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Diplomatic legal protection.

Specialised legal support for diplomatic missions, consular posts, foreign principals and international institutions operating in Nigeria.

Why this matters

Immunity is a posture, not a defence to be discovered at trial.

Diplomatic and consular protection operates inside a narrow corridor — the Vienna Conventions, the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act, the commercial-activity exception, and the protocols of the host Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Missteps are expensive: privileges asserted late are privileges assumed waived. The firm advises with that corridor mapped from day one.

— Diplomatic protection bench

Services

What the firm covers in this practice.

Mandates run as a standing retainer for missions, ad-hoc representation on a specific matter, or on-call support for a sensitive incident.

Phase 01

Privileges & immunities

  • Immunity advisory

    Scope, exceptions and waiver positions under the Vienna framework.

  • Consular legal matters

    Notarial, consular and administrative work for posts.

  • Mission establishment & closure

    Property, staff, registration and protocol arrangements.

  • Staff & family matters

    Status, dependants and accidents on Nigerian territory.

Phase 02

Representation

  • Cross-border representation

    Coordinated representation in Nigeria and home-state courts.

  • Commercial-activity defence

    Where missions enter the commercial-activity exception.

  • Property & tenancy

    Mission property disputes, leases and possession matters.

  • Employment of locally-engaged staff

    NICN exposure and host-country employment law.

Phase 03

Liaison & resolution

  • Protocol liaison

    MFA, immigration and security agency engagement.

  • Incident response

    Discreet handling of arrests, accidents and reputational risk.

  • Quiet settlement

    Closing matters without a public docket where commercially possible.

  • Compliance counsel

    Host-state law compliance for the mission and its principals.

Approach

How a diplomatic legal protection brief moves through the firm.

Four steps. Click any one to see the artifacts produced.

Step 01 · Artifacts

Brief & posture

  • Privileges memo
  • Status note
  • Posture recommendation
  • Engagement letter

Step 02 · Artifacts

External engagement

  • Note verbale (draft)
  • MFA correspondence
  • Counterparty letter
  • Court appearance brief

Step 03 · Artifacts

Negotiation / litigation

  • Settlement deed
  • Without-prejudice exchange
  • Pleadings (if litigated)
  • Closure memo

Step 04 · Artifacts

Standing watching brief

  • Quarterly risk brief
  • Property & tenancy register
  • Staff matter log
  • Compliance calendar

Who we represent

Clients the firm acts for in this practice.

A representative — not exhaustive — list of the clients the firm accepts mandates from under diplomatic legal protection.

Embassies & high commissions Consular posts International organisations Foreign principals Honorary consuls Trade missions Diplomatic family offices Visiting officials & delegations
A Nigerian lawyer and a foreign diplomat in conversation over a note verbale document, national flags in the background.
Diplomatic missions, consular posts and their accredited personnel form the spine of the firm’s diplomatic legal practice.

What success looks like

The outcomes the firm aims for.

01

Privileges asserted in time and in form

Position taken before waiver can be argued — never after.

02

Sensitive matters resolved without a docket

Quiet representation that closes the file without public proceedings.

03

Commercial-activity exposure managed

Where exception applies, defended on commercial law without prejudicing privileges.

04

Mission operations protected

Property, staff and family matters handled with the protocol relationship intact.

Bench on this matter

Partner-led from intake.

The named partners on a diplomatic file are the partners who run it. Associates assist; they do not replace.

Oba Olufon, SAN

Senior partner · diplomatic protection

Leads diplomatic and consular mandates — including sensitive incident response and standing retainers for missions.

Partner, diplomatic

Partner · protocol & liaison

MFA, immigration and protocol liaison for missions, consular posts and international organisations.

Engage the firm

Brief us on a diplomatic matter.

Initial consultations are confidential and handled at partner level. You’ll leave with a clear view of the privileges position and the recommended posture.

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