The LegalTech in Leeds Conference 2025 is set to take place on Thursday, 24th April 2025 at Cloth Hall Court, Leeds, bringing together over 250 legal and tech professionals for a full day of insights, collaboration, and innovation.
With this year’s theme, People & Technology, the conference will explore the evolving role of technology in the legal sector, the growing need for skills development, and the importance of diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing. Attendees will gain exclusive insights from industry leaders, legal innovators, and tech pioneers, while engaging in thought-provoking discussions and practical breakout sessions.
A Dynamic Line-up of Industry Experts
This year’s agenda features an impressive array of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and expert-led breakout sessions. Thought leaders from across law firms, in-house legal teams, LegalTech providers, academia, and professional education will share their expertise on AI adoption, legal education, and the future of legal services.
08:30 – 10:00 – Arrival and Networking Breakfast
10:00 – 10:05 – Welcomes:
Chloe Thompson, Consultant, Whitecap Consultant/LegalTech in Leeds
Julian Wells, Director, Whitecap Consulting/LegalTech in Leeds
10:05 – 10:15 – Opening Address:
Nigel Brook, President, Leeds Law Society & Legal Director, Tyr
10:15 – 10:45 – The State of LegalTech in the UK: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities:
Craig James Ashton-Chalmers, Global Product Owner, Linklaters
Rob Hanlon, Senior Sales Manager – EMEA, Clio
Madi Robinson, Controller of Corporate Legal & Governance, Channel4
Alistair Maiden, Senior Vice President, Consilio
Chloe Thompson, Consultant, Whitecap Consulting/LegalTech in Leeds (Chair)
10:55 – 11:10 – KEYNOTE: The Energy Policy Dimensions of LegalTech: A Crucial Foundation for a Thriving LegalTech Sector
Virág Blazsek, Deputy Director of the Centre for Business Law and Practice, University of Leeds
11:10 - 11:20 – KEYNOTE: West Yorkshire’s Ambition for Growth
Mandy Ridyard, Mayor’s Business Advisor, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
11:10 – 11:40 – The Regional Landscape: Showcasing LegalTech Clusters:
11:40 – 12:25 – Shaping the Future Through LegalTech Innovation: Partner Presentations:
Video Intro & Presentation Facilitator from Katrina Jones, Associate Director – Commercial, Bruntwood SciTech
Transforming Risk into Opportunity: rradar's Innovation, Growth, and Career Pathways: Stephanie Thirlwell, Head of Regulatory & Emma Yates, Head of Intellectual Property, rradar
Unlocking innovation in Property Transactions: Angela Hesketh, Head of Market Development, PEXA
Walker Morris & Curvestone AI: Laura Pilkington, Innovation Lead, Walker Morris, Dawid Kotur, Co-founder & CEO & Amy Woodcock, Head of Consulting and Delivery, Curvestone AI.
Patrick Grant, Associate Professor in AI and Tech, The University of Law & Adam Roney, Founder and CEO, Calls9
12:25 – 13:00 LegalTech & Education: Preparing the Lawyers of Tomorrow:
Patrick Grant, Associate Professor in AI and Tech, The University of Law
Dr Steven Montagu-Cairns, Associate Professor in Banking & Corporate Law, The University of Leeds
Dr Jessica Guth, Head of Law, Leeds Trinity University
Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo, Professor of Law and Technology, Leeds Beckett University
Victoria Boothby, Trainee Solicitor - Real Estate, Schofield Sweeney (Chair)
Building Business Resilience: Data Literacy and Skills Evolution in the Legal Sector – Clare Grant, Commercial Director, BPP & Thea Lee, Customer Solutions Director, BPP
Leveraging AI in SME Law Firms: Opportunities, Challenges and Practical Applications - Keith Bermingham, Senior Account Executive EMEA, Clio & Supported by Danat Valizade, Professor of Quantitative Employment Research, University of Leeds
Innovating In-House: How LegalTech is Transforming Corporate Legal Teams – Allan Smith, Founder, The Mint Consultancy & Madi Robinson, Controller of Corporate Legal & Governance, Channel4
Leading the shift: Digitisation, AI and Property – Angela Hesketh, Head of Market Development, PEXA & supported by Eric Tom Mathews, KTP Associate - Machine Learning Engineer, University of Leeds
14:30 – 14:40 – KEYNOTE: Innovate UK report: Future Innovation Opportunities in Professional & Financial Services
Astrid Ayel, Innovation Programme Lead, Innovate UK
Julian Wells, Director, Whitecap Consulting
14:40 – 15:40 – Pioneering Change: A LegalTech Innovation Showcase facilitated by Bradley Collins, Co-Founder & CEO, LegalTechTalk
Matterbee
Katchr
Quiss
Barrister Link
LegalTech India
TIPS accelerator (Oxford Brooks)
FileOps
15:40 – 16:00 – Building a LegalTech Unicorn: Clio’s Story
The agenda includes engaging panel discussions on both the national and regional LegalTech landscapes, alongside sessions dedicated to the role of education in preparing future lawyers.
Additionally, the Innovation Showcase will highlight groundbreaking LegalTech solutions, with quickfire presentations from eight pioneering companies.
Welcoming our New Sponsors
We’re excited to announce that Clio, Quiss, Matterbee and Katchr have joined us as sponsors for this year’s conference. Their support reinforces the growing collaboration between LegalTech innovators and legal professionals, ensuring that attendees gain access to the latest insights and solutions in the industry.
Networking, Collaboration & Hands-On Insights
Building on attendee feedback, we’ve expanded networking opportunities to foster even greater collaboration between law firms, in-house legal teams, and tech providers. Throughout the day, attendees will be able to engage in:
Speed networking sessions
1:1 coaching with industry experts
Breakout discussions on SME law firms, in-house legal, and mental health & wellbeing
Live demonstrations of the latest LegalTech innovations
Join the Community
The LegalTech in Leeds Conference is more than just an event, it’s a platform for driving innovation and strengthening Leeds’ position as a leader in the national and international LegalTech landscape.
