RENUKA KUKANESEN
Cadiz
Summary
Head of Legal and General Counsel with extensive experience in strategy, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance. Proven expertise in managing litigation, corporate structures, and tax advisory matters. Demonstrated success in navigating complex legal frameworks, including GDPR and AML regulations. Actively pursuing new opportunities in tax advisory roles.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Acting Head of Legal Department EMEA, FTC
Verifone
London
01.2022 - 07.2023
- Exercised sound judgement when making decisions based on analysis of facts presented.
- Communicated effectively with internal stakeholders as well as external contacts such as attorneys or regulatory agencies.
- Drafted various types of documents including contracts, memoranda of understanding, settlement agreements.Drafting and negotiating various Verifone Merchant, Reseller and Distributor agreements including software licensing and development, SaaS, SLAs, gateway and cloud services, MPI/3DS services, P2PE solutions, support and services levels, EBA addendums, data protection & privacy addendums, etc.
- Support for the FSA license application for Verifone Payments (UK) Ltd
- Lead attorney on intercompany agreements for provision of services at arm length
- Revising Verifone´s UK DTM TsnCs and centralizing the templates storage and access
- Participating in RFQs for acquiring (CP and CNP), payment gateway, e-commerce, terminals and combination payment solutions
- Undertaking P2PE training (e.g. Encryption management service components, key management: signing, loading; Delta changes, certification process, PCI DTS, PCI DSS, etc.
- Advising on sub-processor data protection notifications under Article 28, and transfers of data to the US under the EDPB Guidance 'Use Cases'.
- Advice on PSD2, PSR, DGSD and FRT related matters
- Responding to questionnaires on sanctions imposed due to the Ukrainian crisis.
- Demonstrated leadership skills through inspiring others towards achieving organizational goals.
General Counsel
SlotsMillion
12.2020 - 01.2022
- Board member, providing pragmatic, commercial and strategic legal counsel and leadership to senior management team en route to achieving sale of the business as a going concern.
- Leading on M&A considerations including overseeing company optimisation prior to acquisition, negotiations with third parties, drafting heads of terms, S&P agreements.
- Assessing complex inputs and advising on impact of strategic or commercial decisions
- Drafting, negotiating and reviewing complex commercial and technology agreements.
- Assisting the risk and compliance functions by offering legal expertise and advice on risk management and exposure, liability, compliance and governance, taking a broad view that encompasses the company's reputation and integrity.
- Supervising where needed and training and the development of more junior lawyers.
- Managing external lawyers for comprehensive and cost efficient jurisdictional support
- Opening up Norway and Finland market with PSP strategy using ewallets with a variety of deposit and withdrawals and accompanying licence risk analysis
- Considering licence application for Kahnawake licence to aid Canada market entry
- Deeply investigating the payment services infrastructure within SLTM
- Considering an e-wallet and crypto strategy for SLTM to function within MGA gray markets working within the PSD2 and EMI guidelines for Malta
- Advised senior leadership on potential strategic investments into new markets or technologies.
- Rationalizing services and re-negotiating rates on various payment services agreements (e-wallets, cards, wire, etc)
- Creating a compliant payment strategy for Norway, balancing regulatory and AML risk.
- Reviewing and recommending all policies and procedures including AML, RG, data protection and privacy procedures and creating a strong trail of governance.
Consultant
Gaming 1
12.2019 - 02.2020
- Licence application for UK B2B licence
- Setting up a ticketing system for receiving and clearing legal review requests
- Clearing a backlog of over 100 B2B contracts accumulated over a period of 18 months
- Advising on cooling off period and permanent establishment in the Netherlands
- Setting up compliance and GDPR protocols for Malta game distributor and aggregator
- Setting up ISO27001 compliant contracts review system
Consultant
Ibid Group
10.2019 - 12.2019
- Licence application for software 'umbrella licence'
- Reviewing different share option agreements
- Investigating and getting into place directors, professional and platform liability insurance for the casino´s various verticals (B2B, B2C, affiliates, etc) at casino level
- Creating a template for acquisitions or joint ventures with new gaming studios under the Pragmatic Play umbrella
- Reviewing regulatory options for working with multiple studios and assisting with the GBGC umbrella licence application for Pragmatic Play
Consultant
SportPesa
03.2019 - 09.2019
- Application for UK and MGA licences
- Drafting multi-jurisdictional Formula 1, La Liga, Premier League, horseracing, boxing and other tour, sponsorship and sports brand ambassador agreements and advice on rights
- Drafting and negotiating payments agreements for e-wallets, CNP acquiring services, payment processing, etc.
- Drafting AML, RG & PG, Marketing, GDPR policies, standards and procedures, risk assessments, GDPR agreements within and outside Europe
- Negotiating commercials and closing multiple casino game provider agreements and PSP agreements as Master Reseller for the software distribution entity
- Working with product team to patent innovations
- Tier 2 licence applications, employment dispute resolution and negotiations
- Corporate restructuring for customer services team
- Advising on navigating complex Italian markets (compliance with Dignity Decree), compliant marketing strategy (SEO, mobile aps, sites, affiliates)
- Co-ordinating and aligning the casino on international product launches
- Steering senior management on expenditure
- Managing global IP brand protection strategy, Madrid protocol TM application;
- Managing external legal counsel
- Markets actively covered include Italy, Kenya, Tanzania, rest of Africa, Isle of Man, UK, US (Nevada), Denmark and Sweden
Head of Compliance, MLRO, Consultant
Covesting International
08.2018 - 02.2019
- Application for cryptocurrency licence with FSC Gibraltar
- Drafting and negotiating payments agreements for e-wallets, CNP acquiring services, payment processing, etc
- MLRO and senior management of second licensed DLT provider in Gibraltar
- Drafting and implementing risk assessment framework and risk based policies to manage business and regulatory risk
- Investigating AML risks posed by crypto-currency trading, including attending seminars to investigate risk on a larger level
- Ensuring full licence, AML, CTF and GDPR compliance across the business
- Conduct and supervision of Board Meetings and handling corporate governance, chief liaison with Gibraltar FSC
Head of Legal & Compliance
William Hill International
07.2016 - 02.2019
- Director of MRG marketing subsidiary in Gibraltar, responsible for oversight of marketing efforts in Malta
- Application for UK and MGA licence updates
- Drafting and negotiating payments agreements for e-wallets, CNP acquiring services, payment processing, etc
- Drafting and negotiating B2B supplier and IT services, advertising, marketing and sponsorship contracts (with agencies, media owners, marketing affiliates and advertising platforms)
- Ensuring casino compliance with LCCP, GDPR, CMA Promotional Conditions Guidelines, ASA Non-Broadcast and Broadcast Code compliance, AML, CTF, PSC and Responsible Gambling compliance, including reviewing and training marketing team on creatives, promotional copy, tweets, SMS sendouts, websites and mobile
- Drafting compliant terms and conditions for the Mr Green website
- Managing global international brand protection strategy
General Counsel
Lottoland
07.2014 - 04.2016
- Drafting and negotiating payments agreements for e-wallets, CNP acquiring services, payment processing, etc
- Drafting and negotiating B2B supplier and IT services, advertising, marketing and sponsorship contracts (with agencies, media owners, marketing affiliates and advertising platforms)
- Reporting and Advice on all legal matters to CX levels
- Licensing: UK (LCCP) & Gibraltar: application for UK licence, website compliance reviews and updates in response to regulator requests, regulator audits, etc.
- Betting insurance and contract documentation & hedging mechanisms
- B2B contract negotiations and drafting for lottery betting & content
- B2B skin agreements for casino betting
- Media contracts & payment processing, BI contracts negotiations & drafting
- Data protection, ASA, AML and Anti-terrorist/Anti-bribery compliance
- Company secretarial & minutes of company meetings
- Managing global international brand protection strategy
Senior In-House Counsel Gibraltar
Famous Four Media
07.2013 - 07.2014
- Drafting agreements and representing the company in complex, multi-jurisdiction
- Negotiating aspects of three major technical back-end service provider contracts for 15 live TLD registry operators, negotiating premium name sales, etc
- Creating and maintaining standard agreements for all products and services
- Creation of registry registrar agreement for 17 registry operators, terms and conditions for online marketing programme, online sales of domain names, etc.
Director
Wolf Theiss Attorneys at Law
Sarajevo
04.2005 - 01.2007
- Established, headed up and managed Wolf Theiss Sarajevo, successfully assisting with expanding the Wolf Theiss business model into Southeast Europe
- Exploiting cross-selling opportunities within the firm and developing fresh client leads, resulting in attracting several high profile clients into the firm: including Mittal Steel (on the Mittal-Arcelor merger), Volkswagen-Audi, EBRD, etc.
- Various cross-border M&A and project financing transactions
International Legal Advisor for Commercial and Legal Reform to Lord Paddy Ashdown
( )EU
07.2002 - 04.2005
- Company Overview: Office of the High Representative in Bosnia
- Liason between the prime ministers of the different entities, representing the European Union on commercial matters.
- Advising the EU and World Bank on reforming the business environment and business legislation to enable the growth of small businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Drafted legislation and providing legal advice to Bosnian government and the High Representative's Office on legislative reform in business sector, including preparing legislation for EU accession
- Advising the EU and World Bank on pre-privatisation restructuring of fifteen state-owned enterprises, including ranking secured and unsecured debt
- Office of the High Representative in Bosnia
Solicitor
Bird & Bird
London
08.1998 - 07.2002
- Provided compliance advice to potential new entrant to European Tier 1 'Internet peering' sector, various Internet start-ups, telecoms service providers and a major mp3 technology provider
- Drafted and negotiated commercial IT agreements, including 'click-wrap' agreements for web startups, outsourcing agreements for IT companies providing back office banking services, service agreements between PTOs and backbone network providers and vertical transit agreements between ISPs
- Project managed a corporate restructuring for a telecoms MNC, including co-ordinating board minutes, share valuations, POAs, transfer documents and preparing and executing a master completion schedule across 22 jurisdictions
Education
BA (Hons) - English Lit. & Lang.
University of Oxford
LL.B (Hons) - Law
University of Nottingham
Legal Practice Course -
BPP College of Law
Skills
- Contract negotiation & drafting
- Regulatory compliance
- Data protection
- Risk management
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate governance
- Compliance analysis
- Market entry strategy
Certification
Solicitor, England & Wales, Law Society
Affiliations
- Hiking, swimming & charity work
Languages
English
First Language
Spanish
Advanced (C1)
C1
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Acting Head of Legal Department EMEA, FTC
Verifone
01.2022 - 07.2023
General Counsel
SlotsMillion
12.2020 - 01.2022
Consultant
Gaming 1
12.2019 - 02.2020
Consultant
Ibid Group
10.2019 - 12.2019
Consultant
SportPesa
03.2019 - 09.2019
Head of Compliance, MLRO, Consultant
Covesting International
08.2018 - 02.2019
Head of Legal & Compliance
William Hill International
07.2016 - 02.2019
General Counsel
Lottoland
07.2014 - 04.2016
Senior In-House Counsel Gibraltar
Famous Four Media
07.2013 - 07.2014
Director
Wolf Theiss Attorneys at Law
04.2005 - 01.2007
International Legal Advisor for Commercial and Legal Reform to Lord Paddy Ashdown
( )EU
07.2002 - 04.2005
Solicitor
Bird & Bird
08.1998 - 07.2002
BA (Hons) - English Lit. & Lang.
University of Oxford
LL.B (Hons) - Law
University of Nottingham
Legal Practice Course -
BPP College of Law
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