Organization: Yellow Card Financial
Practice area: Fintech, Blockchain Regulation, Real Estate
Professional summary: Geoffrey Nwokolo is a self styled legalpreneur whose career interests lay in the intersection of law, leadership and business. He is the legal counsel for Nigeria at Yellow Card, the first licensed stablecoin infrastructure provider in Africa and emerging markets with $85 million dollars in equity financing, billions of dollars in transaction volumes and presence in over 20 countries on the continent.
What inspired you to pursue a legal career?
I have always been generalist in nature and outlook. Diverse expressed talents such as public speaking, commercial awareness, rooting for peace over conflict defined my childhood. Thankfully by parental guide, guard and also early love for reading newspapers daily and autobiographies of successful individuals, I found law to be the umbrella where all expressive abilities of mine can be maximized for societal impact and personal fulfillment. It also aligns with my leadership aspirations.
What are the key challenges young lawyers face within the legal profession?
One of the most significant challenges majority of young lawyers in Nigeria face is low remuneration. It often becomes difficult to stay motivated when you’re giving so much of yourself working long hours, managing complex cases and struggling to meet basic financial necessaries. When needs cannot be met, wants take flight and in most cases, innovation is stifled. To say finance is not needed for the journey is to make a mockery of destiny.
Young lawyers need sponsors. There are too many mentors and very few sponsors in the profession. This sounds career funny but my journey has has shown me young lawyers need sponsors as well as mentors to succeed in a highly sophisticated profession as the law built on tradition and precedents. Mentors provide guidance and advice sometimes from distance or even podcasts, fostering skill development and career vision, while sponsors actively advocate for career advancement, using their influence and networks to promote opportunities that meet your proven competencies. Sponsors understand there cannot be success without successors. I believe if most young lawyers have career sponsors to complement the good work of mentors, their growth will be holistic and they will also owe an obligation to the next generation to pay it forward. I have been blessed to have career sponsors in Chidinma Onwubere and most recently Lasbery Oludimu. The journey has been awesome.
What do you think sets successful young lawyers apart in today’s legal industry?
In my experience, what truly sets successful young lawyers apart today is a combination of adaptability, initiative, and a willingness to evolve beyond the traditional mold.
The legal landscape is changing rapidly especially with the rise of digital trade, blockchain technology, and cross-border regulations. The young lawyers who stand out are those who don’t just wait for direction but take the initiative to learn new areas of law, even if they weren’t covered in school. For instance, diving into fintech regulation, data privacy, or cybersecurity law even when there’s limited yet growing local resource shows foresight and drive. The first mover advantage has its enduring perks.
Also, tech-savviness is increasingly important. We’re in a digital age, and lawyers who can understand and integrate legal tech, automation, or even basic data analysis into their work are already ahead of the curve. Beyond that, strong communication skills—both written and verbal—are key.
And finally, I’d say a proactive approach to networking and mentorship makes a huge difference. The lawyers who ask questions, build relationships, and put themselves out there, whether online or offline often find more doors open to them.
So ultimately, it’s not just about knowing the law—it’s about knowing how to position yourself within a fast-changing legal and business environment.
The legal profession is fast-paced and known for its high-pressure environment, how do you manage stress?
The legal field is intense, so I manage stress through structure and boundaries. I use task management tools to stay organized and block time for focused work. I’ve also learned the importance of logging off, taking breaks, and not glorifying burnout. Outside work, I recharge through reading, social link ups, and spending time with my beautiful bright wife and loved ones. Having a support system, including mentors, sponsors and peers, helps during high-pressure moments. Most importantly, I’ve embraced progress over perfection. Celebrating small wins and maintaining perspective allows me to stay grounded, focused, and resilient in a fast-paced legal environment.
