The Second Equity Partner is a co-founder-level hire - a senior legal practitioner who joins at the partnership level and takes full ownership of the Legal, Compliance and Corporate service line. This is not a head of department role reporting upward. This is a partner who co-leads the firm with the Founder and Chair.
The Second Equity Partner heads all Legal and Compliance Advisory mandates, leads the firm\'s Corporate practice - company formations, governance, commercial contracts, regulatory advisory, and company secretarial services - and serves as the firm’s Compliance Officer and deputy Money Laundering Reporting Officer.
The Founder and Chair is the firm\'s chief specialist across all service lines and all specialist practice areas. The Second Equity Partner\'s role is to own Legal and Compliance fully, freeing the Founder and Chair to lead on Aviation Finance, Real Estate, Private Wealth, Financing Advisory, and Dispute Resolution mandates. Together, they run the firm.
Role Responsibilities
- Legal and Compliance Service Line Leadership
- Lead all Legal and Compliance Advisory mandates - contract drafting and review, corporate governance advisory, regulatory compliance, company secretarial, and legal due diligence
- leading practice - setting quality standards, managing the pipeline, and developing the junior team
- Advise clients across all service lines on Nigerian regulatory compliance - Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, Nigerian Bar Association rules, sector-specific regulations
- Lead the firm\'s corporate practice - company formations, shareholder agreements, board governance, share restructurings, and corporate advisory
Compliance and Regulatory Responsibilities
- Serve as the firm\'s named Compliance Officer and deputy Money Laundering Reporting Officer with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit - taking over primary responsibility from the Founder and Chair upon appointment
- Oversee the firm\'s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism programme - client due diligence sign-oF, screening, suspicious activity reporting, and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit filings
- Maintain the attorney compliance register and administer the annual Nigerian Bar Association Practicing Certificate renewal procedure for all attorneys
- Serve as Data Protection Officer in support of the firm\'s Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 obligations until a dedicated officer is appointed
Partnership and Firm Leadership
- Participate in all C-Suite Leadership Team meetings - joint decision-making on strategy, hiring, client relationships, and firm development
- Co-own the firm\'s business development agenda alongside the Founder and Chair - building client relationships, attending industry events, and growing the firm\'s Legal and Compliance client base
- Mentor and develop the junior legal team - providing supervision, feedback, and professional development support
- Represent the firm externally in professional forums, Nigerian Bar Association activities, and regulatory engagements.
Experience/Qualification
- Minimum 10 years post-call Nigerian legal practice, with demonstrable expertise in corporate law, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance
- Valid current-year Nigerian Bar Association PracticingCertificate - mandatory condition of appointment
- Prior experience as a partner, senior associate, or equivalent at a reputable Nigerian law firm
- Experience as a Compliance Officer or Money Laundering Reporting Officer in a professional services or financial services context is a significant advantage
- Track record of building and managing client relationships independently
- Strong leadership and team development credentials
Competencies/Skills
- Strategic leadership of the legal and compliance functions
- Expertise in corporate law, regulatory frameworks, and governance
- Oversight of compliance programs and risk management
- Contract drafting, negotiation, and review at executive level
- Advising on mergers, acquisitions, and corporate transactions
- Dispute resolution oversight and litigation management
- Policy development and implementation for corporate governance
- Risk assessment and mitigation across business operations
- Legal and compliance strategy aligned with corporate objectives
- Monitoring performance metrics and compliance KPIs
- Business acumen to support organizational growth and strategic goals
Behavioural Qualities/Other Competences
- Leadership and team development of legal and compliance staff
- Effective executive communication and stakeholder management
- Decision-making and strategic problem-solving
- Ethical judgment and integrity at the highest level
- Negotiation, influencing, and conflict resolution skills
- Adaptability to dynamic regulatory and business environments
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