“… the 21st century lawyer must be adaptive to the world, adapt to emerging practice areas, emerging client needs and the different ways the world interfaces with lawyers today.”- Meshack K Masibo
Meshack K Masibo is the Managing Partner of MasiboLaw LLP and a lawyer with over five years of experience offering legal services to technology companies such as fintechs, healthtechs & edtechs, software developers, e-commerce companies, creators, individuals and start-ups. He is a globally recognised technology law expert and has spoken at global events on emerging issues such as data protection, artificial intelligence and industry. His educational background includes advanced data protection training from the University of Pretoria, specialised privacy law training from Strathmore University, a Post Graduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law and a Law Degree from Kenyatta University. He advises several Start-Up Boards on legal compliance and is trusted for his insights, experience, service and efficiency. In his free time, Meshack enjoys nature trails, travelling, movies and spending time with his loved ones.
1. The Driving Force for Choosing the Legal Profession.
Meshack grew up as a lover of TV and TV series. While in primary school, he developed a deep Interest in the American show Boston Legal, starring Danny Crane & Allan Shore. Their witty exchanges as they resolved critical social problems with a mix of wit and ingenuity stuck with him over the years. In many ways, Meshack’s career allowed him to see real-life versions of the actors and to also become them. He still enjoys solving complex problems while retaining some humour and wit. Today, the profession remains deeply fulfilling because Meshack has seen the impact of his work. He has helped entrepreneurs close million-dollar funding rounds, secure difficult-to-obtain licenses and permits, advised multinational companies, and won cases against big corporations. The joy in the faces of those he serves when he delivers what they need keeps him going. Also, if he is to be frank, the change in his bank account balance over the years and what that enables him to do gives him tremendous joy.
2. Qualities of an Exceptional Lawyer and How Young Professionals Can Cultivate Such Attributes.
According to Meshack, the 21st century lawyer needs to be adaptive, and value driven. By value driven, he meant focused on delivering value to the client. That value might not be traditional legal value but something as basic as doing the right introduction to the right person at the right time. Additionally, the 21st century lawyer must be adaptive to the world, adapt to emerging practice areas, emerging client needs and the different ways the world interfaces with lawyers today. For example in 2025, knowing the right prompt in the right software might be more valuable than being able to recite 18th century case law by heart.
3. Significant Ongoing Project or Initiatives and Possible Impacts.
Meshack has built a practice based on exploring synergies across borders and demographics. His vision and perception of Africa is as a free trade area where goods and services are sold seamlessly across the continent. He has predominantly served clients from East, West, and South Africa. However, recently he has noticed some interest in some of these markets from the north, specifically Egypt, and he is thinking about how to include this in his practice. This might look like him stepping into the culture, visiting the country, meeting some professionals, and seeing what the future might hold. He believes that this will allow him to build relationships and explore untapped opportunities for his firm and clients.
4. Role Models and Impactful Books.
Meshack’s foremost influence is his mentor, Justice Daniel Musinga of the Kenyan Court of Appeal. Meshack has greatly benefited from conversations with him which have influenced his thoughts, perceptions fuelling him with a sense of optimism about his career and future. Additionally, Meshack receives a lot of indirect mentorships from multiple people whom he regularly listens to on the internet or in forums. He admires lawyers like John Morgan of Morgan and Morgan because of his entrepreneurial zeal and is a consistent consumer of knowledge from the likes of Simon Sinek and Alex Hormozi.
5. Advice or Guiding Principles for Young Legal Professionals and Advocates Trying to Find their Place and Purpose in the Legal Terrain
Meshack’s encouragement is to keep showing up. This journey of life is full of twists and turns. In his career so far, he has failed at interviews, lost his job, resigned without a plan, and experienced financial difficulty just as much as he has had good moments. The secret is to just keep showing up, whether bruised, beaten, struggling, or happy, just show up, do what needs to be done, consistently and persistently. The sun will eventually shine.
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Editorial Team
Silver Obioha
Clinton Nyamongo
Kazeem Afolabi
Dikeledi Matlhagare
Tolulope Olasunkanmi
Sulaimon Badmus
Aya Hamdy
Princess Maake
Jemilat Akerele
Vera Enubianozor
Brandon Otieno
Oluwabusayo Awodele
Kyenpiya Wonang
Gift Nwoke
Jessica Odoh
Tracy Karumba
Mary-Jones Ossi
Halimah Oladunni
Mary Linus
Peter Momoh
Jessica Omoruyi
