G Elias & Co is a business law firm in Nigeria. The firm was founded in 1994 and has grown to have offices in Lagos and Abuja. The firm is led by 9 partners and has 33 associates supporting them. The firm is a member of Multilaw, an alliance of global law firms.

Focusses / specialisms

The firm has a strong practice across most ranked categories for Nigeria, achieving top tier ranking in banking, debt and equity capital markets, M&A, and infrastructure projects.

Key clients

The firm has developed strong relationships within the banking practice with Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Infracredit Guarantee Company, Standard Chartered Bank, ICBC Standard Bank, Credit Suisse, and African Export-Import Bank.

In the capital markets space the firm has connections with Transcorp, BUA Cement, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Dufil Prima Foods, Constant Capital Markets and Securities Limited, Lagos State Government, First Bank of Nigeria, Sterling Bank, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, Citigroup, Chapel Hill Denham Advisory, AIICO Insurance, Dunn Loren Merrifeld Asset Management and Research Company, and Food Concepts.

In M&A G Elias & Co has ties with MTN Nigeria Communications, Shell International, Cement Company of Norther Nigeria, China Harbour Engineering Company, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Tolaram Africa, and Lanka Orix Leasing Company.

In project development the firm has relationships with Lagos State Government, China Harbour Engineering Company, Green Energy, Chevron, BUA International, Siemens Energy, Dar Al-Handasah, Summit Oil International, and CCETC Ossiomo Power Company. 

In project finance the firm has connections with EDFI (European Development Finance Institutions), African Import-Export Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, AMNI International Petroleum Development, and Ariel Foods.

Research period review: 34th edition (2024/2025)

During the research period, the firm was active in banking, debt and equity capital markets, M&A, project development and project finance.

In banking the firm worked on financings and loans including acquisition and trade financings mainly for lenders in the banking, financial services and oil and gas sectors.

In debt capital markets the firm worked on bond and note issuances for mainly issuers connected with the financial services, consumer goods and services, government, and banking sectors.

In equity capital markets the firm worked on IPOs and secondary share offerings such as rights issue, private placement of shares and share capital increase for clients connected mostly with the banking, food and beverage, and financial services sectors.

In M&A the firm worked on acquisitions, divestments, financial investments, and joint ventures for clients linked to the financial services, insurance, technology, healthcare and energy sectors.

In project development the firm worked on energy and infrastructure projects for clients in the oil and gas, renewable energy, construction, infrastructure, banking and financial services sectors.

In project finance the firm worked on financings for mainly lenders in the banking, oil and gas, renewable energy, and financial services sectors.

Deal highlights: 34th edition (2024/2025)

In debt capital markets, the firm advised on the market first USD 2 billion bond progaramme and the issuance of up to US$500 million as Series 1 bond issuance by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Debt Management Office (“DMO”). 

The firm advised Shell International B. V. on the divestment of one hundred per cent  of its shares in Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria to Renaissance Africa Energy Holding. This transaction represents one of the largest ever in the petroleum sector in Nigeria. 

The firm also advised Transcorp Power Plc on listing its 7.5bn shares on the main board of the Nigerian Exchange Group. The listing of the Company was the first listing on the Nigerian Capital Market for the year 2024.

Client Feedback: 34th edition (2024/2025)

"G Elias has deep financial market experience and its advice is succinct and pragmatic." - Asset finance

"Thorough legal due diligence process." - Capital Markets

"Maintained professionalism and integrity throughout the process." - Capital Markets

"Deep expertise. succinct and to the point. pragmatic advice that is easy to use / implement." - Professor Elias