Technology, Media & Digital Economy
Cutting-edge legal services for technology companies, media organizations, and digital economy businesses navigating innovation, regulation, and growth.
We support our Clients with:
Notable Experience
Fintech Securitisation Financings
Advised and acted on behalf of multiple fintechs on the negotiation and closing of senior structured securitisation financings of over $250 million, from international investors.
Venture Capital Transactions for Technology Companies
Advised and acted on behalf of multiple tech companies and venture capital investors, in connection with the drafting, negotiation and closing of multiple venture capital investments, including Series A & B Financings.
Nigerian Market Entry for Fintech Unicorn
Advised a leading fintech unicorn on market entry into Nigeria, including regulatory compliance, obtaining all necessary licenses, and establishing local operations in accordance with Nigerian legal and commercial frameworks.
Insights & Updates
Avoiding Permanent Establishment Risk - Nigeria's New Dependent Agents Rule
Presidential Order 5 has thrown up an array of contracting structures between local promoters and foreign OEMs and partners looking to bid for government contracts. These contractual arrangements are increasingly subject of litigation both from a taxation point of view and from the standpoint of counterparty liability and risk. Nigeria wholly consumes foreign technology and as such it is expected that such collaborations will continue.
Nigeria’s Proposed Internet & Social Media Regulation: Key Takeways
Nigeria has recently published a draft of its proposed social media laws. There are important thematic similarities between Nigeria’s social media laws and the proposed H.B. 20 in Texas, the European Digital Services Act, the UK Online Safety Bill and the Indian Intermediary Rules.
Why is the Nigerian SEC Regulating Digital Assets? What Do Fintechs Need to Know?
The Securities & Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has an inherent economic role of facilitating capital formation, meaning, from an economic standpoint, the SEC is also partly responsible for finding and regulating new and innovative ways by which members of the public pool capital together to invest in and promote economic activity. Within that context, the SEC’s decision to
Closing Technology Mergers & Acquisitions in Nigeria
Acquiring high-growth technology companies in Africa presents an opportunity for scale-ups and strategic investors to acquire more customers, increase revenue and also become more attractive to trade buyers or public markets. Our work with firms in the tech industry...
New Rules for Operating a Fintech in Nigeria
Between 2020 & 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made significant changes to the legal and regulatory framework around the establishment and operation of Fintech companies in Nigeria. While a wave of reactions have trailed the recent changes by the CBN, we think
Buy Now Pay Later Offerings in Nigeria: Some Market Entry Considerations (Nigeria)
Africa presents an interesting proposition for point-of-sale financings commonly referred to as Buy Now Pay Later financing (BNPL). However, there are ..
Registering a Nigerian Venture Fund: Some Key Issues
Nigeria’s venture capital rules do not appear to have been designed to attract modern venture capital. That’s concerning because venture capital fund managers perform an ..
Twitter Suspension in Nigeria: Some Key Policy & Legal Considerations for Web Platforms
Nigeria has no legal or regulatory construct similar to Section 230 (c) (1) & (2)[1]. The implication is that, providers of interactive computer services (“Platforms”) will likely be treated by ..
Six Operational & Time-Critical Takeaways From Nigeria's Open Banking Regulations
Nigeria's Central Bank deserves some commendation for publishing a well thought-out Open Banking Framework. Here are 6 (six) compliance/operational and time-cri...
Why Would Nigerian Courts Disagree with the Nigerian Central Bank on Cryptocurrency Regulation?
One may disagree with the approach of the Central Bank of Nigeria to regulating cryptocurrencies but Nigerian courts are not likely disagree. Here are 3 reasons why
The Safeboda Data Privacy Breach Decision: Some Key Takeaways
The latest decision by the data privacy regulator in Uganda[1] (NITA-U) is instructive for technology companies in Nigeria, for the NITDA[2] and for data privacy regulators across Africa.
S.E.C. Crowdfunding or Venture Capital Financing - Which One Works?
Perhaps, one of the most important decisions you can make as a Nigerian founder/business owner is that decision around the type of investor from whom to raise money and ...