Legal Counsel, Finergi at Optasia

The Legal Counsel, Finergi position at Optasia is an exceptional opportunity for commercially-minded lawyers who want to move beyond traditional law-firm work and help build the legal infrastructure of a fast-growing fintech. Based in Athens, this role puts you at the heart of Finergi's mission to scale prepaid electricity and mobile financial services across Africa.

Why This In-House Role Stands Out in Today's Legal Market

In-house legal roles have exploded in popularity over the past decade, and for good reason. They offer lawyers the chance to be strategic partners rather than just risk-averse gatekeepers. But the Legal Counsel role at Finergi goes even further: it's a ground-floor opportunity to design how a legal department operates, leveraging artificial intelligence and modern contract management systems. You won't just be reviewing agreements; you'll be building the frameworks that allow a business to scale across multiple African markets without tripping over legal bottlenecks.

“Light On. Credit On. Future On.” — This isn't just a tagline; it's the driving force behind Finergi's partnerships with utilities, mobile network operators, banks, and payment providers.

Decoding the Role: The Legal Engine Behind Commercial Expansion

The job posting makes it clear that this is not a back-office compliance role. You will be the legal engine behind commercial expansion. That means you'll be drafting and negotiating memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and commercial agreements with a diverse range of partners: utilities, banks, mobile network operators, aggregators, and more. Each deal brings its own jurisdictional quirks, especially when operating across emerging markets with different regulatory environments.

Beyond transactional work, the role asks you to develop reusable legal frameworks. In a scaling fintech, reinventing the wheel for every contract is inefficient. Your job is to create templates, playbooks, and standardised processes that can be adapted across deals and markets. This is where seasoned commercial lawyers with a systematic mindset will shine.

What You'll Actually Do Day-to-Day

• Draft, review, and negotiate MOUs and commercial agreements with utilities, banks, MNOs, aggregators, and other partners.
• Support tenders and proposals, providing legal input on structure, risk, and terms.
• Build legal frameworks — templates, playbooks, and standardised clauses — that make future deals faster and safer.
• Design contract management systems for tracking, filing, and retrieving agreements, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
• Lead AI adoption in the legal function, from drafting assistance to contract review tools.
• Collaborate with Commercial and Finance teams to keep deals moving while managing legal risk.
• Identify and mitigate regulatory risks across multiple African jurisdictions.

The Candidate Profile: Who Should Apply?

The ideal candidate is a qualified lawyer with 5+ years of experience in commercial or corporate law, ideally with in-house exposure. The posting specifically asks for experience with commercial partnerships in fintech, payments, telecoms, energy/utilities, or financial services. Why these sectors? Because Finergi operates at the intersection of all of them. Understanding the commercial realities of these industries is just as important as legal technical knowledge.

Equally critical is a practical, structured mindset. The role is about building systems, not just responding to emails. Familiarity with contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools is a major plus. And since Finergi operates across Francophone Africa, French language skills are a significant advantage.

Growth Opportunities and Career Benefits

Reporting directly to the Chief Legal and Strategy Officer, this position offers a rare degree of visibility and influence. You won't be one of dozens of lawyers; you'll be helping to shape the legal function from the ground up. Finergi is backed by Optasia, a listed group on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: OPA). That means you get the stability of a parent company with the agility of a startup.

In terms of career trajectory, this role is a springboard. You'll gain deep expertise in fintech regulation, cross-border transactions, and AI-driven legal operations — all of which are highly sought-after skills in the modern legal market. For lawyers looking to transition fully in-house or move into leadership roles, this is a fantastic stepping stone.

Why AI and Legal Tech Skills Matter More Than Ever

One of the most distinctive aspects of this job is the emphasis on leading the use of AI tools to streamline legal work. The legal profession has been notoriously slow to adopt technology, but that's changing rapidly. In-house teams are now expected to do more with less, and AI-powered contract review, due diligence, and drafting tools are becoming standard.

By joining Finergi, you'll be at the forefront of this trend. You'll have the opportunity to evaluate, implement, and embed AI tools into daily workflows. This is not just a nice-to-have; it's a future-proofing strategy. Lawyers who embrace legal technology will have a massive competitive advantage over those who resist it. The role offers a chance to become a legal innovator, someone who not only practices law but also improves how law is practiced.

How to Make Your Application Stand Out

Given the role's emphasis on commercial partnership and system-building, your application should reflect those priorities. Tailor your CV to highlight instances where you've:

• Negotiated complex commercial agreements, especially in fintech, telecom, or energy sectors.
• Created templates, playbooks, or processes that improved efficiency.
• Used AI or contract management software in your day-to-day work.
• Worked across multiple jurisdictions or with teams in Africa.

In your cover letter, be specific about why Finergi's mission resonates with you. Mention the tagline “Light On. Credit On. Future On.” and connect it to your own career goals. Explain how your background makes you ready to be that “legal engine” for commercial expansion.

“A high-impact role reporting to the Chief Legal and Strategy Officer, with room to shape how legal works here from the ground up.” — This is the core promise of the job, and your application should show you're ready to deliver on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is this role remote or based in Athens?

The listing clearly states Athens as the location. While Finergi operates across African markets, this role sits with the Optasia Group in Greece and appears to be office-based or hybrid depending on company policy.

2. What level of experience is required?

The posting asks for a qualified lawyer with typically 5+ years in commercial or corporate law, ideally with in-house experience. That said, exceptional candidates with slightly less experience but strong relevant sector knowledge may still be considered.

3. What does “AI-enabled legal frameworks” actually mean in practice?

It means using tools like AI-based contract review, automated clause libraries, and machine-learning-driven contract management systems. You'll be expected to lead the adoption of these tools, making routine tasks faster and enabling the team to focus on higher-value work.

4. Are there opportunities for international travel?

While not explicitly stated, a role supporting commercial expansion across Africa and liaising with partners in multiple countries likely involves some travel, though the primary base is Athens.

If you're a commercial lawyer with a builder's mindset and a passion for fintech, this Legal Counsel role at Finergi could be the career-defining move you've been waiting for. The deadline is not specified, so early applications are strongly encouraged.