by Ann Brown
May 27, 2026
He splits his time between Dallas and Mexico City, where he now spends most of the year.
When the courts closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Derrick Morgan Jr. suddenly faced a significant career decline.
At the time, the 34-year-old lawyer was working at a law firm, handling emergencies, when cases and court activity began to dry up. Morgan decided to change course.
After a cousin asked him to help register a trademark for a business, he started offering branding services on Fiverr, the freelance platform, and within a few months demand exploded.
By 2021, Morgan had completely quit his job at a law firm.
His company, Morgan Business Solutions, LLC, now handles trademark searches, registrations and trademark protection for companies worldwide. Because trademark law is federal in nature, Morgan can operate remotely anywhere as long as he is licensed under U.S. law.
Today he commutes between Dallas and Mexico City, where he now spends most of the year. Morgan runs a far-flung trademark law firm out of Mexico City. He also earns rental income from a condo he owns in Chicago.
Morgan said he first visited the Mexican capital in January 2020 and immediately connected with the city’s culture and energy.
The political climate in the United States following the murder of George Floyd also influenced his decision to move abroad.
“I wanted a different environment, but I also wanted to be in a place that felt vibrant, creative and culturally rich. Mexico City gave me that. It’s a cosmopolitan city with incredible food, art, history and energy, but it also still feels rooted in the community,” he said BLACK COMPANY.
He adds, “At the same time, I didn’t want to be out of reach of my family. With my family in Dallas, Mexico City is about a 2.5 hour flight away.”
The move didn’t go completely smoothly. Morgan admitted that one of the biggest challenges early on was finding community and adjusting to life without fluency in Spanish.
“In the beginning, the biggest challenge was finding a community. When I arrived, I didn’t speak Spanish, so my ability to interact with the locals was limited. That changed when I set my sights on learning the language,” says Morgan, who took online courses and later studied at a local university.
Morgan also found a growing community of African Americans in Mexico City, which he said barely existed when he arrived several years ago.
He also had to adapt to the rhythm of life in Mexico City. “Life feels more deliberate and less transactional than I was used to in the US. That took some adjustment,” he admits.
“I did my research early and made sure I moved with local rules and systems in mind,” he noted. “Financially, the adjustment has been pretty smooth. I usually rent furnished apartments, which can be more expensive, but it’s a great investment to make the move easier and ensure your home is comfortable. Overall, the cost of living is lower, so I have more disposable income.”
Morgan invests heavily in real estate and entrepreneurial ventures. One of his largest projects is Casa Papalotl, a boutique hotel project in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. He has also invested in Ofrenda Spirits, a mezcal company, and Aver Network, a Mexico City-based marketing platform.
In addition to his legal practice, Morgan is co-owner of Imbiss, a restaurant in Mexico City that he helped revitalize.
“Imbiss actually opened in 2021, before I moved to Mexico City. I always visited the restaurant because I loved the ambiance, the people I met there, and the food. I was introduced to the owner and my business partner, Ramses, an incredibly talented Mexican chef,” says Morgan. “The company was well established, but he was in the middle of day-to-day operations and was looking for a partner who could bring a different perspective and help fill operational gaps. For me, it was about taking something that was already good and seeing how we could make it great. I focused on introducing more events, streamlining operations/systems, and introducing Imbiss to a new audience.”
Living and working abroad is an option for many African Americans, says Morgan. But go with an open mind.
“The biggest misconception is that you have to be rich or very wealthy to move abroad. You don’t do that. “You need a plan, just like with any major move,” he says. “Another misconception is that life will automatically be cheap.” It may be cheaper, but many people increase their standard of living after they arrive and end up spending the same amount.”
He adds that being less safe can also be a misconception. “Sometimes people assume that another country is less safe than their city in the US, but depending on where you are from, the opposite can be true. There are things that I am vigilant about in the US that are not a big problem abroad, and vice versa. It really depends on the country and the city,” he points out.
Morgan has found that it is easier to build wealth internationally compared to the United States. “It’s been easier for me, especially because I have more disposable income now. When I lived in Chicago, I invested about 40% of my income. Now it’s closer to 50%, which accelerates my investment goals,” he says, but adds, “Still, changing countries doesn’t automatically change your habits or who you are. If you’re disciplined in one place, you’ll probably be disciplined in one place.” But a more affordable country, be it Mexico, Europe, Africa or elsewhere, can create more flexibility and scope.”
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