Content acquisition
US$500K+ in studio rights acquisitions
Negotiated international film and TV licences from NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures and Caracol TV as licensee, building Soundcity's content catalogue.
Lagos—Accra—Nairobi—Paris—London
Angela Anukam
Business and legal affairs lawyer for film, television and media. Ten years of deal-making, market entry and compliance across EMEA, with deep expertise in high-growth African markets.
HEC Paris MBA, Class of 2027 · Laidlaw Foundation Scholar
10 yrsin-house and private practice across media and entertainment
400+agreements structured across in-house and private practice
50–70commissioned production and output deals a year at Canal+
8markets worked across: NG, GH, KE, ZA, FR, UK, UAE, US
How I work
Much of my career has been in fast-growing businesses where the legal function was still taking shape. In each role I have built and led the business and legal affairs unit, bringing the structure, standards and processes that let the business close deals faster and with less risk.
Selected matters
Private-practice matters are described without naming clients or confidential terms.
Content licensing
Zee World licensing deals
Negotiated content licensing agreements with Zee World, extending Soundcity's international deal-making beyond Africa into the Middle East.
Commissioning & production
Nigeria content slate for Canal+
Lead counsel on 50–70 commissioned production and output deals a year across film and scripted and unscripted TV, from chain of title at development through delivery.
Licensing & distribution
40+ licensing deals a year
Content licensing and distribution agreements with UK, US and international distributors, producers and studios, supporting pay-TV and streaming offerings that reached audiences in Africa and beyond.
Animation commission
Animated series for a US partner
Handled the legal side of a commission for ROK Studios' animation department to develop and produce an animated series, including the licensing requirements of a US-based partner.
Market entry & entity setup
Launch of ROK Ghana
Lead local counsel for the incorporation and launch of a Nollywood studio subsidiary: entity setup, regulatory approvals and commercial readiness, reporting to Paris HQ.
Cross-border acquisition
US$1M asset acquisition for pan-African expansion
Led the legal side of an asset acquisition that took Soundcity into Kenya and South Africa.
Governance & compliance
Group compliance framework
Implemented governance and compliance frameworks aligned with GDPR, Nigeria's NDPR and France's Sapin II anti-corruption law across the Anglophone Africa subsidiaries.
Live events
Headline concerts and festivals
Senior business and legal lead for Wizkid's 20,000-capacity 'Made in Lagos' concert: talent agreements, venue licensing and commercial partnerships. Also led legal structuring for Urban Fest.
Regulatory licensing
NGN 200M in broadcast licences
Secured radio broadcast licences for the national rollout of SoundcityFM and UrbanFM, and reduced royalty costs 15% through copyright licensing with collective management organisations.
Trademarks & copyright
100+ trademark registrations
Built and managed trademark and copyright portfolios for media brands, content and creative businesses across in-house and private practice, including registration, clearance and protection strategy.
Streaming distribution
IP and licensing for Netflix-distributed titles
Advised independent production companies on rights and licensing for projects distributed on Netflix.
Broadcast rights acquisition
NGN 110M rights deal for a channel launch
Advised a Nigerian content aggregator on a broadcast-rights acquisition for the launch of a premium TV channel.
Expansion & IP portfolio
Pan-Nigerian rollout for a lifestyle brand
Advised a social events and lifestyle company on its national expansion and on building its trademark and copyright portfolio.
Life story rights
Biopic of an African music icon
Drafted a cross-border retainer, a life story rights agreement and an NDA and non-circumvention agreement with the estate's counsel at an international law firm, for a feature project.
Co-production
Author's joint venture with a production company
Redlined a joint venture and co-production agreement for an author adapting her work, identified gaps in her entitlements and advised in a client memo.
Producer agreements
Two drafts, two different deals
Reviewed competing producer agreement drafts and showed they reflected different commercial structures, not a long and short form of the same deal.
Cross-border partnership
Milan exhibition partnership
Drafted the MOU for an international art platform's exhibition in Milan with its European strategic partner, including handling a conflict-of-interest question.
Entity setup & compliance
US entity formation and annual compliance
Advised a client on setting up a US-based entity and on its ongoing annual tax and compliance filings.
Venture funding
Pre-seed investment memorandum
Reviewed the investment memorandum for an early-stage company's pre-seed round.
Research
Legal and governance risk in FDI in Nigeria
HEC Paris capstone on foreign direct investment, covering the Investments and Securities Act 2025, a Kenya comparison and a governance toolkit for investors.
Featured & writing
- Jun 2023Content rights negotiation, talent agreements and the Nigerian Copyright Act 2023Podcast guest · TheSNCPodcastWatch on YouTube
- Nov 2021Copyright and permission to use: the business of musicPanellist · Felabration Ladies Webinar, with Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti and Prof. Yinka OmorogbeView on LinkedIn
- Jul 2021The future of technology and innovation in NigeriaPanellist · ÆLEX Technology, Media & Telecoms Webinar, alongside legal leads from Flutterwave, Pryor Cashman and ShoosmithsView on LinkedIn
- Jun 2020Meet Film ProfessionalsGuest speaker on IP, media and entertainment law · Pavillon Afronova, organisers of an annual African pavilion at CannesView on LinkedIn
- May 2018Building sustainable businesses in film, television and music: challenges for industry and governmentDiscussant · Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors Annual Lecture Series, MUSON Centre, LagosIn person
Career
2021 – 2026
Legal Manager
Canal+ Group, Anglophone Africa (ROK Studios / THEMA Nigeria) · Paris, Lagos, Accra
- Primary legal and strategic interface between Paris HQ and the Nigeria and Ghana subsidiaries.
- 150+ content, production, licensing and output agreements.
2016 – 2021
Head of Legal, previously Legal & Compliance Executive
Group8 Africa (Soundcity TV & Radio) · Lagos
- 200+ agreements across IP, content licensing, music rights, broadcast, sponsorship and SaaS.
2015 – 2016
Executive Legal Assistant
EbonyLife Media · Lagos
- Film and TV partnerships, sponsorships and production approvals.
Ongoing
Principal Partner
Carpe Diem Law Solutions · Lagos and Paris
- Boutique legal and business advisory practice for founders, studios, platforms and creative businesses on the Africa–Europe corridor. cdlawsolutions.com
Current focus
- AI governance in productionLegal risk and governance for AI use in film and TV, alongside EU AI Act study.
- Streaming and media-tech expansionRights, licensing and regulatory frameworks for new digital offerings.
- Africa–Europe market entryMastercard Foundation FAST Expert Faculty Network, 2026/27; President, HEC Paris Africa Club.
Credentials
- MBA, HEC ParisClass of 2027 · Laidlaw Foundation Scholarship
- B.L., Nigerian Law SchoolLL.B. (Hons), Madonna University · Member, Nigerian Bar Association
- Entertainment Law, Osgoode Hall · Fintech Law & Policy, Duke · Regulatory Compliance, UPenn · Managing Compliance and Legal Risks, Lagos Business SchoolProfessional certificates
- 40 Under 40 Rising StarESQ Nigerian Legal Awards, 2024