband company to refinance and restructure its existing debt obligations of circa USD80million and fund the construction of a data center;
Diversified Business Group Debt Refinancing
Advised on US$ 60m debt refinancing of a diversified business group with interests in pharmaceutical, energy, industrial plastic packaging, importation and distribution of consumer goods as well as the agricultural sectors;
ECA-Backed Real Estate Development Financing
Advised on US$107 million ECA-backed financing for the construction and development of the first phase of a mixed use real estate development.
Insights & Updates
Venture Capital in Nigeria: Regulatory Requirements for Foreign-Managed Funds Seeking Access to Pension and Institutional Capital
The growth of venture capital in Nigeria has increasingly attracted foreign-managed funds seeking to deploy capital into the Nigerian market. However, while market entry is often the primary focus for such funds, a more consequential issue centers around access to domestic institutional capital, particularly pension funds and other regulated investors.
Blind Trusts in Nigeria: Key Structuring Considerations
Reflecting on a recent client engagement involving the structuring of blind trusts, we observed a common misconception that blind trust vehicles are primarily tools for illicit transactions. In reality, when properly implemented, a blind trust is a sophisticated instrument of transparency and compliance.
The Nigerian Overnight Financing Rate (NOFR) : Key Considerations for Corporate Borrowers.
As designed, the NOFR is designed to serve as a transaction-based reference rate reflecting actual overnight funding conditions in the Nigerian money market. For corporate borrowers, this development is significant not because it immediately changes loan obligations, but because it signals a gradual shift toward benchmark-driven pricing of credit facilities.
11PLC vs Milan Industries Limited - Key Lending Considerations
The facts and recent Supreme Court decision in 11PLC vs Milan Industries Limited are instructive for bank lenders. We highlight some key transaction considerations below.
Data controllers and Data Processors in Nigeria: Key Liability Considerations
This article explains why the distinction is necessary, how it operates in practice, and the legal and commercial consequences of misclassification.
What is a Venture Studio?
Unlike traditional venture capital firms or incubators, venture studios function as active co-founders, originating business ideas, validating them, assembling teams, and deploying capital and operational support to launch companies in a structured and repeatable manner
Fintech Mergers and Acquisitions in Nigeria: Key Considerations for Investors
In this legal update, we draw on our recent mandates advising on fintech mergers and acquisitions in Nigeria to highlight the issues that are increasingly determining deal outcomes.
The New 200M Minimum Capital for VCs in Nigeria - Market Considerations
On 16 January 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Circular No. 26‑1, raising the minimum share capital for venture capital (VC) fund managers in Nigeria from ₦20 million to ₦200 million.
Certificate of Capital Importation for Capital Goods and Equipment Imports into Nigeria: Key Considerations for Foreign Investors
Foreign investors entering the Nigerian market are often focused on company registration, tax compliance, and import approvals. However, one critical aspect that is frequently overlooked is the requirement to obtain a Certificate of Capital Importation (CCI) for the importation of capital equipment.
The FIRS-DGFIP Memorandum of Understanding: Key Legal Considerations for NRS
The NRS is subject to strict confidentiality and secrecy obligations under Sections 142 and 143 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), 2025. The general rule mandates the confidentiality and secrecy of all taxpayer information. Under Section 143, taxpayer information may only be shared in the following limited circumstances
Doing Business in Lagos, Nigeria: A Strategic Legal Guide for Investors Entering Africa’s Fastest-Growing Market
With a population exceeding 18 million people, Lagos is a megacity that generates roughly 20% of Nigeria’s GDP, making it one of the most important sub-national economies on the continent. In November 2025, the Lagos State Government announced a proposed budget of ₦4.237 trillion, the largest by any sub-national government in Nigeria, signalling a bold, infrastructure-led development agenda
Social Media Platforms in Nigeria - Navigating Competition Enforcement Risk
Without clear guidance on digital markets from the FCCPC, digital markets are at risk of being mischaracterized by regulators. For example, a platform’s decision not to roll out a service in a particular region driven by strategic, technical, or economic considerations could be misconstrued as anti-competitive exclusion.