Legal and Expansion Lead

Role Overview

The Legal and Expansion Officer will play a central role in shaping W2As legal regulatory and governance systems while facilitating the companys expansion into new markets.

This is a hands-on high-impact role that requires a blend of legal expertise commercial understanding and strategic thinking. The officer will ensure that W2As contracts partnerships and operations are fully compliant and optimally structured across jurisdictions.

Reporting directly to the Head of Operations and with a dotted line to the Founder & Group CEO the role bridges the legal operational and strategic aspects of the organization.

As W2A transitions into a full-fledged Group structure this position will evolve into Group General Counsel leading all legal compliance governance and risk management functions across the W2A Group and its subsidiaries.

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal Structuring & Compliance

• Draft review and negotiate contracts MoUs NDAs partnership agreements investment documents and trade facilitation contracts.
  
• Ensure regulatory and statutory compliance with Nigerian and international laws governing trade investment and corporate affairs.
  
• Support the development of group-wide governance and compliance frameworks for W2As subsidiaries and affiliates.
  
• Maintain statutory filings CAC documentation and legal records across all entities.
  
• Proactively advise management on legal risks and implement mitigating strategies.
  

2. Expansion & Regulatory Affairs

• Oversee legal and procedural processes for W2As expansion into new markets across Europe GCC Asia and North America.
  
• Handle company incorporation branch or subsidiary registration licensing and trademark protection in target countries.
  
• Conduct due diligence on potential partners investors and suppliers to ensure regulatory compliance.
  
• Liaise with embassies trade chambers and host-country authorities to facilitate W2As legal and operational presence abroad.
  

3. Governance Policy & Risk Management

• Develop and enforce legal and compliance policies contract templates and risk management SOPs.
  
• Work with the Head of Operations to institutionalize governance frameworks board documentation and reporting protocols.
  
• Advise on corporate structuring for W2As subsidiaries and joint ventures.
  
• Contribute to internal control procurement HR and financial policy reviews from a legal compliance perspective.
  

4. Business Support & Strategic Advisory

• Serve as a legal advisor to the CEO and senior leadership on commercial contractual and investment-related matters.
  
• Support W2A Capital and W2A Trade in structuring deals reviewing term sheets and facilitating investor agreements.
  
• Provide legal oversight for W2A Connects global events partnership agreements and sponsorship contracts.
  
• Ensure intellectual property (IP) protection for W2As brand programs and proprietary materials.
  

5. Leadership & Future Growth

• Lay the foundation for a Group Legal & Compliance Department to support all entities under the HoldCo.
  
• Manage relationships with external counsel both locally and internationally.
  
• Build internal awareness through compliance training and legal process orientation.
  
• Prepare to transition into the Group General Counsel role overseeing W2As global legal and governance architecture.
  

Requirements

Candidate Profile

• Bachelors degree in Law (LL.B) and Call to the Nigerian Bar (B.L.); Masters in Law or certifications in international/commercial law preferred.
  
• 47 years of post-call experience in corporate commercial or international law.
  
• Strong background in corporate governance investment contracts compliance and cross-border transactions.
  
• Experience working with donor-funded investment or trade-oriented organizations.
  
• Ability to establish structure and clarity within a startup or rapidly scaling environment.
  
• Excellent drafting negotiation and communication skills.
  
• High integrity confidentiality and judgment in handling sensitive matters.
  
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities with a proactive solutions-driven mindset.
  

Benefits

Why Join Us

This is a unique opportunity to shape the legal and governance DNA of a globally expanding African company.

You will:

• Build the legal foundation for W2As transformation into a Group.
  
• Play a strategic role in international expansion ensuring our operations are compliant secure and sustainable.
  
• Work directly with the Head of Operations and Founder & CEO on cross-border deals governance frameworks and investment structuring.
  
• Progress into the Group General Counsel role leading all legal compliance and governance functions across W2As global subsidiaries.