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: 33rd edition (2023/2024)

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: 33rd edition (2023/2024)

Aba Independent Power Plant $1 billion financing

Ekpat field development

Lagos Metro Rail Transit construction project

Mainstreet Microfinance N2.5 billion bond issue

Titan Trust Bank $300 million financing

United Capital N11.73 billion bond issue

Client Feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)

Banking

“Very knowledgeable and diligent.”

“They provide detailed and high-quality deal documents and excellent and speedy legal due diligence delivery. The team is very responsive and available. They have a deep bench of young but high-quality associates who provided support on various deals simultaneously, and deep domain expertise within the banking and finance, and energy space, which added value to our transactions.”

M&A

“They are well respected and influential in the market and are extremely well versed in the market.”

“G Elias are very experienced in the Nigerian market, and are very technically able and skilled, and use such knowledge appropriately and practically. They are also highly regarded.”

Project development

“They provide extremely useful, professional and technically sound legal opinions.”

“They were able to revert on assignments given to them within stipulated timelines.”

Ayodeji Adeyanju

“Provides good communication and management of our account.”

Gbolahan Elias

“Very knowledgeable about the law, listens, and is innovative about solutions. Also, very thorough.”

“He knows the law very well and is responsive.”

“Great knowledge and skill.”

“Outstanding legal professional.”

Okechukwu Okoro

“He provides detailed and high-quality deal documents and excellent and speedy legal due diligence delivery.”