The strength of the West of England’s pioneering legaltech ecosystem will come under the spotlight at an event later this month aimed at those interested in learning more about the sector, whether they work in law, technology, academia or finance.
Organised by Bristol Law Society and LawtechUK, a Ministry of Justice-backed initiative, the event on 17 January will be an opportunity to gain a valuable insight into the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in the city’s legaltech sector.
It will also highlight how collaboration will drive innovation as the sector develops further by bringing together the region’s powerful tech sector with its dynamic legal firms – many of which are already harnessing the power of legaltech.
The centrepiece will be a panel discussion featuring regional experts in the sector on the challenges it faces in Bristol, Bath and the wider South West.
The panel discussion will be chaired by Chris Bull, principal at specialist legal consultancy Edge International and co-chair of Bristol+Bath LegalTech, the collaborative network of law firms, legal tech companies and educationalists set up in 2019 by Bristol Law Society.
He said: “Our lawtech sector has been buzzing with collaborative energy for at least five years and is home to a growing pool of start-ups and entrepreneurs, alongside probably the biggest concentration of legal technologists working in the UK outside London – 850 at the last count in 2021.
“The sector sits at the intersection of one of the UK’s most dynamic tech and creative clusters and a roster of high-growth and progressive law firms based in the region.
The panel will also include:
- LawtechUK advisory panel member Sophia Adams Bhatti, global head of purpose and impact at law firm Simmons & Simmons
- Ed Boal, head of legal at specialist payment group Shieldpay
- Dagmar Steffens, head of strategic innovation at the West of England Combined Authority.
Attendees will also hear first-hand about the government's dedicated efforts, through LawtechUK, to support and nurture legaltech in the region, while also learning about its vision and its work in the high-growth sector.
The event will kick off with a talk by LawtechUK advisory panel member Mimi Zou, Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Exeter, titled: ‘AI and Access to Justice: the Next Frontier’.
Prof Zou said: “We believe that innovation in lawtech is a collaborative journey, and this event exemplifies our commitment to fostering a community where diverse voices converge to shape the future of legal technology.
“It's more than an event; it's a nexus where start-up founders, legal professionals, investors, government representatives, students and academics collectively contribute to the vibrant tapestry of the South West lawtech ecosystem.”
The event takes place at Simmons & Simmons’ Bristol office in Aurora, Finzels Reach. Registration is from 11am to 11:30am, with the talks and panel discussion taking place between 11:30pm and 1:30pm. Lunch and networking will follow until 2:30pm. Online attendance is available.
For more information and to register, visit: https://lawtechuk.io/events/lawtechuk-in-bristol-17-january-2024/
