Introduction and Welcome
Taryell Simmons: Welcome back to another episode of Rise Urban Nation, the podcast where we amplify voices shaping culture, community, and commerce. I am your host, Terrell Simmons, and today guest is someone who embodies all three. He is a seasoned attorney, FIFA certified sports agent, award-winning community leader, and fierce advocate for justice and equity across the African diaspora. Please help me welcome the brilliant mind behind The Saber Firm, Taalib Saber. Welcome to the show, brother. How are you doing today?
Taalib Saber: Everything is blessed and feeling good. Another day, another time to live, another time to impact, and another time to build with my brother.
Taryell Simmons: I love that. We were talking earlier about healthy living and eating vegan. I know you are from the DMV area like me. Tell me some of your favorite vegan spots in DC.
Taalib Saber: Everlasting Life in Capitol Heights is pretty dope. Dodah is on Rhode Island Avenue. Up in Baltimore, Hue Cafe and Apothecary in Owings Mills is really dope, and Senbeb in DC is another favorite.
Taryell Simmons: You have all the spots. I come from a Nigerian household, so going vegan was a hard sell when my sister tried it. Living your life is what matters.
Journey into Law and Pan-Africanism
Taryell Simmons: Walk us through your journey from Morgan State to launching The Saber Firm. What inspired you to shift into entrepreneurship through law?
Taalib Saber: My first memory of wanting to be a lawyer came around age five or six during the OJ Simpson trial watching Johnnie Cochran. I showed up to elementary school career day in a suit and briefcase. At Morgan State, Dean Pierce from North Carolina Central University School of Law recruited on campus, and I was impressed by the culture and cost-effectiveness. In 2013, during my first year of law school, my grandfather was sick. I had the choice between an internship on Capitol Hill or a study abroad trip to South Africa. My grandfather lit up when I mentioned South Africa, so I chose that. That trip was life-changing. Seeing how the struggle in South Africa mirrored our experience in America defined my Pan-Africanism. The next year, I interned in Ghana at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
Taalib Saber: When I returned, I began filming a documentary called Afro Hop, exploring hip hop, politics, and Pan-Africanism. I felt law had jurisdictional ceilings and almost left law school. My mentor, civil rights attorney Irving Joyner, reminded me that our community needed lawyers with that orientation. I graduated intending to be a human rights attorney and an independent organizer rather than working at a traditional law firm.
Transitioning to Sports and Entertainment Law
Taalib Saber: Early on, I was boots-on-the-ground with Tubman House in Baltimore and the Movement for Black Power in DC. Eventually, my friend Amir Collier pointed out the huge need for attorneys who look like the talent in entertainment and sports. I consulted with elders to ensure I was staying true to my values. I realized practicing sports and entertainment law is not selling out; it is an extension of community empowerment. It focuses on educating creatives and athletes on intellectual property, NIL rights, and preventing predatory long-term contracts. Civil rights often deals in fixing past injustices, whereas this work focuses on manifesting dreams and building generational wealth.
Taryell Simmons: That is Afro-futuristic—directly shaping our future. What does representing clients through a Pan-African lens look like in practice?
Taalib Saber: It means broadening perspectives beyond the United States. I encourage business owners to think globally, whether establishing operations in Uganda or partnering with communities in Brazil. Traveling to the continent shows possibilities and builds long-term economic bridges.
Overcoming Obstacles and Navigating Business Realities
Taryell Simmons: What significant hurdles did you face building your practice?
Taalib Saber: Before law school, a professor refused to write a recommendation letter because of my LSAT scores, doubting my potential. Later, an older attorney insisted I had to choose between filmmaking and law. I rejected that limitation because young attorneys can pursue multidimensional passions. I also experienced imposter syndrome before addressing the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in Geneva, but I grounded myself and delivered my message.
Taalib Saber: The biggest systemic challenge is learning the business of law. Law school teaches legal analysis for the bar exam, not how to run a sustainable enterprise. Capital is difficult to secure, and social media creates unrealistic expectations by hiding expenses and failures. Building authentic relationships and strong networks is essential to weathering early struggles.
Legal Blueprint for Entrepreneurs and Creatives
Taryell Simmons: What foundational steps should entrepreneurs take when starting out?
Taalib Saber: First, understand your industry and conduct thorough market research. Second, choose a distinct, protectable brand name and conduct clearance searches before investing in branding. Third, form a formal legal entity like an LLC or corporation to shield personal assets, avoid commingling funds, and draft an operating agreement. Fourth, secure business insurance. Finally, retain an accountant and a lawyer early, budgeting for professional fees directly in your business plans and grant applications.
Taryell Simmons: What are the top legal missteps you see entrepreneurs make?
Taalib Saber: Relying exclusively on internet searches instead of expert counsel, scaling too fast before dominating your local market, and operating without solid written contracts. Courts interpret ambiguous contract terms against the drafter, so having clear, tailored legal agreements is vital. Furthermore, securing intellectual property requires building actual market equity behind your trademark or copyright.
Closing and Contact Information
Taryell Simmons: Where can listeners connect with you and book a consultation?
Taalib Saber: You can visit our website at https://www.thesaberfirm.com, find us on Instagram @thesaberfirm, or connect with me on LinkedIn at Taalib Saber.
Taryell Simmons: Thank you for dropping gems, brother. To our listeners, keep rising. Peace.
