Associate (Governance, Risk, and Compliance)

About the Role The Associate (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) provides corporate and commercial legal advisory with focus on compliance, corporate governance, ESG, anti-bribery, AML/CFT, and regulatory matters. They also support contract drafting, company law, corporate structuring (including holding companies and trusts), and real estate structuring under the supervision of senior colleagues. What You'll Do

• Coordinate the work of junior associates to ensure timely and accurate service delivery across client mandates, and collaborate across teams to deliver integrated legal solutions.
• Provide hands-on supervision and feedback to junior associates, mentoring them on drafting, client readiness, and matter management.
• Deliver legal advisory on corporate and regulatory issues, contribute to development and implementation of compliance frameworks, anti-bribery protocols, ethics and governance policies, and ESG obligations; support AML/CFT/CPD regulations, data protection compliance (including NDPR), regulatory engagement strategies, and investigations.
• Draft and review contracts, policies, and legal opinions; ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with client objectives and laws.
• Maintain up-to-date industry knowledge; conduct legal and policy research; support regulatory tracking and thought leadership through alerts and articles.
• Contribute to thought leadership and professional development through co-authoring articles, presentations, and attending trainings.
• Manage day-to-day client engagement, help design and implement GRC frameworks and regulatory procedures; provide guidance on governance and enterprise risk management.
• Contribute to project management by planning, coordinating, tracking progress against timelines and budgets, and providing timely status updates; escalate risks when needed.
• Support business development through client pitches and proposals, identifying opportunities to deepen client relationships.
• Fulfill other responsibilities as delegated. What We're Looking For
• Minimum of 5 years' experience as a corporate/commercial lawyer, preferably in a reputable law firm or in-house.
• Strong knowledge of compliance, data protection (NDPR), and Nigerian regulatory frameworks; experience in governance and regulatory matters.
• Demonstrated experience in compliance, legal risk management, and corporate governance.
• Excellent writing, research, presentation, and analytical skills.
• Strong time and project management abilities; ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Commercial astuteness and familiarity with current developments in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC).
• Effective communication and presentation skills; proficiency in drafting legal opinions.
• Proficiency in Legal Opinion / Document Development.
• Education: LLB from an accredited institution with active Nigerian Bar membership; advanced degrees or relevant certifications are a plus. Nice to Have
• Advanced degrees or relevant certifications are a plus.