Onome Cynthia Anakanire

Onome Cynthia Anakanire is an internationally qualified lawyer, privacy and AI governance professional, and public policy adviser whose career spans private practice, multinational organisations, international institutions, and government across Africa, Europe, and the United States.

She currently serves as Legal Counsel and Director of the New York State Senate Committee on Banks, advising on banking legislation, financial regulation, consumer protection, and emerging legal and policy issues affecting financial services.

Her international experience includes privacy, compliance and governance roles with Allianz Direct, AXA XL, AXA Mansard, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), including work on data protection, regulatory compliance, governance and cross-border legal issues.

A member of both the Nigerian Bar and the New York Bar, she holds advanced law degrees from institutions in Nigeria, France, Belgium and the United States, a Master of Science in Project Management, and internationally recognised certifications including FIP, CIPP/E, CIPP/US and CIPM.

Her work sits at the intersection of law, technology, financial regulation and public policy, with a focus on responsible innovation, cross-border commerce, data protection and artificial intelligence governance.

Practice areas

• Legal Counsel & Director, New York State Senate Committee on Banks
• Privacy & Compliance Counsel, Allianz Direct (Europe)
• Corporate Governance & Regulatory Affairs, AXA XL
• Legal & Compliance Officer, AXA Mansard
• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW, The Hague)

• Admitted to the New York State Bar (2024)
• Admitted to the Nigerian Bar (2015)
• LL.M in Banking, Corporate & Finance Law, Fordham University School of Law, New York
• Master in International Law & European Law, Université de Cergy-Pontoise, France
• Master of Science in Project Management
• LL.B (Hons), Igbinedion University
• Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) – International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
• Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US)
• Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E)
• Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)