Partner, Jackson, Etti and Edu law firm, Chinyere Okorocha, has urged lawyers to embrace changes in technology, business and emerging industries to help clients create value.
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Okorocha gave the advice at the seventh edition of Legal Business Conference 2026, themed ‘Law, Commerce and Creativity: Unlocking New Frontiers in Health, Sports and Fashion Law’, held in Lagos.
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She explained that the methods of practice that served the profession decades ago are no longer sufficient or sustainable today, recalling that legal practice was once largely divided into litigation, commercial law, academia and public service, with research involving hours spent studying physical law reports, textbooks and statutes.

She said technology has, however, transformed the profession, making legal research, document review and legal drafting faster and more accessible, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforming legal research, contract analysis and other aspects of legal work.
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Despite the changes, Okorocha said legal education and practice must go beyond interpretation of laws, document analysis, drafting of legal instruments and resolving disputes.
 
According to her, lawyers must understand the business environment, technology and industries in which their clients operate, including how intellectual property, finance, regulation and creativity interact to create economic value.
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She urged lawyers to be strategic business partners, involved earlier in business decisions with clients, helping to identify risks, navigate regulatory requirements, protect innovations, structure transactions and pursue growth opportunities rather than professionals who are contacted only when disputes arise.
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She also highlighted the growing intersection of healthcare, technology, investment and regulation, particularly with the expansion of digital health services and AI.

She raised questions about liability when AI-assisted diagnostic systems produce incorrect results, the protection and handling of sensitive patient information, regulatory approvals for digital health solutions and ownership of intellectual property developed through collaborations between healthcare providers, researchers and technology companies, warning that innovation must not come at the expense of patients’ safety, privacy and professional accountability.
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Okorocha also identified sports law as an area offering significant opportunities for legal practitioners, noting that professional sports currently include broadcasting rights, sponsorship, endorsements, intellectual property, taxation and investment.
 
“Athletes increasingly function as brands, entrepreneurs and media personalities, whose commercial value can extend beyond sporting careers. Lawyers have important roles to play in protecting athletes’ interests, negotiating contracts and helping sporting organisations, clubs and academies build sustainable businesses.”
 
On fashion law, the lawyer said Nigeria’s growing creative industry needs stronger legal support to translate talent into sustainable commercial value, stressing that designers must protect their brands and designs, establish sound manufacturing, licensing and distribution agreements, and address unauthorised use of their intellectual property.

‎Okorocha said the boundaries between health, sports and fashion were increasingly overlapping, creating new opportunities for lawyers, who could work across disciplines.
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Convener, LBC, Ifeoma Ben, said that as industries evolve and new businesses and technologies transform work and life, lawyers must adapt to challenges and contribute to economic growth.