The LawtechUK Panel was formed in July 2018 as an industry-led, Government-supported initiative to develop the use of technology in the legal sector.
Chaired by Christina Blacklaws, former President of the Law Society, the panel acts as an advisory board to the LawtechUK programme. Membership is comprised of leaders from the public and private sectors who are well versed in the law and technology sector.
The changes reflect the transition to the second phase of LawtechUK, which is being taken forwards by CodeBase and Legal Geek.
The Panel will continue to support the LawtechUK programme, helping ensure its success and supporting Codebase and Legal Geek to drive the development and use of technology in the legal sector. This will also accelerate the growth of the UK's internationally-recognised lawtech sector.
The new members are:
- Maya Markovich - Executive Director of Justice Technology Association
- Mimi Zou - Co-founder of Deriskly and Professor of Commercial Law, University of Exeter
- Isabel Parker - Partner at Deloitte Legal
- Stephen Browning - Challenge Director for Next Generation Services at UK Research and Innovation
- Sophia Adams Bhatti - Global Head of Purpose and Impact, Simmons & Simmons.
Rosemary Martin, who has been a valued member of the panel for over 4 years, will be stepping down.
Christina Blacklaws, LawtechUK Panel Chair said:
I am delighted and excited to welcome our talented new colleagues to the LawtechUK panel. This is an incredibly exciting time as the industry explores the possibilities and consequences of utilising generative AI whilst trying to address issues of unmet legal need in this country.
The LawtechUK panel will be at the forefront of this work and our new members will help to drive forward innovation in the legal sector.
Justice Minister Mike Freer said:
LawtechUK plays a central role in nurturing new cutting-edge innovation, and supporting the UK's place as a world leader in legal services and expertise.
I welcome this new panel of established and outstanding individuals whose collective expertise will bring tremendous value to the work of the programme well into the future.
Notes
- The LawtechUK programme was established in 2019 by Tech Nation (a growth platform helping to accelerate and scale start-ups) using an initial £2 million grant from the Ministry of Justice - to support lawtech and the digital transformation of the UK legal sector. This grant was extended by £1 million in 2022 and the first phase concluded in March 2023.
- During the first phase, the Panel acted as advisory board to the LawtechUK programme, supporting the development of the delivery plans and the running of the projects/programme.
- A second phase of the LawtechUK programme will be delivered by CodeBase and Legal Geek up to March 2025.
- The objectives for LawtechUK's second phase will build on work delivered so far, in order to:
- Increase innovation and the adoption of lawtech in the delivery of UK legal services.
- Support the growth of the lawtech sector in the UK.
- Enable English and Welsh law and the UK's jurisdictions to become the foundation for emerging technologies, by supporting and promoting the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce's work.
- Sophia Adams Bhatti was a Labour Party candidate in the local council elections on 4 May 2023. Political activity is not a bar to appointment.
