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MARK OKHAKUMHE
Senior Legal, Strategy & Operations Professional
Welwyn Garden City,Hertfordshire
Work Preference
Summary
Legal and Operations Professional with 7+ years' experience in corporate and commercial legal practice, compliance, organizational development, and operational improvement. Skilled in contract negotiation and management, procurements, process optimization, and designing governance and operational frameworks. Track record of leading strategic initiatives, managing complex portfolios, and supporting executive decision-making. Adept at building and coordinating cross-functional teams.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Corporate Services & Compliance Officer
TAF Africa
08.2024 - Current
- Led the implementation of the organization's strategic plan, including developing the 2025 organizational workplan, setting clear priorities and accountability structures across departments, translating high-level objectives into actionable operational roadmaps.
- Designed and streamlined procurement, HR, and IT policies to enhance compliance, improve workflows, and meet donor requirements. Led the recruitment of a new HR leader.
- Conducted compliance audits to identify process gaps and drive improvements in governance and operations. Worked with team members to develop functional SOPs.
- Served as a strategic partner to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees, aligning legal, operational, and strategic initiatives. Advised on legal requirements for international expansion, donor and regulatory compliance and major procurements.
- Organized and facilitated board and management meetings, ensuring decision-making clarity and tracking follow-ups.
- Developed and negotiated vendor and donor contracts, ensuring risk mitigation and operational efficiency.
- Represented the organisation at external engagements. Panellist, at the National Human Rights Commission-EU Civil Society Consultation on the State of Human Rights in Nigeria. Member, ministerial committee for the implementation of the Inclusive Education Policy. Panellist, ECOWAS Expert Dialogue on Gender and Inclusion for Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in West Africa.
- Work with the programs and finance teams on fundraising and project and grant budget development.
- Lead on all mid-level to major procurements.
Legal Analyst (Contract)
Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC)
04.2024 - 07.2024
- Managed large-scale legal research and data analysis on electoral trends from the election petitions arising from the 2023 general election in Nigeria, delivering actionable recommendations for process improvement.
- Evaluated compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and other critical regulations, ensuring that legal standards were upheld throughout the tribunal's rulings.
- Compiled a detailed report summarizing findings from election petitions, recommending strategies for enhancing legal processes in future elections. Link to the report.
Contractor, Logistics & Admin Support
Open Ownership
05.2023 - 06.2023
- Delivered key logistics and administrative support for the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) and Open Ownership's 'Multilateral Peer Exchange and Learning Event' in Abuja.
- Coordinated delegate logistics, including travel arrangements, airport transfers, and hotel accommodations.
- Managed the preparation and quality checks of workshop materials, ensuring they met all necessary requirements and were delivered on time.
- Worked closely with hotel staff to ensure flawless setup of meeting rooms, from technical arrangements to seating, to guarantee smooth event operations.
- Designed and executed operational workflows for event management, ensuring efficient movement between sessions, dinners, and site visits.
Team Lead - Legal
InTime Biotech LLC.
01.2023 - 11.2023
- Led the legal team in conducting a data privacy audit, identifying and rectifying key compliance issues, and ensuring adherence to GDPR regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
- Directed the Data Privacy Impact Assessment (DPIA), ensuring that the company's data handling practices aligned with GDPR and local regulations, mitigating data risks.
- Oversaw intellectual property (IP) registrations across key global markets, including the USA, EU, Philippines, Japan, and Hong Kong, safeguarding the company's innovations.
- Negotiated and drafted a wide range of commercial agreements including SAFT, Token Transfer Agreements, NDAs, and Service Agreements, ensuring all agreements protected the company's interests.
- Provided legal counsel to cross-disciplinary teams, enabling collaboration and delivering legal support on business operations, commercial negotiations, and regulatory compliance.
Associate
Jurislaw Associates
08.2020 - 02.2022
- Drafted, negotiated, and reviewed a wide range of commercial contracts, including SLAs, NDAs, MSAs, SPAs, and Debt Settlement Agreements, ensuring compliance with both local and international regulations.
- Conducted in-depth research on data protection and privacy laws, revising and enhancing standard data protection clauses for key clients in the banking and IT sectors.
- Represented clients in criminal and civil litigation, offering effective legal strategies and achieving positive outcomes in high-stakes matters.
- Prepared weekly reports on activities, projecting potential risks and opportunities, and collaborated with clients to ensure smooth regulatory compliance.
- Led efforts to engage with regulators, guiding clients through compliance requirements and legal challenges within their industries.
Associate
Obra Legal
12.2018 - 09.2019
- Drafted, negotiated, and reviewed a wide range of property and commercial contracts.
- Carried out research, drafted court processes and coordinated trial exhibits for commercial disputes and 11 election petitions, all of which were successfully defended.
- Developed a Property Management System using Microsoft Access.
- Drafted a new retainer for the Firm.
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) - Second Class Hons
University of Benin
01.2017
Skills
- Organizational Development
- Process Design
- Strategic Planning
- Executive Support
- Business Operations
- Project Management
- Program Management
- Talent Coordination
- Team Coordination
- Governance
- Compliance
- Risk Mitigation
Certification
Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E)
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Affiliations
- International Association of Privacy Professionals
- Nigerian Bar Association - Section on Business Law
- Nigerian Bar Association
Software
Adobe Creative Cloud
Notion
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
French
Beginner (A1)
Interests
DIY
Art
Economics
Timeline
Senior Corporate Services & Compliance Officer
TAF Africa
08.2024 - Current
Legal Analyst (Contract)
Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC)
04.2024 - 07.2024
Contractor, Logistics & Admin Support
Open Ownership
05.2023 - 06.2023
Team Lead - Legal
InTime Biotech LLC.
01.2023 - 11.2023
Associate
Jurislaw Associates
08.2020 - 02.2022
Associate
Obra Legal
12.2018 - 09.2019
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) - Second Class Hons
University of Benin