header-logo header-logo

15 April 2021
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
printer mail-detail

Access Legal—Lauren Colbeck

Head of product joins Access Legal
The new legal software division of The Access Group is continuing to make an impact on the sector, unveiling a leading figure in the law tech space as head of product at Access Legal. 
 
Lauren Colbeck joins the team directly from Peppermint Technology, where she spent three years as head of product management for the legal sector. Previously, Lauren spent over a decade in product management at Experian. 
 
In her new role, Lauren will use her detailed understanding of legal firms to work with the wider product development team to execute Access Legal’s product roadmap, designed to deliver a more cohesive experience of technology to the legal sector, as well as developing a comprehensive strategy for future innovation. 
 
Access Legal officially launched at the start of April with a customer base of 3,500 legal practices, accounting for a third of the UK legal market. As Lauren explains, it’s an exciting time to join the company: 'It was quickly evident to me that the team at Access Legal has a clear vision and is committed to deliver best-in-class software that makes a genuine difference to its users so they can in turn deliver a better client experience and improve the profitability of their firm. 
 
'It has to be remembered that legal firms are businesses that want to grow, offer outstanding service, look after their people and attract the very best talent just like any other company. So, while legal case and practice management solutions are vital, it’s equally as important to help them run their wider business, through people management, financial solutions, payments technology and CRM.
 
'The advantage of Access having multiple divisions outside of the legal sector is that I can benefit from a wider pool of resources, expertise and best practice to bring even greater insight into our legal offering and ensure we continue to offer the innovation that ambitious law firms need. And, as we evolve and move towards a single sign-on solution in the form of Access Workspace for Legal, we are in a position to bring something truly unique to firms trying to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.'
 
Commenting on Lauren’s appointment, Doug Sawers, managing director of Access Legal, said: 'Our aim is to help law firms understand how technology can unlock their limitless potential and empower legal professionals to focus on profitability and growth rather than mundane tasks. As well as delivering meaningful results now, we also need to continually think ahead and use our unique insight to anticipate the needs of firms in the months and years to come. To deliver this, we need the very best team of experts focused on continual innovation and I’m delighted to welcome someone of Lauren’s calibre to Access Legal. 
 
'She has real insight into the industry. Not only does she understand the challenges solicitors and practice managers face every day, she knows how to solve them. 
 
'Lauren will ensure that we continue to match our clients’ ambitions and provide scalability in our product offering. We aim to be a long-term technology partner for law firms and solutions that can grow alongside a business are key to that.”
 
Those already using Access Legal software solutions include renowned firms such as Eversheds, Minster Law, Winn Solicitors, Wolferstans, Neves Solicitors LLP and The MAPD Group.  
 
To mark its launch, Access Legal has unveiled the first of its new free quarterly legal guides, Limitless Legal. The first edition, Limitless Legal: Unlock Your People Power, is available online now.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Nick Vernon, Walkers Bermuda

NLJ Career Profile: Nick Vernon, Walkers Bermuda

Nick Vernon of Walkers on swapping Birmingham for Bermuda and building an employment practice by the sea

Bird & Bird—Christian Bartsch

Bird & Bird—Christian Bartsch

Global firm re-elects CEO for second term

Fletchers Group—Miriam Hall

Fletchers Group—Miriam Hall

Business appoints managing director of operational excellence

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
back-to-top-scroll