Head of Legal

The Head of Legal is responsible for overseeing all legal affairs of the organization, ensuring full regulatory compliance, managing legal risks, and providing strategic legal guidance to executive management. This role leads the legal team, advises on financial services regulations, drafts and reviews contracts, manages litigation, and represents the company in dealings with regulators and external stakeholders.

Strategic & Leadership Duties

• Develop and lead the overall legal strategy in alignment with the institution’s business goals.
• Provide expert legal advice to executive management, board committees, and business units.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the legal department to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Support corporate governance structures, including Board and Executive meetings.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with relevant financial regulations, including CBN, SEC, NDIC, FCCPC, AML/CFT, Data Protection, and other statutory requirements.
• Monitor regulatory changes and advise management on implications for the business.
• Oversee preparation and submission of statutory filings and regulatory reports.

Contracts & Transactions

• Draft, review, negotiate, and approve contracts, SLAs, vendor agreements, partnership agreements, and loan/credit documentation.
• Provide legal support in transactions such as investments, financing arrangements, acquisitions, and capital raises.
• Ensure that all legal documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant.

Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across the organization.
• Manage litigation, disputes, and arbitration processes, liaising with external counsel where required.
• Develop company policies, frameworks, and controls to minimize legal exposure.

Corporate Governance

• Support the Board, including preparing resolutions, minutes, and governance documentation.
• Ensure proper maintenance of corporate records and legal documents.
• Advise on corporate structure, subsidiaries, and shareholder matters.

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with regulators, external counsel, auditors, partners, and government agencies.
• Represent the institution in regulatory meetings, negotiations, and industry forums.