ǼLEX’ Intellectual Property Practice is recognized as one of the leading IP practices in Nigeria. The firm was recognised by WTR 1000 in its 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 rankings.
We handle all matters (both of a contentious and non-contentious nature) relating to trademarks, patents, copyright, franchising, licensing, distributorship agreements and technology transfer. We file trademark, patent and design applications in Nigeria and Ghana directly, as well as in OAPI countries through an agent. We also have considerable experience in civil and criminal actions against infringement.
We have a network of firms in other directions with whom we offer bilateral intellectual property portfolio management services.
We provide advisory services to companies across different sectors, including technology, media, liquor, pharmaceutical that are looking to protect their IP. We also offer investigative services to clients whose products are being adulterated and sold locally. In addition, we assist our clients with the registration of their products with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
We manage the portfolio of over 200 companies (and over 1,000,000 marks, designs, copyrights, patents), across Nigeria and Ghana.
Some of our assignments include:
- Advised The Coca-Cola Company on its acquisition of 100% equity in C.H.I Limited, one of Nigeria's leading producers and distributors of dairy and juice products. Amongst other things, this transaction involved the restructuring of IP ownership between both companies and conducting due diligence on about 134 trademarks in Nigeria, Ghana and OAPI.
- Represented Sproxil Inc. in a patent infringement action instituted against it at the Federal High Court. The Plaintiff claims that Sproxil's Mobile Authentication System (“MAS”), in respect of which Sproxil has a registered patent in Nigeria, infringes on the Plaintiff's earlier registered patent.
- Represented Sproxil Inc. in a copyright infringement matter instituted against the company at the Federal High Court. The Plaintiff claims that Sproxil's MAS infringes on its right to the same invention which he claims he has protected as a copyright.
- We maintain the registration of trademarks owned by many multinational companies including Mondelez International Inc., Kraft Heinz Company, Volvo, Abbott Laboratories, BASF SE, Dell Inc., Red Bull, Huawei, Lenovo and Kentucky Fried Chicken. We have continued to handle the trademark portfolio of most of these companies for over 10 years, which is an indication of the expertise of the firm, as well as the quality and depth of our practice.
- Filing notices of opposition on behalf of the International Olympics Committee and several other companies to prevent registration of similar trademarks.
- Assisting an international retail company with obtaining an approval of the renewal of its franchise agreement with its Nigerian subsidiary from the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (“NOTAP”).
- Assisting a leading confectionery company with the review of a management services, trademark licence and product formula licence agreement for compliance with the requirements for registration with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion.
Financed and contributed to the organization of stakeholders’ workshop for the review of a new draft IP law at the National Assembly.
AELEX provides bono services to startups and accelerators as it assists these companies in registering their intellectual property to ensure that they have adequate protection for their rights.
Headline firm responsible for the drafting of the recently passed Nigeria Startup Act 2022. Provisions bordering on protection of IP and incentives for startups were also introduced in the Act.
