INTERVIEWS
ML: Have you evolved the programme over the last 12 months? JV: This is the first year that legal tech has moved out of the hype phase and it’s being adopted quickly in terms of trials and pilots. However, while there are a lot of trials, the tech is definitely being adopted. Our own network has progressed organically and is referral based. Our audience is predominantly big law focused but we also attract a number of boutiques. While we never had a huge high street presence, law tech does cover a broad spectrum – especially for those involved in big data, wills and conveyancing so should see more interest there. Law tech isn’t just servicing the top 10 big firms; it’s a big movement.
ML: It has to trickle down from the bigger players though surely? JV: Definitely. The most interesting element for me is the international-ness of it. Around 40 countries plus attend the conference. I’ve been to Russia, Melbourne, Singapore and San Francisco and can see law tech innovations are truly an internationally relevant movement. Professionals around the world share common problems that are being catered for by the same solutions. Having said that, the boutique firms are very tech led so you don’t have to be a global firm to utilise the tech out there. Models such as Keystone Law – those that are much more open to harnessing tech – are running with our network and let’s not forget that we have a great regulatory platform in England and Wales. We can do more under this platform so it’s an exciting place to be right now.
ML: What are the biggest, consistent barriers to implementing legal tech? JV: I’m a casual commentator here but the conversations I’ve had around barriers to entry and implementation are on both sides. These largely revolve around the creation of common standards for accessing and using data. Law firms are often bound by certain restraints, made by (for example), banks, existing tech solutions or data security elements - and start ups aren’t always compliant to these. These issues surrounding access to data – either on premise or on the cloud - need to be fixed for wider adoption. I can see the frustration on both sides really and the challenges here but people are getting through them and we’re starting to see solutions come through.
ML: Bring us up to speed with the Legal Geek events. JV: The Legal Geek conference alone has grown from 500 to 2000 delegates in the UK, with guests from over 40 countries and start-ups that are now established and raising millions of pounds of funds. I never expected Legal Geek; I started my own market research on legal start-ups but it was never really my intention to create a legal event business. Yet we’re now aiming to be THE global space for legal tech start-ups. It’s our ambition to allow people to engage and instruct them in a really relevant, meaningful way. We like the idea that you can achieve a year’s worth of networking and research in one day at a Legal Geek event. We’ve listened to our customers to make it relevant for everyone, from regulators, firms – from big law to in-house and other pockets that overlap, including legal education. I feel our network has matured. For example, our first start-ups are now serious businesses and are our silver sponsors. It’s cool to be a part of that journey and see that happen in a short space of time.
ML: Who, in the main, champions tech implementation in a firm? JV: In terms of our conference delegates, it’s hard to pigeonhole who’s driving it as we have a broad range of attendance and interest; from senior leaders to younger employees. I’ve also met a lot of students who understand the benefits of tech and not staying the same; they are also driving those conversations.
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