The energy and power sector in Nigeria is a vital pillar of national development, yet it remains one of the most legally complex and highly regulated industries. At Smith & Partners LP, we provide strategic legal advisory and transactional support across the entire energy value chain—from upstream oil and gas to renewable energy, power generation, transmission, and distribution.

Our firm represents multinational oil and gas companies, independent power producers (IPPs), state governments, investors, EPC contractors, and project financiers. We advise on licensing, joint ventures, production sharing contracts, environmental compliance, and infrastructure development. We also provide regulatory due diligence for energy investments and represent clients in energy-related disputes and arbitration.

One of our partners was part of the legal team that advised on the structuring of a multi-billion-naira gas-to-power project involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a foreign investor consortium. The engagement involved negotiating a Gas Supply and Aggregation Agreement (GSAA), drafting Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and advising on sovereign risk mitigation under the World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee framework.

We are currently advising a renewable energy startup on licensing, tariff structuring, and regulatory compliance for off-grid solar electrification projects under the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Our services include drafting project finance documents and EPC contracts, as well as advising on carbon credit opportunities under international frameworks.

Our team has also advised state governments on the implementation of the recently amended constitutional provisions that allow sub-national entities to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity. We were instrumental in crafting enabling laws and regulatory frameworks for a state electricity commission, ensuring harmonization with federal laws and NERC guidelines.

In oil and gas, we routinely provide legal audits and due diligence for asset acquisitions, including farm-in and farm-out agreements. We recently acted for a downstream company in the acquisition of bulk storage and distribution infrastructure, ensuring regulatory compliance with the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

Energy-related disputes demand specialized knowledge of technical operations, regulatory frameworks, and contract risk allocation. Our litigation and arbitration team has represented clients in gas supply disputes, project delays, and compensation claims arising from exploration activities.

At Smith & Partners LP, we bring deep industry insight and robust legal expertise to support the commercial success and legal sustainability of energy and power projects. Our goal is to ensure that our clients are not only compliant but commercially competitive in a rapidly evolving sector.