Tolu Olaloye

Tolu Olaloye is a highly experienced professional with over 14 years of experience in legal practice, particularly in intellectual property (IP) law, regulatory matters, policy, data protection, privacy and taxation. Tolu has developed deep expertise in managing and protecting IP portfolios across the African, ASEAN, and Middle Eastern regions. She has in-depth knowledge of over 40 jurisdictions in Africa and has established herself as a trusted advisor in IP dispute resolution, data protection issues, regulatory matters, commercialization, registration, and enforcement.

Tolu’s expertise spans data privacy frameworks such as the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and accompanying regulations, the GDPR, and cross-border data flow protocols. She advises on data lifecycle management, lawful processing, privacy impact assessments, regulatory compliance, data breach response, and vendor risk management. Tolu is particularly adept at guiding organizations through multi-jurisdictional compliance challenges, offering tailored, scalable data protection strategies aligned with local and international standards.

Tolu leads a cross-functional team of associates and agents across Africa that supports clients with expert advice on brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, digital compliance audits, privacy policy development, and cybersecurity regulatory alignment. She is also highly regarded for her domain name expertise, skillfully managing issues related to registration, disputes, and transfers of domain names, with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic digital landscape. She was instrumental in launching the Jackson, Etti and Edu’s Technology Start-Up Initiative, which delivers legal and compliance support—including data protection-by-design solutions—to Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem. She is one of the pioneers of the firm’s Technology Start-Up Initiative where the IP Practice supports Nigeria’s budding innovative entrepreneurs through bespoke legal and business service packages.

Tolu is a policy influencer and has contributed to the development of key legal frameworks shaping Nigeria’s digital economy. In 2022, Tolu was appointed a Member of the Government Liaison Committee of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria (IPLAN), where she played a key role in monitoring regulatory changes and liaising with government agencies. She also contributed to the draft of the Geographical Indication Law in Nigeria as a member of Technical Working Group (TWG) for the establishment of the GI law in Nigeria; additionally, she serves on the INTA Programming Advisory Council.

Tolu is actively engaged in advocacy, and she actively champions numerous capacity-building initiatives, particularly in empowering women within the legal profession. She led the Advocacy Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Women Forum and presently the 1st Vice chairperson of the Sports, Entertainment, and Media Committee of the NBA-Section on Business Law. Her professional affiliations include the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), the Intellectual Property Lawyers Association of Nigeria (IPLAN), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the International Trademark Association (INTA).

Having been ranked and recognized by IP Stars (Managing IP’s rankings publication), WTR 1000 and WIPR as a top tier IP expert, Tolu Olaloye continues to make significant contributions to the IP field. In addition to her expertise in data protection regulations, she offers clients robust strategic legal solutions, industry insights, and a global perspective on regulatory issues.