New home under consortium leadership announced for LawtechUK

LawtechUK, incubated by Tech Nation, is set to enter a new chapter as a consortium made up of CodeBase and Legal Geek, takes over its operation from Tech Nation on 1st April 2023. The consortium was awarded £3 million funding from the Ministry of Justice after a competitive bidding process.

But before we delve into what the future holds for LawtechUK, let's take a step back and explore its history. The LawtechUK initiative was launched in 2019, when Tech Nation, a leading scale-up network and growth platform for tech companies, was tasked with taking forward the LawtechUK Panel (then Lawtech Delivery Panel) and driving its objectives forward to accelerate the growth of the UK’s lawtech sector.

Over the past few years, LawtechUK, incubated by Tech Nation, has made significant strides in building a thriving lawtech ecosystem in the UK, bringing together policy makers, regulators, legal and digital sectors. The initiative has supported over 100 lawtech startups through its world-first Lawtech Sandbox and Regulatory Response Unit. It has also shaped key policies and developments in the tech space, publishing over 20 cutting-edge research papers, legal statements and guidance, including the recent UK Jurisdiction Taskforce legal statement on digital securities.

LawtechUK Director at Tech Nation, Alexandra Lennox, is excited about LawtechUK's future. “Since its inception, LawtechUK has solidified the UK as a global hub for lawtech, admired by many countries. The support of the sector has been critical in achieving that, as has the dynamism and dedication of the LawtechUK team past and present who have driven this work forward.

The announcement today of a new home for LawtechUK ushers in an exciting new chapter to build on those foundations. With a new focus on supporting the development of technology that addresses unmet legal needs, there is still work to be done to harness lawtech’s full potential for the benefit of society and the economy.”

Now, as LawtechUK enters a new phase of development, CodeBase and Legal Geek are excited to build upon the tremendous efforts of the Tech Nation team and look forward to continuing their legacy. They have a programme of activities planned that will grow the lawtech community across the UK, raise the quality of startups, increase private investment, facilitate the exchange of information between service providers and lawtech businesses, and generate industry-level views that shape the UK’s lawtech agenda.

Mike Freer, Justice Minister:

“The UK is a world leader in delivering legal services and expertise, and our ongoing investment in new technologies will make sure we are continuing to lead the way in advances and new ways of working. CodeBase and Legal Geek bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of LawtechUK that will nurture new, cutting-edge innovation in the UK.”

CodeBase CEO, Stephen Coleman, OBE:

"It's a great honour and privilege to take on the mantle of custodianship for the LawtechUK programme. Team CodeBase are excited to build upon the tremendous efforts of the Tech Nation team and look forward to continuing their legacy, supporting the transformation of the legal sector through technology.”


Legal Geek Director Beth Fellner:

"LawtechUK has been foundational in transforming the legal technology landscape, and we are immensely proud to develop their work. Legal Geek, alongside CodeBase, is excited to scale and interconnect the UK lawtech ecosystem, driving growth for the UK."

LawtechUK's journey so far has been a remarkable one, with the initiative playing a crucial role in building a thriving lawtech ecosystem in the UK. CodeBase and Legal Geek's commitment to continuing LawtechUK's work is an exciting development. With its focus on driving innovation and digital transformation within the legal sector, LawtechUK is set to remain a key player in the UK's tech landscape.

To celebrate the announcement with our community, CodeBase and Legal Geek are hosting an inaugural event under LawtechUK.

Where – 37a Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2EL (hybrid attendance available)

When – Thursday 18th May 2023.

Registered attendees will receive confirmation of the exact event timing shortly. To secure your spot for this event, simply register for free below.

Who are Legal Geek?

Legal Geek is a global community of legal professionals and lawtech enthusiasts dedicated to promoting innovation and technology in the legal industry. Founded in 2015, Legal Geek has quickly grown to become one of the world's largest lawtech communities, with events and initiatives held across the globe.

The company's flagship event, the Legal Geek Conference, brings together 2500 legal professionals and lawtech startups from 66 countries for a day of networking, learning, and collaboration.

Legal Geek is also committed to improving the legal profession and runs several pro-bono initiatives including the Legal Geek Mentorship program to help drive innovation across the legal industry by enhancing diversity and inclusion.

With its focus on innovation and collaboration, Legal Geek is a leading force in the lawtech industry, and its community is a valuable resource for legal professionals and startups alike.

Who are CodeBase?

CodeBase is a tech ecosystem support organisation that has supported over 500 startups and scaleups, who have collectively raised over £4 billion. Codebase is committed to promoting collaboration in tech innovation, across startups, scaleups, corporates, governments, academia and the third sector.

Home to a thriving community of entrepreneurs and innovators, CodeBase provides space for startups to grow, delivers expert educational programmes and industry accelerators, and fosters connections through bridge programmes, events, meetups, and mentorship matching.

Launched in Edinburgh in 2014 offering flexible and affordable startup incubation space through hotdesking, coworking, and dedicated office space. Further hubs opened in Stirling, in 2017, followed by Aberdeen in 2019, along with popup hubs across the UK.