INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY.
The African
Intellectual Property Organisation (Organisation Africaine
de la Proprété Intellectuelle O.A.P.I.) is
the organisation that assumes responsibility for all intellectual
property related matters. Having a membership of sixteen
African States, its headquarters is found in Yaounde, Capital
of Cameroon. Applications lodged in Cameroon are covered
for all the 16 OAPI member states.
Our
Senior Managing Partner, Barrister Nico Halle is also a
Member of the Scientific Committee of the Denis Ekani Intellectual
Property Training Centre at the African Intellectual Property
Organisation (OAPI).
The Nico Halle
and Co. Law Firm also represents clients for Intellectual
Property Protection in ARIPO States and is a member of:
- The International
Trademark Association (INTA);
- Brandstock
Leading Associates.
Our Firm is
amongst the top few licensed (Mandataire Agréé)
Law Firms at OAPI and provides the following services:
A RUN
DOWN OF I.P. SERVICES RENDERED.
(I)
PATENT.
- Drafting and filing patent applications;
- Prosecuting patent applications;
- Requesting re-examination and invalidation;
- Recording assignments and patent licensing contracts;
- Maintenance of patent;
- Instituting legal proceedings against declaration of invalidation
of patent.
(II) TRADEMARK.
The Law Firm advises on and prosecutes the following:
- Trademark search;
- Trademark Applications for Registration;
- Recordal of modifications, assignment, renewals and licensing
contracts;
- Applications for review, opposition and cancellation.
(III)
COPYRIGHT.
- Registration of copyright including computer software;
- Assignment and licensing of copyright including computer
software.
(IV)
LITIGATION.
The Law Firm provides professional advice on infringement
of our clients’ intellectual property rights (patent,
trademarks, copyright and trade secrets).
For
Specific Inquiries on Intellectual Property Matters, contact
our IP Department - Worldwide Intellectual Property Network
(WIPNET Global) at www.wipnetglobal.com
or email: wipnet@hallelaw.com.
CORPORATE
DETECTIVE.
In our continuous effort to curb crime and provide honest
services to our clients, the Nico Halle and Co. Law Firm
has lawyers specialised in detecting fraudulent absconders,
fraudulent declarations to foreign corporations, fraudulent
insurance policies, investigations to criminal corporate
responsibilities, company in-house problems, adduce and
pursue company transactional matters, search on transparency
reports on banks, companies, insurance companies etc. We
provide flexible and comprehensive investigative services
for legal professionals, commerce, industries and general
public in all areas of civil, criminal and personal matters.
Princes, Presidents, Governments, Politicians, Celebrities
and International Corporations have retained our services.
The Law Firm also provides such information on all the 7
member states of the economic community of central African
states. Our detective intelligence report is assured of
absolute confidentiality and reliability.
INSURANCE.
Insurance Law in Cameroon is governed by the CIMA Code known
in French as “Code des Assurances des Etats Membres
de la CIMA.” This Law is applicable throughout the
member states that ratify the Code to wit: The Republic
of Benin, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Republic of Congo, Cote D’Ivoire,
Gabon, Mali, Senegal, Chad, Togo, Equatorial Guinea and
the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comores. This Law has
as its advantages to rationalise a Common Insurance Law
applicable throughout its member states, to reinforce the
protection of the insured, beneficiaries and increase the
victims’ quantum of damages. This Law has the added
advantage of having a comprehensive policy of control of
Insurance Companies and insurance operation throughout the
member states. All member states have a common curriculum
to train Insurance Experts and to meet up with new areas
of Insurance in African States.
With the coming into force of the CIMA Code, our Law Firm
has sponsored lawyers to attend various seminars to better
acquaint themselves with the CIMA Code and its application.
That is why we are proud of expeditious services in obtaining
insurances licences, better compensation to victims, drafting
of Re-insurance contracts, drafting of standard form insurance
policies of various insurance companies, we counsel people
on various options of insurance policies and remuneration,
etc.
COMPANY
MATTERS.
In the globalised world where borders are open, and where
in Cameroon there is the need for regional integration embracing
many states so as to facilitate, with due regard for democratic
principle, freedom of movement of people, the sharing of
experiences and the harmonisation of rules and procedures;
our Law Firm in its usual paramount goal to better secure
the interest of its clients assigns lawyers to attend all
seminars and workshops organised to update members on the
business law in Africa applicable in 16 member countries
abbreviated in French as OHADA. Because of our celebrated
quality services we are specialised in the floating or promotion
of companies and Consultants in the World Bank research
marketing centres.
We
do incorporation and re-incorporation of companies, carry
on feasibility studies to set up companies, we provide foreign
clientele with the laws on investment environment and the
Investment Code of Cameroon. We draw up memoranda and articles
of association of companies, provide share security information
and act as share brokers, lobby for the buying and selling
of shares, if assigned.
The very first operational Stock Exchange Market in the
Central African Sub Region was commissioned in Cameroon
on April 23, 2003 almost three years after its creation.
This was created in response to certain economic exigencies
in the CEMAC Sub Region in a move to diversify financial
sources and encourage savings at the national level. This
institution is already attracting the attention of foreigners
and we advise our clients to take advantage of this novelty.
The
Law Firm advises prospective investors in this domain and
act as brokers in some cases.
BANKING.
The history of Banking in Cameroon is very recent. Before
now, the applicable law has been the pre-colonial French
and English banking laws. Banks in Cameroon are mostly commercial
banks, handling traditional banking functions, by giving
short-term loans and specialised in self-liquidated trade
finance.
The following organisations regulate banking in Cameroon:
-
- The Banking Commission for the 6 Central African member
states known by its French acronym as COBAC.
- The Ministry of the Economy and Finance.
- The National Credit Council (N.C.C.).
- The Central Bank (BEAC).
- The Banking and Credit/Finance Association (APECCAM).
The most authoritative text regulating Banking in Cameroon
and all the other 5 member states is the COBAC text dated
January 17, 1992, which harmonised banking regulations in
the six member states. This text provides for regular controls
of banks, reporting procedures and sanctions to be meted
against those contravening banking regulations, it lays
out certain prudential guidelines for the operation of banks.
To meet up with the modern applicable text of COBAC and
the application of two legal systems of the French Civil
Code and the English Common Law, we have lawyers who are
well schooled in the banking law and the two legal systems.
Because the COBAC law is applicable in the 6 member states,
our Law Firm handles matters in all member states without
any difficulties. Because of our reputation in banking both
national and international we have and are rendering the
following banking services to our clientele: We obtain banking
licences for our clients, we do incorporation of banks,
legal audits of loan contracts and mortgages, we do counselling
on banking loan securities and evaluate collaterals, we
act as banking arbitrators, advise on risk sharing, liquidity
ratios, we have assisted clients to buy over banks by acquisitions.
We counsel and draft merger contracts for banks and micro
financial institutions. We draft memoranda and articles
of association of banks, draft management structure and
propose branch networks to banks.
COMMERCIAL
MATTERS.
The choice of setting up this Law Firm in Douala is because
Douala is the economic capital of Cameroon. One of the main
lucrative areas of practice of this Law Firm is in commercial
matters. This Law Firm has a monthly average of 10 commercial
contracts to negotiate for both its national and foreign
clients. We draft supply contracts mostly to foreign companies
that have local representatives or in any member states
of CIMA. We have the added advantage that Douala is the
main entrance seaport to land-locked countries like Chad
and the Central African Republic. We negotiate and draft
sales agreements. We negotiate and arbitrate on choice of
jurisdiction in international commercial contracts.
ENVIRONMENTAL
LAW.
Cameroon and other CEMAC states have abundant forest reserves.
This has provided us with a lot of assignments in forestry
exploitation law in Cameroon and CEMAC countries. We obtain
permits for petroleum and mineral exploitation, as well
as other authorisations, consents, licences, approvals and
registrations related thereto. Environmental protection,
degradation and Industrial environmental protection in all
CEMAC states also preoccupy us. We obtain forest exploitation
licences for companies and registrations thereto.
FAMILY
LAW.
Conflicts resolution and reconciliation between spouses,
adoption of infants, petitions for divorce, recognition,
legitimisation, divorce compensations, alimonies pending
divorce, ante nuptial and postnuptial agreements, marital
settlements, etc.
ASSOCIATIONS AND LIBERTY LAWS.
The Law Firm registers religious organisations, Non Governmental
Organisations (NGO’s), non-profit making organisations,
registers by-laws and articles of foreign organisations.
LAW OF CONTRACT.
Pre-counselling for all contractual relations, drafts, hardware,
software and website development agreements; hardware, software
and website maintenance and support agreement, specific
service legal agreements, unspecified and specified labour
agreements, design of error alert procedures, error classification,
licence agreement, escrow agreements, deeds, assessment,
exchanges, security transactions, leases, oil and gas lease
agreements, agricultural contracts, equipment leases, storage
and shipment contracts, advertising contracts, export-import
contracts, creditors agreements, entertainment contract,
independent contractor contracts, assignments, discharge,
surety-ship agreements, service contract, construction contracts,
warranty contracts and conditional contracts.
LAW
OF SUCCESSION.
Drafting of Wills, equity and trust, estate planning, wills
counselling, complete wills forms, codicils, wills provisions,
testamentary trust, executors to renowned personalities,
guardian and future interest counselling, and charitable
dispositions.
LABOUR LAW.
- Negotiate and draft labour contracts and other related
agreements.
- Resolve individual and collective labour disputes.
- Advise on all labour related matters.
PRIVATISATION.
The Cameroon Government indulged in privatising both public
and Para-public enterprises when it became convinced that
Privatisation was the one way to economic salvation. A law
was passed in 1990 to this effect. The World Bank and Briton
Woods Institutions imposed this weapon as a pre-condition
to their granting any loan facilities and/or other assistance
to Cameroon.
The object of privatisation, which is to stimulate private
initiative and to promote investment, is designed to attract
foreign investments. A number of state-owned corporations
and parastatals have been earmarked for privatisation and
we advise foreign investors to lobby for their acquisition
through our Firm. Detail information on the corporations
to be privatised and their economic viability will be provided
upon request.
