In this era of digitization and globalization, where every little thing is now digital and data driven, there are many businesses that face several problems in international business transactions. New business opportunities are being created every second, but then again these have also given rise to new legal problems. With respect to the form of contracts and its enforceability have become much more complex owing to rapid globalization and digitization.
Featuring in The Business Fame’s this issue of The 10 Most Influential Entrepreneurs to Follow in 2022 is Emmanuel Ekpenyong, an expert lawyer in international trade advisory.
About Emmanuel-
Emmanuel Ekpenyong Esq. FCIArb. (UK) is the Managing Partner of Fred-Young & Evans LP, a full-service commercial law firm in Nigeria, and Fred-Young Recoveries, an international debt collection firm. Emmanuel studied Civil Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria, and the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. He holds an LLM Degree in International Business Law from the University of Liverpool, England.
Emmanuel is a Member of the Nigerian Bar Association, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, United Kingdom and Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management Consultants. He has authored several scholarly works in different areas of law in both local and international journals and engaged in prominent arbitral proceedings and public interest litigations in Nigeria.
Emmanuel has been a Specialist Contributor on the topic “Enforcement of Arbitral Awards and Foreign Judgments in Nigeria” to the book “Contemporary Issues in Law and Society: Legal Essays in Tribute to the Hon. Justice Chinwe E. Iyizoba JCA” of the Court of Appeal. His recent books include “Impact of Nigeria’s Legislations and Business Practices on Foreign Investments.” He recently wrote a thesis titled “Arbitration! A Bane to Prompt Resolution of International Commercial Disputes; A Case of Nigeria.”
The Firm-
Fred-young & Evans LP is a full-service commercial law firm in Nigeria dedicated to providing both local and international clients with prompt and effective legal services within the ethical standards of the legal profession.
“We consistently proffer commercially focused, time and cost effective as well as result oriented legal advice to challenging commercial transactions and disputes.”
The firm is divided into 3 practice groups, namely; Dispute Resolution, Corporate/Commercial and Intellectual property Groups.
Their Dispute Resolution Group represents the firm in negotiation and mediation towards resolving commercial disputes. They represent clients in commercial, civil, labour disputes before all courts and administrative tribunals in Nigeria.
The Group also represents clients in intellectual property matters such as enforcement of intellectual property rights and defending claims of intellectual property infringements at the trademark/patent tribunal.
Fred-Young & Evans’ Corporate/Commercial Group provides consultation on corporate and commercial law matters, including formation of businesses and subsidiaries of foreign companies, joint ventures, share purchase agreement, transfer of technology, company formation in offshore jurisdiction, initial public offers, acquisitions, mergers and power projects. The Group offers advice on fiscal incentives and tax exemptions for new businesses and legal protection for foreign investors. The Group also conducts due diligence searches and regularly advises companies on change in government policies in relation to their businesses.
Their Intellectual Property Group provide legal services in intellectual property matters such as registration of trademarks, copyrights, patents, designs. They also engage in franchise distributorship, agency and license agreements. They identify infringements of various intellectual property rights and offer advice on protection of such rights both domestically and internationally.
“Our Clients benefit from our boutique services as well as our experience in our practice areas.”
While giving the Clients business advice or drafting their agreements, the team anticipates a problem before it becomes a concern or results in a dispute and help their Clients avoid the problem. This is a major differentiating factor from other firms.
The Milestones in the Journey-
The Group’s membership of many international law networks has made it possible for them to measure their services with other industry experts across the globe. This has made them to continually strive to meet international standards by researching on new principles and trends in their practice areas, investing in both local and foreign law books, and participating in international trainings in diverse areas of law in order to improve our service delivery.
“This exposure makes us to render excellence services and offer similar standard of legal service as industry experts in any part of the world.”
The Group is also involved in prominent public interest litigation in Nigeria like the suit by some Federal lawmakers against the President of Nigeria for the Court to declare that the Excess Crude Account is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution; the suit for the Court to compel the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation to promulgate an order to bring Part 1 of the Foreign Judgment Reciprocal Enforcement Act into operation; the suit for the Court to define the extent of the Right to Life of Nigerians; the suit for the Court to declare that some sections of the recent Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 infringes the fundamental human rights of citizens; and the suit for the Court to hold that the President of Nigeria is a person in Nigeria who is subject to the summons of the legislature under its oversight functions to answer questions on steps the executive arm of government has taken to combat the spate of killings in Nigeria.
What the Future Holds-
“Our vision is to continually groom leaders in the field of law to understand and apply modern technology and extant legal principles, trends and techniques as well as international best practices in solving legal problems.”
Each lawyer is trained to have the foresight and think independently. Fred-Young & Evans’ team anticipates the effect of various outcomes and proffer different options to meet the Client’s legal needs. Their Clients benefit from a robust team of industry experts and experienced legal practitioners whose mantles have been proven over the years.
Emmanuel’s Advice to the Budding Entrepreneurs-
“I have a deep zeal to succeed. No matter the obstacles on my way, I always look for a way to surmount my challenges and achieve my aim. During my childhood and in the course of my school and work life, there has been many stumbling blocks on my way but with my great faith in God, perseverance and hard work, I have been able to turn my stumbling blocks to stepping stones.
My first mentor is my late Father, Chief Fredrick Ekpenyong who taught me the value of humility, hard work and perseverance and my Boss, Yemi Candide-Johnson Esq. SAN, FCIArb., who saw my potentials as a new wig, invested in me and nurtured me to be the competent legal practitioner that I am today.
The journey to where we are today started from undergoing pupillage at a reputable law firm. The firm imbibed in me the values of hard work, perseverance and integrity. I was taught the rudiments of legal practice and introduced to networks that have been the basis of our growth today.
When we started our practice, our dedication to our few Clients made them realize our potential which they harnessed by entrusting more tasks to us and referring us to their Clients, friends, and family members. This improved our research on many areas of law towards meeting the legal needs of our Clients. This experience has made us resource persons in our areas of law practice.”
