Says understanding technology, industry trends and commercial opportunities is key to the future of legal practice
Mrs Chinyere Okorocha, a partner at Jackson, Etti & Edu, has called on Nigerian lawyers to rethink traditional approaches to legal practice, urging them to become strategic business partners who understand technology, commercial realities and the industries in which their clients operate.
Okorocha made the call while delivering the keynote address at the seventh edition of the Legal Business Conference (LBC) 2026, held on Tuesday, October 20, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on the theme, “Law, Commerce and Creativity: Unlocking New Frontiers in Health, Sports and Fashion Law,” she titled her address “Beyond the Courtroom: Reimagining the Lawyer’s Role in a Changing World,” challenging legal practitioners to look beyond conventional practice areas and identify opportunities emerging from the intersection of law, technology and business.
She questioned whether lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar today would build their careers, acquire skills and pursue professional opportunities in the same way as practitioners did 10, 20 or 30 years ago, arguing that the changing realities of the profession demanded a different approach.
According to her, the legal profession has undergone significant transformation since she was called to the Bar 35 years ago, particularly in the areas of legal research, client communication, document management and service delivery.
She noted that technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, have significantly reduced the time required for legal research, document review, contract analysis and drafting, while clients have become more informed and business transactions increasingly sophisticated.
However, she observed that legal training and practice have not always evolved at the same pace as these changes, stressing that proficiency in interpreting statutes, analysing legal documents and resolving disputes, although fundamental, is no longer sufficient on its own.
“The lawyer of the future must do more than just understand the law. The lawyer must understand the world in which the law operates,” she said, emphasising the need for practitioners to develop a deeper understanding of business, technology and the sectors in which their clients operate.
Lawyers must become strategic business partners
Okorocha maintained that lawyers should move beyond the traditional perception of legal practitioners as professionals consulted only when disputes arise, contracts are breached or regulatory problems emerge.
She argued that legal advisers must become involved much earlier in their clients’ business journeys, helping them structure enterprises, protect innovations, manage risks, secure investments and establish sustainable commercial relationships.
Using the example of an entrepreneur developing a digital health platform, she explained that the entrepreneur would require more than contract drafting. The business would also need guidance on corporate structure, intellectual property protection, patient data management, regulatory compliance, capital raising and commercial partnerships.
Similarly, fashion designers seeking to expand their businesses would require legal support in licensing, franchising, manufacturing, distribution, investment and international expansion, while professional athletes would need advice on endorsement agreements, image rights, sponsorships, taxation and long-term wealth management.
She stressed that clients increasingly need lawyers who understand their ambitions, anticipate challenges and identify opportunities that can create lasting commercial value.
While advocating this broader professional role, Okorocha cautioned that lawyers must not abandon their traditional responsibilities or compromise their independence, ethical obligations and commitment to the rule of law.
She maintained that legal excellence remains indispensable but becomes more valuable when combined with commercial awareness, industry knowledge and sound professional judgment.
Health, sports and fashion offer new opportunities
Addressing the three sectors highlighted by the conference, Okorocha explained that health, sports and fashion were no longer peripheral areas of legal practice but increasingly important fields offering significant opportunities for specialised legal services.
On health law, she observed that the healthcare ecosystem had expanded beyond hospitals, doctors, patients and pharmaceutical companies to include technology firms, investors, insurers, medical-device developers, digital platforms and regulators.
She noted that telemedicine, artificial intelligence and digital health platforms could improve access to medical services, particularly for people in remote communities, while also raising important questions about patient safety, data privacy, intellectual property ownership, professional liability and regulatory approvals.
She challenged legal practitioners to consider who should bear responsibility when an artificial intelligence-powered diagnostic system produces an incorrect result, as well as how sensitive patient information should be collected, stored and shared.
According to her, these questions demonstrate why lawyers must understand technological developments and their implications for healthcare delivery.
Turning to sports law, Okorocha argued that professional sports should be viewed as a commercial industry rather than merely entertainment.
She explained that athletes increasingly function as brands, entrepreneurs, media personalities and investors, with commercial interests extending beyond their performances on the field.
She identified broadcasting rights, sponsorship agreements, endorsements, image rights, employment and transfer contracts, brand licensing, taxation and investment structures as areas requiring specialised legal expertise.
The lawyer also expressed concern about the financial difficulties experienced by some former athletes, noting that stronger legal and commercial advice could help sports professionals protect their earnings and develop sustainable businesses beyond their active sporting careers.
She added that the opportunities were not limited to internationally recognised athletes but also extended to local clubs, sports academies and sporting associations.
On fashion law, Okorocha highlighted Nigeria’s growing creative potential, noting that the country’s designers were increasingly attracting attention in domestic and international markets.
However, she warned that producing outstanding designs and gaining public recognition did not automatically translate into a sustainable business.
She identified trademark protection, ownership of designs, manufacturing agreements, licensing, distribution, counterfeiting and international intellectual property protection as critical considerations for fashion entrepreneurs seeking to commercialise their creativity.
According to her, designers must ensure that their brands and creations are legally protected and that their commercial arrangements are properly structured to prevent exploitation and support long-term growth.
Future opportunities lie at the intersection of industries
A major highlight of the keynote was Okorocha’s argument that the boundaries between health, sports and fashion were increasingly overlapping, creating new opportunities for lawyers who could work across professional disciplines.
She illustrated this with the example of wearable technology used by athletes to monitor their heart rates and other health indicators, explaining that such products could raise questions involving medical-device regulation, data protection, intellectual property, product liability and commercial licensing.
She also cited the possibility of athletes launching sportswear brands and fashion companies developing clothing embedded with health-monitoring technology as examples of how these sectors intersect.
According to her, some of the most valuable opportunities in the legal profession may emerge not from conventional practice areas alone but from the connections between industries.
She therefore urged lawyers to broaden their professional outlook, collaborate with specialists outside the legal profession and develop solutions that reflect the increasingly multidisciplinary nature of modern business challenges.
Okorocha’s address reinforced the central message of the conference: that the future of legal practice will depend not only on lawyers’ knowledge of the law but also on their ability to understand business, protect innovation and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
She called on practitioners to embrace new approaches to legal service delivery, learn from other disciplines and adapt to the changing professional landscape.
The seventh edition of the Legal Business Conference brought together conversations around health, sports and fashion law, reflecting the growing importance of legal expertise in helping businesses navigate regulation, protect intellectual property and turn creative ideas into sustainable commercial ventures.