Kanyi: Our Law Firms Need to See Themselves as Businesses
Mr. Anire Kanyi is the principal partner of Lekki-based law firm, KKH and Chairman of the Law Practice Management Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association's Section on Business Law. A fortnight ago, his Committee brought together heavyweights in the industry, to rub minds on how to help Nigerian law firms think and function as modern business organisations. The event, which held at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, and had business titan Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, as Moderator, had a major impact on the august audience. However, Kanyi, in this chat with Akinwale Akintunde, thinks his Committee’s work will not be done, until they reach every law firm in the country
What was the key objective behind your Committee’s recent workshop on law practice management in Nigeria?
The SBL-LPMC is one of the specialist committees of the Section on Business Law, which was established primarily to develop the law office management capacity and knowledge of Nigerian commercial Lawyers. The aim is to enhance the overall business of law, in Nigeria. The strategy to achieve our mandate, is why the Committee held its 2019 annual workshop.
The theme for this year’s workshop, was
“Realigning Business Strategies for Law firms”. Basically,
we feel that the legal community is challenged, by how best to respond to the ever changing face of business locally. The workshop therefore, focused on the evolving and multi-disciplinary nature of legal practice, as well as the critical need for innovation, change and capacity building in the legal profession. You know what they say, “innovate or die”.
Would you say that the workshop had a significant impact on the attendees, and if yes, how do you intend to spread this message to the law community in Nigeria?
From the feedback we got from the participants, it was pretty obvious that the attendees had an extremely productive session. Our stellar cast of panelists led by the distinguished banker and businessman,
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, FCIB, CON, did an amazing job. Most felt that, workshops like this would catalyse positive change in the Nigerian legal environment.
Is domestic law practice way behind the contemporary developments in business? If yes, why?
This was one of the issues that one of the panelary sessions looked at, during the workshop, and it cannot be overemphasised that our practice of law is lagging behind international practice. A number of factors, are definitely responsible. For one, the training methodology of Lawyers, needs to be reviewed and adjusted to a more contemporary modus operandi. Also critical, is that Lawyers should embrace the use of technology to become more efficient, and to maximise value to the dynamic business industry.
What areas of law practice in Nigeria should be considered the most urgent for rethinking, to bring the industry up to speed with the changing face of business - locally and internationally?
We believe that, Nigerian Lawyers are very good with their substantive law. However, most Lawyers do not realise, how much a business the practice of law is. The business of law in many other jurisdictions is a massive business, and it is important that Nigerian law firms develop strategies to enable them play in this industry, especially against the backdrop of the signing of the Africa Free Trade Agreement by the Nigerian government.
What are your plans to sustain your message? Obviously one workshop in Lagos cannot change the entire industry, so do you have plans to hold more workshops in Lagos and upcountry?
Indeed, one workshop will not change the landscape. This is not our first workshop, and it is not our intention for it to be the last. Last year, we had a similar workshop in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and this year was Lagos. We will continue to find ways and means to ensure that, the message is quickly disseminated to safeguard the realisation of the Committee’s mandate, throughout the Federation.
Are there any specific new industries that may be attractive to Lawyers in the near and long terms, that would require more investments from law firms?
Technology is key for Lawyers and law firms, hence, we think that law firms should pay more attention to the technological changes around them and find ways to deploy them for their firm’s growth. As Nigeria diversifies its economy, more interesting industries will spring up for our firms. Speaking for myself, I have my eyes on the Sports Industry, which I think is going to be huge in a few years.