Iyiola Alokolaro-Oyefeso

Group Head Legal Services
AA&R Investment Group

Nigeria

“In boardrooms and beyond, the most trusted voices are those that combine expertise with purpose. Be that voice.”

I am a General Counsel with 16+ years of legal, compliance, and transactional experience. As a trusted advisor to executive leaders and boards, I provide legal and compliance support to organisations to achieve business growth and sustainability.

In my current role as the Group Head of Legal Services, I direct the legal team and oversee local and international commercial transactions including joint ventures, corporate finance, acquisitions and divestments. My role as a business partner revolves around strategic business advisory, legal strategy development, risk management, contract negotiation and management, stakeholder management, corporate governance advisory, dispute resolution, and compliance management.

Leveraging my legal knowledge and experience across various sectors, I have developed insights into dynamic businesses and offered forward-thinking legal solutions that identify opportunities for growth, strategic advantage, and business integrity.

I am knowledgeable in business finance and have advised on acquisition transactions with total values exceeding millions of dollars. By overseeing contract negotiations and post-acquisition integrations, I guide executive leadership teams in ensuring cost optimisation, risk management, and financial profitability.

I oversaw the development of a compliance framework for the Legal Services Unit in AA&R and its Operating Companies to provide a structured, auditable, and transparent protocol for operations and foster a company culture of accountability. By serving as the company secretary and legal representative of the Group, I interface with federal agencies and regulatory bodies to advocate for the organisation’s interests & influence policy decisions.

Career Highlights

• Solely negotiated and reviewed the Governance Documents in the acquisition of a stake in a marginal field valued at millions of dollars and saved the organisation thousands of dollars in legal fees.
• Sole legal advisor on the acquisition of a 14 seater aircraft, saving the organisation thousands of dollars in legal fees.
• Improved legal and compliance support accessibility by establishing and optimising a fully functional legal services unit.
• Recipient of the following awards: 2021 ESQ Law 40 Under 40 Lawyers, 2021 9to5 Chick Top 100 Career Women in Nigeria, 2021 Thought Leader 9to5 Chick of the Year, & 2023 Top 50 Women in Management Africa.

Passionate about building the next generation of lawyers, I regularly provide thought leadership articles and mentoring for general counsels & younger legal professionals.