The Law Changes. The Lawyer’s Responsibility Does Not.

For more than thirty years, I have earned my living helping clients resolve disputes. An employee wrongfully terminated. A tenant forced to live in unlawful housing conditions. A family denied rights the law promised them. A person whose life changed in an instant because of another’s negligence. Most lawyers spend their careers looking backward, examining what happened yesterday to solve today’s legal problem. There is honor in that work, and I expect it will remain an important part of my practice.

Lately, however, I have found myself looking increasingly toward the future. Not because litigation is becoming less important, but because the world in which our clients live and do business is changing at a remarkable pace. A filmmaker in Lagos can collaborate with a production company in Los Angeles. A content creator can build a global audience without ever setting foot in Hollywood. Artificial intelligence is changing how creative works are produced, licensed, protected, and monetized. These developments create extraordinary opportunities, but they also raise legal questions that often have no settled answers.

As lawyers, that is both exciting and humbling. It reminds us that our profession is not simply about knowing what the law has been. It is about helping clients navigate what the law is becoming. Over the coming months, I plan to share some of my thoughts about the intersection of law, entertainment, technology, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and cross-border business, particularly as they affect creators and entrepreneurs building relationships between Africa and the United States.

This is not a departure from the work I have done throughout my career. It is, I believe, a natural extension of it. Whether representing someone in court or helping a creator negotiate an agreement before a dispute ever arises, the objective remains the same: to protect the client’s interests, manage risk thoughtfully, and help build something that lasts.

The law changes. Technology changes. Business changes. The lawyer’s responsibility does not. It remains, as it has always been, to provide sound judgment when it matters most.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you have questions regarding your legal rights, you should consult qualified legal counsel regarding your particular circumstances.