Yahaya Maikori Entertainment Lawyer of the Year Nigeria

Firm Profile

Entertainment & Leisure Practice Our solicitors have first hand industry experience in various aspects of entertainmentlaw; we are active members of the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (IAEL) and the IBA entertainment and IP committee, which keeps us on top of contemporary entertainment issues.

Film & TV Nigerian Film industry, reputed to be the 2nd biggest movie industry in the world has witnessed phenomenal growth in recent times. DSTV – Africa’s premium cable network has Africa Magic 1,2,3, – all dedicated to indigenous Nigeria films &drama.

From home videos we are now witnessing an elite crop of filmmakersdeploying more resources and showcasing their movies in cinemas across Africa and the rest of the world.

These developments have spurned the need for well- informed and specialized legal services to handle complicated matters, which cut across financing, distribution, production etc

We represent broadcasters, studios, independent

producers, financiers, distributors and individual talent across the film and TV industry; from the inception of a project through its development/production,to its ultimate distribution.

Services include: • Development: option/purchase of screenplays, literary material and life story rights; commissioning writers; securing development financing;

• Financing: co-production arrangements; equity investments; bank gap-financing, discounting and security;

• Production: producer, director, cast and crew arrangements; visual and special effects; production and post-production facilities; location arrangements and music licenses’; sale and leaseback re-financing; completion bond arrangements;

• Distribution: distribution/sales agency terms; film and programme sales and acquisition; format right sales and acquisition;

• Talent: actor, director, writer, producer and individual talent deals; term deals; first look arrangements.

Music The Nigeria Music industryhas also witnessed tremendous growth, dominating airplay in most of Africa as well as wining most of the pan African music awards. The proliferation of such reputable music broadcast networks like MTV base Africa, Traceand Channel O etc has greatly impacted on the growth of industry and brought about a convergence of African music .

The growth of digital world means music can be accessed via a range of channels, through a variety of platforms and played on numerous devices; as a mobile phone app or download, streamed on a social networking site, featured in a video game, or broadcast in an advert or full-length feature film.

This new environment has created both threats and opportunities that can be both protected or exploited.

We represent and advise artists, publishers, record labels, and producers in a wide range of these emerging situations.

Services include: • Structuring and drafting detailed distribution, licensing, label agreements

• Negotiation of the commercial and financial terms of record deals

• Structuring and drafting detailed recording agreements

• Business Affairs facility • Expert advice on the commercial terms of management agreements

• Structuring and drafting detailed management agreements

• Management of the band’s assets (including its name)

• Changes in a band’s membership • Negotiating endorsement, management contracts etc

• Litigation Licensing and distribution of music online and in the mobile environment

• Rights management and protection • Licensing music into film, TV, video and computer games

Gaming Recent efforts by the Federal and some of the state governments to enact industry specific legislation for both the Lottery and Gambling industries has catalysed the entrance of several international gaming and lottery companies in Nigeria.

Law Allianz has been a key player in providing advisory services to operators and concerned government

agencies. We work with the leading names in the industry as well as new start-up companies on all matters relating to online gaming, licensing, distribution and regulation.

Our clients include casinos, bookmakers and lottery com- panies; Wecurrently actas counsel to the Association Casino and Slot machine Operators in Nigeria (ACSON).

Sports We have advised on both national and international Sporting events, event organisers, agencies, clubs and teams and individual sportsmen.

Our services includeidentifying, creatingand managing clients’Intellectual Property portfolio as well as protecting same againstany form of infringement or passingoff.

Our attorneys have been involved in negotiating and drafting contracts,media rightsaudits, domestic and international rights protection, sports data, brand packaging, anti ambush marketingstrategies , betting, publishing deals, DVD distribution arrangements and sponsorship.

Services: • Sports broadcasting and new media in the digital era, in conjunction with the leading specialists in our media team

• Strategies for sports governing bodies and organizations looking to exploit their rights

• Brand protection and licensing programmes • Sponsorship • Event management, innovative ticketing solutions and affinity schemes

• Player representation, image rights and personal wealth management

• Corporate governance, guidance through the regulatory labyrinth and sports dispute resolution • Stadia and other property related transactions

About Salah Dakhlaoui

Yahaya is a transactional and investment solicitor who seats on several Boards; he is in charge of coordinating the various practice areasof the firm and has extensive experience in Corporate/

Commercial

Practice and entertainment Law particularly the gaming sectors.

Notable Transactions: Advised BIDCO in its acquisition of majority shares in Jos International breweries Plc.

Advised Mcubed Employee Benefits of its entrance in the Nigerian market and its eventual divestment

Advised First Alliance Pension & Benefits Limited in its Merger with ARM Pension Limited Chief

Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2013 legal consultant to Nigeria 2014 Commonwealth GamesBid Committee

Advised NITDA on the legal framework for managing its Top Level Domain Country Code(TLDcc).

Career: Senior Partner – Law Allianz

2008

Company Secretary – First Alliance Pension & Benefits Limited

2005 – 2008 Legal Adviser – Aso Savings and Loans Plc 1999 – 2001

EDUCATION University of London (LLM)

Nigerian Law School, Lagos (BL) 2010 1992 – 1993

Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile – Ife (LLB) 1989– 1992 Email: yahaya@lawallianz.com

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