SuperTech WM, a cluster organisation based in Birmingham and focused on advancing technology innovation in professional and financial services across the Midlands, today announces the launch of its first Legal Onboarding Innovation Challenge; the first collaborative open innovation programme of its kind in the UK. Technology companies able to tackle the biggest challenges in client onboarding in the legal sector are invited to
apply
to the programme by the
deadline of 4th April 2025. Law firms face ongoing challenges in client onboarding, compliance, and risk management, often relying on manual, time-consuming processes that create inefficiencies and potential compliance risks. At the same time, many tech companies struggle to develop solutions that truly address the day-to-day realities of legal practice. This challenge creates a practical collaboration between law firms and tech innovators, ensuring that solutions are built with direct industry input rather than in isolation.
SuperTech WM is partnering with international law firms with operations in the West Midlands, including Fieldfisher and Mills & Reeve as well as Birmingham-headquartered Gateley to deliver this challenge, providing a unique space to collaborate in a non-competitive environment for sector innovation.
Brought together by a shared pain point, technology companies chosen for the programme will have an unprecedented opportunity to collaborate, experiment, and showcase how their technology can transform legal processes, drive efficiency, and ensure compliance to multiple legal firms, gaining critical intelligence and market insights. Some of the selected companies may already operate within the LawTech sector; applications are also encouraged from those with solutions that could pivot to this area. Through the programme there are many opportunities to engage with leading legal professionals for real-world feedback and to refine solutions for market.
Bringing LawTech innovators and legal industry leaders together to collaborate through this exciting programme of events, forums and discussions will support fostering of new partnerships and knowledge exchange.
Hilary Smyth Allen, Chief Executive, SuperTech, comments:
“Launching this innovation challenge is a pivotal moment for us to support technology adoption in the legal sector and drive forward Next Generation Services in the West Midlands and beyond. We’ve always believed that collaboration is key and through building the necessary trust with our partners and drawing on our experience of delivering these programmes within financial services and fintech, we’re excited to see where this can go.
Right now, we’re calling all LawTech pioneers, startups, and established companies with solutions that can tackle the challenges put forward by the legal industry. If your technology can make client onboarding faster, smarter, and more compliant, we want to hear from you—no matter what stage your company is at.”
The challenge focuses on how law firms can use technology for client onboarding across four different case study areas: streamlining the use of initial client data; leveraging AI or advanced search methods to efficiently identify, prioritise, and clear potential conflicts of interest; automating real-time PEP and sanctions screening across multiple jurisdictions; and providing a secure, centralised client portal for all onboarding communications and document sharing. All these will support a seamless client experience and remove process inefficiencies.
Adding an international perspective to this challenge, Sophie Martinetz from Future-Law, is working with SuperTech as Law Innovation Lead to support delivery of the programme. This relationship underscores the international impact of cluster leadership in the sector and provides SuperTech an expert, international perspective in assessing market fit for technology solutions.
Sophie Martinetz, Law Innovation Lead, SuperTech comments:
“Future-Law’s global study into investment into LawTech has proven the future growth prospects for this sector are both significant and growing and that the focus areas for this innovation challenge will resonate far beyond the Midlands region.”
Law firm participants in the programme further note:
“At Gateley, we are committed to enhancing the client experience through innovative solutions and exceptional service. We are excited to collaborate with SuperTech and partner law firms to tackle industry challenges head-on. Together, we aim to drive progress and set new standards in the legal sector that makes client engagement a more efficient process for all.”
Nick Capell, IT Director, Gateley
"Fieldfisher has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, consistently seeking new technology-enabled solutions and efficiencies to uphold its premium client services. We are delighted to be partnering with SuperTech on this pioneering legal innovation challenge and look forward to working with our partner firms on reshaping the future for client onboarding and KYC processes."
Nigel Lang, CIO, Fieldfisher
“By joining this programme, we will support technology innovation in the legal sector, confirming our position as a future-focused legal firm; we do not just adapt to technology change, but lead on it.”
Emma Jackson, Head of Legal Technology & Data, Mills & Reeve
The programme will conclude with a showcase day in Birmingham on 8th July, where participants will present their solutions.
This programme is part-funded (£40,000) by the West Midlands Combined Authority and UK Government through the UK
Shared Prosperity Fund
.
For further information on this exciting programme, please visit the SuperTech WM
website
page.
