Footprints Across the Continent

Soibi Ovia, Adeniyi Duale and Oluwaseye Ayinla share their views on a host of issues from Covid, to technology, free trade and government policy.

In this conversation, with Africa Legal editor Carol Campbell, the lawyers explain how they are helping clients navigate through the myriad of legal challenges thrown up by Covid-19. This has been especially challenging as government policy has become increasingly confused on how the emergency should be managed - often hampering rather than helping the economy. However, they agree, the tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians, combined with an enthusiastic consumerism, means that businesses are coping better than many in the West.

Beyond Covid, the lawyers also address the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and look at how this will drive business in an economy that, while internally competitive, has not had to deal with the influx of that many major African corporates.

Soibi talks about the rapid growth of technology in the justice sector and how the global move to a virtual world is expediting change on the ground – improving access to justice and promising efficiencies that were only a pipe dream before the pandemic.

Finally, the trio agree that opportunities emerge in every crisis but, when it comes to maintaining health and safety, sometimes it is better to batten down the hatches.

The firm has pulled together a useful guide on what Covid-19 means for African start-ups. Which can be accessed here.

The team also speak about their recently published article 'Innovate for a Green Future' accessible here - which looks at the intersection of IP law and Green business.

For this easy-going conversation between three well informed and insightful lawyers, tune in to this edition of the Africa Legal Podcast Series.

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