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Corporate & commercial

Building and running the company.

Commercial advice on forming companies, doing deals, staying compliant and structuring the relationships that hold a business together, across three jurisdictions.

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The best corporate advice is quiet. Deals close on time, ownership is clear, governance holds under pressure, and disputes that might have arisen simply do not. Achieving that takes more than templates. It takes lawyers who understand both the legal framework and the commercial purpose behind every clause.

We advise founders, established businesses and investors from formation through growth, transactions and beyond. With offices in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and Canada, we are well placed to structure companies and deals that operate cleanly across borders, and to be a steady adviser as your business evolves.

What we help with

From first share to final deal.

01

Company structuring

Choosing and building the right corporate structure for your goals, tax position and growth plans.

02

Mergers & acquisitions

Guiding buyers and sellers through due diligence, negotiation and completion of transactions.

03

Shareholder & partnership agreements

Setting out rights, responsibilities and exit terms so relationships remain clear and disputes are avoided.

04

Corporate governance

Advising boards and directors on duties, compliance and the decisions that keep a company sound.

05

Joint ventures

Structuring and documenting collaborations so each party’s contribution and return are protected.

06

Commercial contracts

Drafting and negotiating the agreements that govern how your business buys, sells and partners.

A company’s structure is its quiet architecture. Get it right and it carries the business for years. Get it wrong and every later decision pushes against it.

The Old Stone Legal approach

The law where you are

Company law across our jurisdictions.

The same commercial instinct, applied through each jurisdiction’s company framework.

Nigeria

CAMA 2020, Corporate Affairs Commission

  • Companies are formed and regulated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.
  • The Corporate Affairs Commission administers incorporation and post-incorporation filings.
  • Foreign companies generally require local registration before carrying on business.

United Kingdom

Companies Act 2006, Companies House

  • Company formation, filings and registers are administered through Companies House.
  • Directors’ duties and governance are set out in the Companies Act 2006.
  • An English entity is a common vehicle for international holding and trading.

Canada

Federal and Manitoba incorporation

  • Businesses may incorporate federally through Corporations Canada or under Manitoba law.
  • Each route carries different reach, reporting and residency considerations.
  • We advise on the vehicle that best fits your operations and plans.

How we work with you

From objective to ongoing counsel.

01

Understand the objective

We start with your commercial goal, not the paperwork, so the structure and documents serve the outcome you want.

02

Structure & document

We design the right structure and prepare clear, robust agreements that anticipate how relationships may change.

03

Execute the transaction

We manage diligence, negotiation and completion so deals close cleanly and on schedule.

04

Ongoing support

We remain available as your business grows, helping you stay compliant and ready for what comes next.

Common questions

Corporate law, answered.

It depends on your goals, ownership, funding plans and the jurisdictions you operate in. The right structure balances liability protection, tax efficiency, flexibility and credibility with partners and investors. We assess your circumstances and recommend a structure built for where you are heading, not just where you are now.
Yes. Market entry is a core part of our work. We advise on the right vehicle, handle incorporation and registration, and address the licensing, governance and compliance steps each jurisdiction requires, coordinating across our offices where a business is entering more than one market.
A shareholders’ agreement sets out how decisions are made, how shares can be transferred, and what happens if an owner wants to leave or a dispute arises. Putting these terms in place while relationships are good is one of the most effective ways to prevent costly conflict later.
Yes. We act for buyers and sellers across the full transaction, from initial structuring and due diligence through negotiation of the sale documents to completion, and we advise on the integration and post-completion matters that follow.

Related services

Business registration Intellectual property Contract disputes International law

Speak with us

Build on a sound legal footing.

Whether you are forming a company, doing a deal or planning growth, a senior lawyer can help you structure it well.

Book a consultation