Technology, Media & Digital Economy
Balogun Harold provides comprehensive legal counsel across Africa's technology, media, and digital economy sectors, with particular expertise in emerging technologies, digital media, and innovative business models. Our team serves technology start-ups, established tech companies, media organizations, gaming companies, and digital platforms navigating Nigeria's rapidly evolving digital landscape and international expansion opportunities. We specialize in technology law across African markets, advising on intellectual property protection, data privacy compliance, regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies, and cross-border digital transactions. Our digital media expertise covers content licensing, advertising regulation, and platform liability, while our technology practice addresses AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and cybersecurity challenges. With deep experience in Nigeria's tech ecosystem and international digital markets, we understand the unique regulatory, cultural, and commercial dynamics of Africa's digital transformation. Our team provides strategic counsel that balances innovation with compliance, helping technology and media companies scale while managing legal risks and protecting intellectual property in competitive global markets.
Our technology, media & digital economy practice combines deep industry knowledge with comprehensive legal expertise, serving clients across Nigeria and Africa. We understand the unique regulatory and commercial challenges facing businesses in this sector and provide strategic counsel that helps clients navigate complex legal landscapes while achieving their business objectives. Our team delivers practical, business-focused solutions that protect client interests while facilitating growth and innovation. We work with leading corporations, financial institutions, and investors to structure transactions, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage legal risks effectively.
With extensive experience representing clients in technology, media & digital economy matters, Balogun Harold has established itself as a trusted advisor in this sector. Our team's deep understanding of Nigerian law, combined with international best practices, enables us to provide strategic guidance that helps clients maintain competitive advantage while ensuring regulatory compliance. We work closely with clients to develop comprehensive legal strategies that align with their business goals and support long-term success in Nigeria's dynamic market. Our approach emphasizes proactive risk management, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning, enabling clients to make informed decisions and achieve their business objectives.
We support our Clients with:
Notable Experience
Fintech Securitisation Financings
Advised and acted on behalf of multiple fintechs on the negotiation and closing of senior structured securitisation financings of over $250 million, from international investors.
Venture Capital Transactions for Technology Companies
Advised and acted on behalf of multiple tech companies and venture capital investors, in connection with the drafting, negotiation and closing of multiple venture capital investments, including Series A & B Financings.
Nigerian Market Entry for Fintech Unicorn
Advised a leading fintech unicorn on market entry into Nigeria, including regulatory compliance, obtaining all necessary licenses, and establishing local operations in accordance with Nigerian legal and commercial frameworks.
Insights & Updates
Building for the UK Market: Key Legal Considerations for African Founders
One of the first regulatory flashpoints for founders is the issue of liability that cannot be excluded by law. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, businesses cannot contract out of core obligations, which include ensuring that goods are of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described
Agentic Commerce: Contractual Boundaries and Consumer Rights Under UK Law
From a UK consumer law perspective, particularly under Section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Schedule 2, which govern unfair terms in consumer contracts, there are two key considerations.
NCC Internet Code of Practice 2025: New Obligations for Online Platforms
Online platforms operating in Nigeria must adopt internal community rules governing user conduct, content moderation, disinformation, fraud, and unlawful content. These community rules must be submitted to the NCC within six months of the Code’s issuance and must align with clause 146 of the Nigeria Communications Act (the "Act").
Agency Banking in Nigeria - the Fintech Play
Fintechs aiming to operate in Nigeria’s agency banking space typically obtain a microfinance banking license, though even fintechs without a banking license can participate as super-agents for a principal bank
Agency Banking vs. Deposit-Banking: Key Considerations for Fintechs
As agency banking continues to expand financial access in Nigeria, a common misconception is that a fintech must obtain a deposit-taking banking licence, often in the form of a microfinance bank (MFB) licence, to fully tap the opportunities in agency banking. In reality, this licensing strategy may not only be unnecessary, but often strategically counterproductive. We highlight a number of considerations below.
The New CBN Agency Banking Regulations - Key Considerations for Venture-Backed Fintechs
The new CBN Agency Banking Regulations represent a major regulatory development that warrants more than just an investor update. In our view, the new CBN Agency Banking Regulations should prompt a strategic conversation at the board level between venture capital investors and their fintech founders
Contractual Liability in Agentic Commerce: Key Considerations
It appears that the end user will remain the economic principal in agentic commerce transactions, primarily because, it is the end user’s funds that are deployed, and it is typically the end user who authorises the AI agent to act within defined parameters, such as spending limits or merchant categories.
Obtaining a Startup Label Under the Nigeria Startup Act, 2022
The distinction between a startup and a scale-up may become critical for for eligibility because a “labelled startup” is defined to mean a startup labelled under this Act and issued a digital certificate. Subject to further clarification from the NITDA, it would appear that the regulatory intent is to exclude scale-ups from obtaining a start-up label under the Nigeria Startup Act.
Tax Incentives for Venture Capital and Angel Investors in Nigeria.
Other than fund domicile, perhaps the most important consideration when setting up a venture capital fund in Nigeria is tax planning and tax leakage avoidance.This article highlights two of some of the key tax incentives available to venture capital investors in Nigeria and some practical considerations for venture capital fund structuring.
Taxation of Non-Residents in Nigeria
The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 has clarified and expanded the legal basis for the taxation of non-residents in Nigeria. Under the Act, non-resident persons can now be taxed under four broad categories: Capital Gains, Profits, Consumption of Imported Services, and Premiums/Nigerian Source Income. We discuss these broad categories below.
Permanent Establishment in Nigeria
The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 has clarified and expanded the legal definition of permanent establishment and the rules regarding the attribution of income and profits to a permanent establishment. Under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, a permanent establishment is the taxable presence of a non-resident person in Nigeria.
When Should Liability Caps Be Applied – Before or after Set-Off ?
Technology contracts frequently include liability caps. For example, a technology vendor might agree that “no more than 12 months’ fees” can be claimed. But complications often arise when both parties have contractual claims against each other. Should the parties set off their claims first and then apply the liability cap to the net amount? Or should the cap bite on each party’s liability separately, with set-off only after the cap has reduced one side’s claim?