LawtechUK Panel Meeting
Date: 09/05/2023
Time: 16.30-18.00
Location: 102 Petty France / via MS Teams
Attendees:
Christina Blacklaws (CB) – Chair
Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Vos (SGV), Master of the Rolls
Professor Richard Susskind (RS), President, Society for Computers and Law
Chris Grant (CG), Head of Legal Market Engagement, HSBC
Sarah Green (SG), Law Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law at the Law Commission
Katie Atkinson (KA), Dean of Electrical Engineering, Electronics, and Computer Science, University of Liverpool
Brian Liu (BL), CEO, Overture Law
Maya Markovich (MM), Founder of the Justice Technology Association
Mimi Zou (MZ), Founder of Deriskly and academic in Law at the University of Exeter
Isabel Parker (IP), Partner at Deloitte Legal
Stephen Browning (SB), Challenge Director for Next Generation Services at UK Research and Innovation
John Heavens (JHe), Deputy Director, Legal Services Policy, MoJ
Phoebe Clapham (PC), Head of Legal Services and Innovation, MoJ
Rachel Tocknell (RT), Head of Legal Services Innovation, MoJ
Daniel Simpson (DS), Senior Policy Advisor, MoJ UK Legal Services
James Hughes (SA), Deputy Private Secretary to the Master of the Rolls
Jon Hope (JH), SVP Ecosystems, CodeBase
Martin Boyle (MB), VP Transformation, CodeBase
Aleksandra Wawrzyszczuk (AW), LawtechUK, CodeBase
Jimmy Vestbirk (JV), Founder, Legal GeekBeth Fellner (BF), Director, Legal Geek
Apologies:
Mike Freer MP, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Justice
Chair introduction and update
- CB welcomed new members IP, SB, MM and MZ to the LawtechUK Panel (‘the Panel’) and asked each to introduce themselves.
- CB referred to the draft updated Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Panel that had been circulated to members in advance of the meeting. CB asked if members had any concerns or comments. None were raised so CB declared the ToR adopted by the panel.
MoJ Update - RT welcomed the new Panel members and provided an update on the newly appointed Lord Chancellor. RT also noted that MoJ has been very pleased with the newly onboarded delivery partners, CodeBase and Legal Geek and thanked the Panel for the support they have been providing during the mobilisation phase.
CodeBase and Legal Geek Update - JH presented an update on mobilisation for phase II of the LawtechUK programme, noting recruitment updates, including that a number of staff from phase I of the programme have been rehired. This was welcomed by Panel members. JH asked Panel members to help with possible secondments from industry to help support the programme and provide industry insight.
- MB talked Panel members through CodeBase’s proposals for a Lawtech Bridge programme to facilitate better exchange of information/insight between legal service providers and lawtech businesses, including relating to unmet legal need. Panel members noted that it will be important to ensure selection of businesses to participate in the programme was done fairly.
- BF provided an update on the launch event to be held in Edinburgh on 18 May. It was noted that CB would be speaking at the event on behalf of the panel.
- JV presented on the Legal Geek-led workstreams within the delivery plan, including the proposed regional roadshow to help take lawtech to small- and medium-sized law firms. Panel members stressed the importance of focusing on helping consumers achieve better access to legal services.
- SGV provided an update on the work of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce, noting that areas of focus will include generative AI and insolvency law in relation to blockchain. SGV also mentioned that the group is exploring opportunities for international collaboration on legislation that affects borderless technology, noting that they intend to work with the MoJ on any such collaboration.
- Overall Panel members agreed that the proposed delivery plan for LawtechUK in 2023-24 represented an ambitious and exciting plan.
AOB - CB noted that the next meeting would be on 13 July and closed the meeting.