4th Quarterly Webinar on In-House Counsel, State Counsel, Lawyers in Academia & Lawyers in Private Practice: SMARTER, NOT REPLACED: How Lawyers Can Use Technology to Grow Locally and Win Cross-Border Work

This webinar presents an invaluable opportunity for legal professionals aiming to leverage technology for sustainable growth, increased efficiency, and enhanced competitive positioning both locally and internationally. Attendees will have the chance to network with colleagues, gain insights from distinguished speakers, and implement practical strategies to advance their practices.

The keynote speaker, Sayu Abend, is the CEO and founder of SpacePointe—a rapidly expanding global fintech enterprise operating in 16 countries with headquarters in Ohio, U.S.A. With a comprehensive background in engineering, product management, and sales strategy, Mrs. Abend has cultivated a product-centric organization that delivers scalable merchant services and POS solutions to industries such as retail, grocery, and hospitality. Her leadership is characterized by a focus on innovation, adaptability, and operational excellence, positioning SpacePointe as a prominent industry competitor. As a woman and minority leader, she remains dedicated to empowering businesses through technology and actively engages with professionals who share similar values.

Matthew Itsuokor, the lead discussant, is an experienced network engineer admitted to the Nigerian bar in 1988. He holds an LLM from Howard University Law School (1993) and a Master of Science in Information and Computer Systems Management (2014) from the University of Maryland. Mr. Itsuokor spent eight years at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center specializing in space mission design and later working in Integration Labs. He subsequently transitioned to legal firms, where he amassed eighteen years of expertise in IT provisioning and delivery. Presently, he serves as Information Systems Manager at Groom Law Group, Washington DC.

Olajide Olagunju, PhD, FCIArb, FICMC, FICIArb, CertMed, CertArb, CPB, CRJ, Attorney at Law, is the webinar convener. Prof. Olagunju was awarded the British Chevening Scholarship in 1995, served as a Research Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2005, and held fellowships at Harvard and Brandeis Universities in 2008. Currently, he is Professor of Conflict Resolution at Bakke Graduate University and President of Jesus College, Maryland, USA.

Professor Yvonne McKenzie, Doctor of Transformational Leadership (DTL) and the Director of the Master of Transformation Leadership (MTL) Program at Bakke Graduate University, will anchor the webinar, while Professor Cynthia Ojukwu, Doctor of Law and Professor of ADR at Jesus College, is the webinar rapporteur.