Godson Ugochukwu, SAN, FCIArb.
Godson is a graduate of the University of Nigeria. He was elevated to the rank of SAN on the 28th of November, 2022. He has several years of wide-ranging experience in Corporate, Company, and Commercial Practice, including Insolvency Law, Information Technology (IT) Law (where he renders extensive advisory and documentation services), Oil & Gas, Admiralty Law, Aviation Law, Taxation, Banking Law, Civil and Commercial Litigation, Arbitration, and Criminal Law.
Godson has been involved in advising and rendering legal services on various foreign investments in Nigeria.
He led the team that advised a German manufacturer of household goods in its investment in Nigeria, in partnership with three local companies, resulting in the investment of USD 5 million by the German company.
He led the team that advised a group of local investors in an N1.3 Billion purchase of real estate from the Federal Government.
Advised a Chinese manufacturer of smartphones and smartphones applications in its investment of USD 25 million in the Nigerian telecommunications industry;
Advised an American coffee manufacturer in its partnership with a Nigerian agro-allied company via a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in their multi-million dollar investment in coffee bean production in Ivory Coast and Ghana;
Led the team that advised a Swiss manufacturer of household goods in successfully raising equity through private placement by its Nigerian subsidiary and acted for the same company throughout the process of its listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange;
Godson has advised on countless syndicated loan transactions both among local banks and between local and foreign banks. He has wide continental experience in commercial agreements and negotiations and International Trade Law. He also has outstanding credits in the area of commercial and civil litigation and has a very consistent practice in all the superior courts in Nigeria.
Advises various Nigerian and foreign blue chip companies and investment firms on diverse issues in Nigerian Tax Law and represents clients at the various Tax Tribunals across the country.
Godson is also in very high demand as a Barrister. He constantly acts as Lead Counsel in the litigation of varied, complex commercial and criminal matters and maintains consistent appearances before the various High Courts, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. He is the Principal Partner of the Firm and also heads the firm’s Dispute Resolution practice. He regularly serves as a party/court-appointed arbitrator on various arbitration panels. He also represents parties. Godson has quite a stellar reputation in debt recovery and insolvency practice. He has acted for many banks and financial institutions as a debt recovery agent and lead counsel in the facilitation of the works of creditor-appointed Receiver/Managers. Recently, Godson (and Fortress Solicitors) have just been handpicked upon strong recommendation to join a consortium of only 3 (three) full-service law firms specially set up to advise the umbrella body of all investors in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) on their various contractual and dispute resolution issues. This consortium constantly reviews, advises and undertakes major, industry-wide impact litigation for all the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs). Godson is very highly regarded in the area of International Commercial Arbitration. He regularly acts as party-appointed counsel as well as a panel member or sole arbitrator in local and international arbitration, including investor-state arbitration.
Godson is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the African Arbitration Association (AFAA), the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association (BRIPAN), the Swiss-Chinese Law Association (SCLA) , the Chinese- European Arbitration Association (CEAA), International Bar Association, and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK. He is also a member of the Arbitration, Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law, and Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions Law Committees of the International Bar Association. Godson serves on the Board of some companies whose areas of operation span many areas of the economy. He is also currently the Chairman of Guinea Insurance Plc., a public-quoted Nigerian insurance company and an industry leader with over sixty years of existence in Nigeria.