The 2022 Legal Innovation Awards took place in-person on Friday, to celebrate the best and brightest legal innovators driving pioneering change in the legal market.
Among the big winners were DAC Beachcroft, Mayer Brown and DLA Piper. Here is a breakdown of who won in each category and why the judges chose them.
Outstanding Legal Operations
Shortlisted nominees: BigHand, Class Legal, Exigent, LawVu, Luminance, OneTrust
Winner: Exigent
Exigent’s “very useful tool” offers quality reporting and tangible benefits to the in-house department, according to one judge. The company works with both firms and legal departments to optimise their legal services, in particular leveraging the power of data which is locked in legal contracts and processes.
Excellence in Litigation & Data Science
Shortlisted nominees: Level, Luminance, Solomonic
Winner: Solomonic
Solomonic was praised for being “very innovative” when developing an informed litigation strategy based on “big data” sets, placing lawyers in a much stronger position to advise clients of litigation risk and save costs. Solomonic’s analytics, which result from sifting through thousands of High Court claims, documents and court hearings, give an advantage to those lawyers, litigation funders, insurers, and in-house counsel that use it.
Excellence in Human Resource Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, Mills & Reeve, Shearman & Sterling, Womble Bond Dickinson
Highly commended: Shearman & Sterling
Winner: Ashurst
Ashurst, Legal Innovation Awards. Photo: Rob KennardThe judges selected Ashurst’s initiative as it dramatically increases the amount of paid leave – regardless of gender – so time spent at home with a new baby can be shared where that is an option. The judges particularly praised the small touches of this initiative such as removing any gendered language.
Knowledge Management Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Addleshaw Goddard, Dentons, Macfarlanes, Mills & Reeve, RPC, Shearman & Sterling, The Divorce Surgery
Winner: The Divorce Surgery
Founded by two leading family law barristers, The Divorce Surgery is the first and only service in the U.K. that provides joint family law advice to couples together. It has designed a secure portal for couples to upload and exchange their financial disclosure in an easy to digest form of short, non-legal questions, making the process seamless, intuitive and conflict-free.
Disruptive Technology of the Year – Private Practice
Shortlisted nominees: Addleshaw Goddard, Horwich Farrelly, LawWorks and Justice Connect, Shoosmiths
LawWorks and Justice Connect. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: LawWorks and Justice Connect
LawWorks and Justice Connect’s disruptive tech was described by judges as “a brilliant piece of infrastructure for the pro bono community legal sector”, “transforming the digital pro bono landscape” and “providing true innovation.” The scheme identifies and then resolves the disconnect between willing pro bono lawyers and would be clients, having isolated flaws in the system of referral, with a portal that fixes this.
Disruptive Technology of the Year – Supplier
Shortlisted nominees: Clarilis and FromCounsel, Exterro, Flex Legal, Info Track, Linklaters | CreateiQ + ISDA, Thirdfort Limited, vLex Justis Ltd
Flex Legal. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Flex Legal
In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, this winning entry stood out to the judges for bringing legal training into the 21st century for the next digital generation. Flex Legal was first established in 2016 and since then has become the U.K.’s fastest growing legal services provider.
Leading Legal Services Procurement Innovation
Winner: Liberis
Liberis, Legal Innovation Awards. Photo: Rob KennardFirst established in 2007, “a small team that packs a big punch” is how Liberis Legal Ops was described, with the procurement initiative that leverages existing business tools and tech to build scalable legal processes being “a truly cross-functional effort” from the team.
AI Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Addleshaw Goddard, Baker McKenzie, DAC Beachcroft, Horwich Farrelly, Pérez-Llorca, Weightmans
Highly commended: Addleshaw Goddard
Winner: Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie’s team was described by one judge as looking “set to be a genuine disruptor and market leader in delivering machine learning-enabled judgment, particularly in M&A.” The winning entry was in partnership with AI-powered platform SparkBeyond.
Innovative Practice Management
Winner: Class Legal
Class Legal. Photo: Rob KennardThis service provider’s cloud-based system provides protection to family lawyers to interface with clients and counsel on required court forms without security being jeopardized. The entry, Quantum Cloud allows users to complete all your family law court forms and orders within the security of a flexible system.
Client Management Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Addleshaw Goddard, Burges Salmon, DAC Beachcroft, Dentons, Mills & Reeve
Winner: Addleshaw Goddard
Addleshaw Goddard. Photo: Rob KennardAddleshaw Goddard was described as “a worthy winner” that has clearly produced an innovative system that works very well for their clients. Glowing GC testimonials included that the firm took “time to understand our culture, values, and unique requirements”.
Championing Diversity in Tech Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Yindi Gesinde, Baker McKenzie. Bhavisa Patel, Eversheds Sutherland. Patrick Wisheu and Robert Renfree, Mills & Reeve. Arun Birla, Paul Hastings.
Patrick Wisheu and Robert Renfree. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Patrick Wisheu and Robert Renfree, Mills & Reeve
“It can be challenging for those who are not yet partners to influence and lead at a law firm” said one judge, which makes these individuals’ success at implementing small, practical but very important changes in the day to day practice of their firm particularly impressive. The duo “have worked extremely hard” to build Spectrum, as is reflected in the range of events they have championed.
Pioneering Business Development Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: AL-HQ Law & More, Mackrell Solicitors, Mills & Reeve, Paul Hastings, Pinsent Masons, Slaughter and May
Pinsent Masons. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons won this award for being a prime example of a law firm starting to use tech, legal and non legal skills, and a triage system to prioritise the best work for the firm.
Standout Diversity in Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Mayer Brown, Mills & Reeve, Norton Rose Fulbright
Mayer Brown. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown’s web-based app was described by judges as focused and very well-executed across multiple jurisdictions. The firm’s client said it was: “Exactly the type of innovation we look for from our outside counsel.”
Innovation Trailblazer Award – In-House
Winner: Áine Lyons, Vmware
“There is nothing she cannot do” is how Lyons was praised, driven by her “sheer determination and relentless pursuit of excellence” she “inspires teams to come together” and follow her lead. Lyons “brings together a complete skillset including leadership, creativity, business awareness, legal skills, operational prowess and collaboration to effectuate a vision in a phenomenal way”.
Impactful Incubator Project
Shortlisted nominees: Capacity Vault Limited, Level
Winner: Level
Level is an innovative and fast-growing dispute resolution funder launched in 2017. It has become the top-ranked litigation lender of its kind in the U.K., by Chambers, and in 2021 Level raised £20 million of investment to fuel innovation whilst in the same year growing its revenue and headcount by 50%.
CSR Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Ashurst, DLA Piper, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Paul Hastings, Pinsent Masons, SKB Law, Tenet Compliance & Litigation
Hogan Lovells. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Hogan Lovells
Hogan Lovells innovation stood out for being original, unusual and yet highly pertinent. Judges said at a time the profession has an endless appetite for technology, it’s a salient reminder of the importance of preserving and restoring our natural habitat.
Outstanding Training Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Ashurst, DAC Beachcroft, Dentons, Horwich Farrelly, Mills & Reeve, Paul Hastings, Reed Smith and E3 Compliance Training. Joint Submission: CMS; Dentons; Herbert Smith Freehills; Linklaters; Norton Rose Fulbright; and Slaughter and May
DAC Beachcroft. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: DAC Beachcroft
The client adoption rate illustrated to the judges how successful and effective the training programme, which pushes the boundaries of the training law firms have historically delivered to clients in a truly innovative way.
Outstanding Marketing Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: DAC Beachcroft, Horwich Farrelly, Law 365, Mills & Reeve, Withers
Horwich Farrelly. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Horwich Farrelly
A ‘Netflix’ style platform approach to training impressed the judges, with the platform being described as “not only an innovative way to market the firm, but also useful and practical content, which was appreciated by clients”. Judges said the innovation was an excellent example of adapting to clients’ needs in an engaging way.
Leading PR & Communications Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: DAC Beachcroft, DLA Piper, Shoosmiths
DAC Beachcroft. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: DAC Beachcroft
The firm’s self-proclaimed “unabashedly confident” campaign aimed to improve understanding around innovation, and was a campaign that “deliberately shook up the law firm norm”, according to judges. One judge said it was “great to see a campaign that deliberately shook up the law firm ‘norm’”.
Innovation Trailblazer Award – Private Practice
Shortlisted nominees: Robert Taylor, 360 Law Group. Clara Garfield, Addleshaw Goddard. Julia Wilson, Baker McKenzie. Peter Allchorne, DAC Beachcroft. Emily Foges, Deloitte Legal. Rachel Broquard, Eversheds Sutherland. Lyn Harris, Herbert Smith Freehills. Chris Tart-Roberts, Macfarlanes. David Carter, Norton Rose Fulbright. Stuart Whittle, Weightmans.
Winner: Stuart Whittle, Weightmans
Peers described Whittle as ‘a living Action Man of legal innovation’, while judges said the winner is clearly “willing to think differently and successfully disrupt working practices”. Whittle is willing to think differently and successfully disrupt working practices.
Innovation Trailblazer Award – Supplier
Shortlisted nominees: Sarvarth Misra, ContractPodAi. Samuel Clague, The Stephen James Partnership.
Winner: Samuel Clague, The Stephen James Partnership
Recipient of this award for the second year running, Clague’s managing director described him as a “powerful advocate for black people in an industry where they are significantly under-represented” and praised his work for contributing to his aim of “more black representation at the highest levels of the profession.”
International Law Firm Innovation
Shortlisted nominees: Cuatrecasas, Dechert, Dentons, DLA Piper, Eversheds Sutherland, Garrigues, Norton Rose Fulbright, Watson Farley & Williams
DLA Piper. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: DLA Piper
DLA Piper has come up with a solution that allows its staff and clients to hand over manual and repetitive tasks. Its Robotic Process Automation software has transformed how the firm does business and improved internal and external efficiency.
Future of Legal Services Innovation – Alternative Business Structure
Shortlisted nominees: Algo Legal, Astraea Group, EY, LOD
EY. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: EY
EY stood out for its ability to adapt to any size or scale of operation while also offering transparent pricing, and judges agreed that the product delivers an “elusive combination of quality and value for money.”
Future of Legal Services Innovation – In-House Legal Operations
Shortlisted nominees: GB Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Liberis, OakNorth Bank
Jaguar Land Rover. Photo: Rob KennardHighly commended: GB Group
Winner: Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover’s litigation management tool tailored to and inspired by its own business was highly praised by judges. One described the team’s work as “another example of legal teams getting creative with little or no budget”, while another loved the “tenacity of building something yourself when off the shelf doesn’t work for your business”
Future of Legal Services Innovation – Small-Sized Private Practice
Shortlisted nominees: 360 Law Group, Avonhurst, Chronos Law, GQ|Littler, Holt Baker, Horwich Farrelly, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Tapestry Compliance, Wiggin
Wiggin. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Wiggin
Wiggin was praised particularly for its innovations around the IR35, and has been described by one of its clients as “a valued partner for our future”, with the ability to respond to sudden changes in the industry.
Future of Legal Services Innovation – Mid-Sized Private Practice
Shortlisted nominees: Addleshaw Goddard, Dentons, Mason Hayes & Curran, Mayer Brown, TLT, Travers Smith, Watson Farley & Williams
Travers Smith. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Travers Smith
Travers won for being an excellent example of a law firm approaching digital transformation in the right way: identifying the customer pain point, assessing issues with the current process, creating a solution that focuses on the client experience, leveraging technology that is ‘secure by design’.
Future of Legal Services Innovation – Large Private Practice
Shortlisted nominees: Ashurst, Bird & Bird, Pinsent Masons, Shearman & Sterling, Simmons & Simmons, Womble Bond Dickinson
Bird & Bird. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Bird & Bird
A big change in the world of EU personal data transfers allowed the firm to remedy a potentially time-consuming exercise by creating an automated tool to help organisations through every step of the process of producing what can be complex, modular data transfer agreements.
Lifetime Contributor to Innovation – Supplier
Shortlisted nominees: Pete Byrne, esphr. Lourdes Fuentes Slater, Karta Legal. Masoud Gerami, vLex Justis.
Masoud Gerami, vLex Justis. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Masoud Gerami, vLex Justis
Gerami was described as being the “heart of their company”, while another judge said he “remains humble and willing to do more, for his employees, company, and customers”. As managing director, having been an the helm of vLex Justis for over 20 years, Masoud has been responsible for brokering milestone partnerships and overseeing new legal technologies.
Lifetime Contributor to Innovation – Private Practice/In-House
Shortlisted nominees: Graham Richardson, Eversheds Sutherland. Nick West, Mishcon de Reya. Áine Lyons, VMware. Angela Kirlew, Wainwright & Cummins Solicitors.
Nick West, Mishcon de Reya. Photo: Rob KennardWinner: Nick West, Mishcon de Reya
Mishcon partner West was described by judges as “one of the foremost experts in LegalTech”, his career at the forefront of innovation in the legal industry includes roles such as former managing director of Axiom and director of LexisNexis’ U.K. legal business.
