By Liad Hadar, Director at Hadar Incorporated, Specialist Property Law Firm
This article first appeared in Asset Magazine’s November 2024 edition

It was not so long ago that lawyers were seen as the ultimate trusted confidants of businesses – comparable to the consigliere figure famously portrayed in history and fiction (think Robert Duvall acting as Tom Hagen in The Godfather).

They were more than just legal advisors, they were the strategic partners who guided business leaders through treacherous waters, balancing legal frameworks with ethical and personal considerations. The consiglieres were the voices of reason.

These relationships were built on trust, loyalty, and long-term commitment.

Today, however, that role has shifted significantly with legal services becoming commodified and lawyers are often regarded as a “grudge purchase”, a service that is required but not particularly desired.

The connection that once characterized the lawyer-client relationship is often lost, replaced by a more transactional approach focused on short-term outcomes and financial considerations.

I am deeply driven to revive the lost art of trust between lawyer and client, so much so that I’ve specifically engineered Hadar Incorporated to operate not as mere service providers but as essential partners.
We believe in our clients’ growth, protection and long-term success as if it is our own – and it actually is.

From Trust to Transaction

The lawyer-client relationship has evolved. What was once a trusted bond is now often seen as a commercial transaction, with clients viewing legal services as something to be purchased when absolutely necessary.

The legal profession is increasingly diminished into a simple commodity with many clients feeling legal services and fees being little more than an obligatory expense. This shift has eroded the deep, trusted relationships that lawyers used to share with their clients.

However, this commodification overlooks the intrinsic value of having a legal mind as a long-term partner in personal and business decisions. A lawyer does not just provide immediate solutions to legal problems, we offer foresight, strategic thinking and the experience to help navigate potential risks and to seize opportunities.

The lost art of trust and the long-term relationship-building between lawyer and client is something that I am passionate about re-establishing. Our role as lawyers is not limited to addressing legal issues as they arise, it is about building a lasting relationship with our clients, where we can help safeguard their interests, facilitate their growth, and provide peace of mind that comes from knowing they have a committed, capable and caring partner by their side.

Lawyers in the Boardroom: South Africa vs. the USA

A stark contrast exists in the corporate governance structures of South Africa and the USA.

In South Africa, Chartered Accountants commonly sit on boards of public and other companies, while lawyers are not as prominently represented. This reflects a broader tendency to see lawyers as transactional figures rather than strategic advisors within corporate leadership.

However, in the United States, the value of lawyers on boards is widely recognized. Lawyers are frequently appointed to boards of public companies and often hold pivotal leadership roles in large corporations. Take Brad Smith, for example, who rose through the ranks at Microsoft from General Legal Counsel to President of the company, highlighting how legal expertise is viewed as crucial to navigating corporate complexities in the modern business world.

In an era where businesses face various new challenges, South Africa could benefit from adopting a similar approach. Lawyers bring a unique skillset to boardrooms, offering strategic foresight that complements the financial expertise of accountants. As businesses confront increasingly complex legal landscapes, I believe that having a lawyer in the boardroom is not just a good idea, it’s a strategic necessity.

The Rise of AI and the Law

As we move further into the 21st century, artificial intelligence (AI) is making rapid inroads into the legal profession.

AI tools are increasingly being used to handle a wide variety of tasks, from document review to contract analysis and legal research. These innovations offer undeniable efficiencies and cost savings. There’s no question that AI has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of the legal field and the next few years will likely see an even greater reliance on these technologies.

There is however a significant distinction to be made between efficiency and trust, between a machine’s ability to process data and a human’s ability to provide nuanced, strategic and empathetic advice.

In this regard, the legal profession is not unlike the medical field. In time, if not already a reality, AI will surely be able to accurately diagnose diseases and recommend treatments but when it comes to delivering a difficult diagnosis or guiding a patient through a complex health decision, most people will surely still prefer the face-to-face counsel of a doctor. In my view, the personal, human element is irreplaceable.

Similarly, while AI can assist with certain legal tasks, it cannot replicate the human insight required in areas like litigation, dispute resolution or strategic advisory work.

Litigation, in particular, requires a deep understanding of not just the law but also human behaviour, motivations, presentation and emotional intelligence, skills that machines, at least for the foreseeable future, cannot master.

Whilst I embrace the benefits that AI brings to our practice, I also recognize the irreplaceable value of the human touch. The trusted advisor, after all, is not just about providing information, it’s about delivering that information in a way that understands and responds to the needs, concerns and emotions of our clients.

The Value of the Lawyer Partner

Having a lawyer as a trusted advisor is about far more than transactional services or last-minute crisis management. It’s about having someone who understands your business or personal affairs deeply, someone who can foresee challenges before they arise and help you navigate them effectively. The lawyer is a partner in your growth, helping you make informed decisions that protect your interests while facilitating progress.

At Hadar Incorporated, we pride ourselves on being more than just a law firm. We are partners in our clients’ journeys, committed to understanding their goals and helping them achieve success. In a world where the lawyer-client relationship is increasingly viewed through the lens of cost and necessity, we aim to restore the lost art of trust, offering personalized service and long-term partnership in a way that AI-driven tools and commodified transactional services simply cannot.

We stand firmly by the belief of being critical partners to the point that we trademarked Add Value Not Hours™.

I am convinced that the lawyer as a trusted advisor is not a relic of the past but a critical component of today’s business and personal success. While AI and technological advancements may shape the future of legal services, the human element (trust, empathy and strategic thinking) will always be essential. As clients and businesses continue to evolve, so too must the legal profession, but at its heart, the role of the lawyer will remain one of value, trust and partnership.