EMMANUELA O. ORIZU
Nigeria
Summary
Nigerian-qualified commercial lawyer with extensive experience in corporate legal practice, adept at operating at the intersection of law, technology policy and commercial strategy. Recent in-house experience at LinkedIn and Twitter demonstrate skills in contract negotiations, structuring vendor and partner relationships, and advising on regulatory and business risks across EMEA. Combines strong legal training with hands on experience engaging corporate, government and ecosystem stakeholders, with a proven ability to translate complex regulatory and policy considerations into commercially viable partnerships and revenue-generating opportunities.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Sales Policy Program Manager (Contracts)
LinkedIn
Dublin, Ireland
2023.02 - 2026.02
- Managed end-to-end engagement of third-party vendors (including as Ernst and Young), such as structuring engagements negotiating terms and overseeing delivery across multiple markets.
- Led a cross-functional project to develop and implement a comprehensive policy framework based on regulatory considerations for sales governance, resulting in a 60% case volume improvement in compliance across multiple regions in EMEA.
- Supported commercial decision-making by advising on vendor contracts, risk allocation and compliance considerations within sales operations.
- Collaborated with legal, compliance and sales teams to align vendor structures with broader commercial strategy and regulatory requirements.
- Drove resolution of complex commercial and operational dispute cases, solving about 30-40 cross-regional disputes end-to -end per quarter related to quota retiring splits and commissions, balancing contractual and business priorities across 3 geographical regions.
Public Policy Associate (Regulatory Advisory,EMEA)
Twitter
Dublin , Ireland
2021.04 - 2023.01
- Advised on several regulatory and policy developments across more than 15 African and European jurisdictions, providing guidance on legal and compliance implications for platform implications (e.g., I offered legal advisory on the 'Twitter Ban' in Nigeria which took place from 5/6/21 - 13/1/22. This led to legal resolution in the form of an agreement between the company and the country's government)
- Developed and contributed to policy frameworks on democratic and digital governance, white papers, and advocacy documents including frameworks for for 8+ Alliance members of the Open Internet Alliance, resulting in over 30 successful unified policy initiatives.
- Built and managed strategic relationships with government institutions, regulators, and ecosystem partners across Africa
- Delivered high-level regulatory briefings to external stakeholder on emerging legal issues, including AI governance and misinformation, promoting informed and compliant decision-making.
- Coordinated cross-functional projects with external partners, as well as 20+ external partnerships, aligning organisational priorities with stakeholder needs and opportunities. In this function, I ensured sustained engagement, alignment and impact across multiple jurisdictions.
External Relations and Research Associate
Kofi Annan Foundation
Geneva, Switzerland
2018.09 - 2020.03
- Led a research project on digital law and regulation for the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age (KACEDDA), contributing to proposals for regulatory amendment and 40% of a final report presented to our funding organisation.
- Supported the Electoral Integrity Initiative by legal research and producing data-driven reports, enhancing strategic initiatives and improving decision-making efficiency by 25%.
- Regularly presented findings at high-profile meetings, facilitating informed decision-making and improving decision-making efficiency by 25%, thereby demonstrating my ability to influence senior management and governance actors.
Legal & Programme Officer (International Justice)
Legal Defence and Assistance Project
Lagos, Nigeria
2017.03 - 2018.02
- Handled legal cases to advance human rights in Nigeria, contributing to the protection and promotion of human rights, and supporting projects underpinned by the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
- Managed LEDAP’s relationship with external stakeholders, including law enforcement and government bodies, enhancing collaboration and program effectiveness.
- Led LEDAP’s responsibilities in the Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC), improving operational efficiency and stakeholder engagement by 30% through training, research, database management, and advocacy efforts.
Legal Counsel
Olaninwan Ajayi Legal Practitioners
Lagos, Nigeria
2016.01 - 2016.12
- Supported a diverse client caseload from technology and regulatory compliance to intellectual property, ensuring exceptional attention to detail, reducing legal risks by 30%.
- Responded to time-sensitive requests and conducted legal research to support case development, forming the basis of written opinions.
- Managed client risk by proactively identifying various legal issues and recommending courses of remediation, enhancing compliance and regulatory adherence.
Education
LL.B - Law
University of East Anglia
Norwich, UK 2011.07 - 2014.01
MA - International Affairs (Global Security specialization)
Graduate Institute of International & Development Studies
Geneva 2017.09 - 2019.01
Barrister-at-Law - Legal Practice
Nigerian Law School
Lagos, Nigeria 2014.09 - 2015.01
Skills
- Commercial contract drafting and review
- Vendor Agreement Structuring and Negotiation
- Nigerian Corporate Law, and Employment Law
- Litigation, legal research and regulatory compliance
- Privacy law and GDPR (CIPP/E)
- Risk identification, due diligence and mitigation in vendor engagement
- Public policy and governance
- Contractual risk allocation and safeguards
- Policy-to-legal translation and implementation
- Strategic thinking and Project management
- Microsoft Office
Certification
- Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
- Certified Information Privacy Professional (Europe) -CIPP/E
Timeline
Sales Policy Program Manager (Contracts)
LinkedIn
2023.02 - 2026.02
Public Policy Associate (Regulatory Advisory,EMEA)
Twitter
2021.04 - 2023.01
External Relations and Research Associate
Kofi Annan Foundation
2018.09 - 2020.03
MA - International Affairs (Global Security specialization)
Graduate Institute of International & Development Studies
2017.09 - 2019.01
Legal & Programme Officer (International Justice)
Legal Defence and Assistance Project
2017.03 - 2018.02
Legal Counsel
Olaninwan Ajayi Legal Practitioners
2016.01 - 2016.12
Barrister-at-Law - Legal Practice
Nigerian Law School
2014.09 - 2015.01
LL.B - Law
University of East Anglia
2011.07 - 2014.01