Master of the Rolls at LawTech UK 2025
- Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice, delivered the keynote speech at the LawTech UK Conference 2025 on Wednesday, March 12, emphasizing the...
- The speech,held at Mansion House in London,highlighted the importance of supporting UK initiatives in utilizing AI and machine learning for legal services and unlocking international digital trading.
Sir Geoffrey Vos on the Future of LawTech in the UK
Table of Contents
- Sir Geoffrey Vos on the Future of LawTech in the UK
- Introduction to UK LawTech
- The UKJT’s groundbreaking Work
- new UKJT projects: Addressing Digital asset Control
- liability for Harms Caused by AI
- The International Jurisdiction Taskforce
- Rationales for LawtechUK and the UKJT
- The Legal Sector as the UK’s USP
- AI’s Transformation of the Legal Sector
- LawtechUK’s Global Leadership potential
- UK LawTech: A Q&A Guide to its Future and Key Initiatives
- General Questions about LawTech in the UK
- The UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT)
- What is the UKJT and what is its purpose?
- What are the key accomplishments of the UKJT?
- What are some of the new projects being undertaken by the UKJT?
- Why was the UKJT selected to provide guidance on digital asset control?
- What is the International Jurisdiction Taskforce (IJT) and what does it aim to achieve?
- AI Liability and Regulation
- Key Takeaways
Master of the Rolls
Sir Geoffrey Vos
news
Speeches
Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice, delivered the keynote speech at the LawTech UK Conference 2025 on Wednesday, March 12, emphasizing the UK’s potential in the burgeoning LawTech market.
The speech,held at Mansion House in London,highlighted the importance of supporting UK initiatives in utilizing AI and machine learning for legal services and unlocking international digital trading.
Introduction to UK LawTech
- Sir Geoffrey Vos expressed his pleasure at speaking at the LawtechUK conference, noting his involvement with the LawtechUK Panel since 2018 and the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT). He stated, “It is a pleasure to have been invited to speak at the first LawtechUK conference here at Mansion house.”
- He emphasized the need to support UK initiatives in AI and machine learning for legal services and to unlock international digital trading.
- LawtechUK aims to grow the UK’s LawTech market and enhance its position as a leading jurisdiction. The global LawTech market is significant, and the UK has the potential to be a serious competitor.
- The UK boasts several advantages, including English law, the Commercial Court, the Business and Property Courts, London arbitration, the Arbitration Act 2025, top international law firms, and a significant contribution to the UK economy.
- The speech outlined the UKJT’s past accomplishments and future plans, underscoring the importance of Lawtech UK.
The UKJT’s groundbreaking Work
- The UKJT has published three Legal Statements to clarify the law and remove impediments to the adoption of new technologies.
- In November 2019, the UKJT addressed the status of cryptoassets and smart contracts, clarifying that cryptoassets are property and smart contracts are legally binding. this was followed by the Law commission’s report on Digital Assets and the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill. The operative clause reads:
A thing (including a thing that is digital or electronic in nature) is not prevented from being the object of personal property rights merely because it is neither— (a) a thing in possession, nor (b) a thing in action.
- In February 2023, a legal statement addressed the issuance and transfer of digital securities using blockchain systems.
- In April 2024, the UKJT focused on digital assets and English insolvency law, providing guidance amidst market turbulence.
- In 2021, the UKJT published digital dispute resolution rules (DDRRs) for expedited arbitration or expert dispute resolution, with decisions implementable on-chain.
new UKJT projects: Addressing Digital asset Control
- The UKJT is undertaking new projects, including providing guidance on the legal concept of ‘control’ in relation to third category digital assets, as recommended by the Law Commission. The UKJT was chosen for this work because it had “
established itself as an internationally credible voice at the intersection of the law and technology
“.
liability for Harms Caused by AI
- The UKJT’s second project addresses the ability of English law to provide redress for harms caused by AI, with a legal statement considering statutory intervention.
- There are three reasons for this legal statement.
- Similar projects have been launched in the EU and the US.
- The EU is working on its AI Liability Directive,wich would introduce a “presumption of causality”.
- In October 2024,the american Legal Institute launched a project aimed at creating Principles of the Law,Civil Liability for Artificial Intelligence.
- There are multiple calls in the UK for the uses of AI to be regulated and for legislation to create new liabilities for its use.
- The UKJT recognizes market uncertainty about liability for developers and users of AI tools when things go wrong.
The International Jurisdiction Taskforce
- The UKJT is forming an International Jurisdiction Taskforce (IJT) to understand common ground between jurisdictions on digital assets and trading. Private law is key to the adoption of digital assets,and differing positions can exacerbate market uncertainty. The goal is to see if some level of private law alignment can be achieved between the laws applicable in the most commonly chosen commercial jurisdictions.
Rationales for LawtechUK and the UKJT
- There are three rationales for the LawtechUK adventure, highlighting that Lawtech UK and the UKJT still have a long way to go.
The Legal Sector as the UK’s USP
- The lawtech Panel was created to remove impediments to tech adoption in legal services and dispute resolution, especially with the rise of AI.
- The legal sector is the UK’s USP, supported by a judiciary of integrity and respected lawyers.
AI’s Transformation of the Legal Sector
- Generative AI and digital trading are likely to fundamentally affect the legal sector, giving LawtechUK special importance.
- LawtechUK fosters innovation in legal services and dispute resolution.
- The idea is to bring together lawyers, judges, tech companies, and experts to promote the Lawtech sector.
- LawtechUK should be seen alongside initiatives like the Online Procedure Rules Committee and the Digital Justice System.
LawtechUK’s Global Leadership potential
- LawtechUK can be an example to the world in unlocking the economic advantages of digital trading, digital legal services, and online dispute resolution.
- The conference aims to be inspiring and informative.
UK LawTech: A Q&A Guide to its Future and Key Initiatives
This article explores the current state and future direction of LawTech in the UK,drawing insights from Sir Geoffrey Vos’s keynote speech at the LawtechUK Conference 2025. It delves into the initiatives of LawtechUK and the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT), addressing key questions about their roles, achievements, and upcoming projects.
General Questions about LawTech in the UK
What is LawTechUK and what are its primary goals?
LawtechUK is an organization aimed at growing the UK’s LawTech market and strengthening its position as a leading global jurisdiction. Its primary goals include:
Supporting UK initiatives in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for legal services.
Unlocking international digital trading.
Fostering innovation within legal services and dispute resolution.
Promoting collaboration among lawyers, judges, tech companies, and experts in the LawTech sector.
Why is the UK seen as a potential leader in the LawTech market?
The UK possesses several advantages that position it as a strong competitor in the global LawTech market:
English Law: A well-established and respected legal system.
The Commercial Court and Business & Property Courts: Efficient and specialized courts for commercial disputes.
London Arbitration: A leading center for international arbitration.
The Arbitration Act 2025: A modern framework for arbitration.
Top International Law Firms: A hub for renowned legal expertise.
Meaningful Contribution to the UK Economy: The legal sector is a major economic driver.
How does LawtechUK plan to transform the legal sector?
LawtechUK aims to transform the legal sector by:
Removing obstacles to the adoption of technology, especially AI, in legal services and dispute resolution.
Encouraging the use of generative AI and digital trading platforms.
Promoting initiatives like the Online Procedure Rules Commitee and the Digital Justice System.
Becoming a global leader in digital legal services and online dispute resolution.
What is the role of AI in the future of UK LawTech?
AI, particularly generative AI and machine learning, is expected to significantly transform the legal sector by:
Automating routine tasks
Improving legal research and analysis
Enhancing dispute resolution mechanisms
Creating new legal tech solutions and business models
The UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT)
What is the UKJT and what is its purpose?
The UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT) is an initiative focused on clarifying the legal landscape surrounding new technologies and removing obstacles to their adoption within the legal system. It aims to provide legal clarity and guidance on emerging areas such as digital assets, smart contracts, and AI.
What are the key accomplishments of the UKJT?
The UKJT has made significant strides in clarifying the legal status of new technologies thru the publication of three key Legal Statements:
November 2019: Clarified that cryptoassets are considered property and smart contracts are legally binding under UK law.
February 2023: Addressed the issuance and transfer of digital securities using blockchain systems.
April 2024: Provided guidance on digital assets and English insolvency law.
2021: Published digital dispute resolution rules (DDRRs) for expedited arbitration or expert dispute resolution with on-chain implementable decisions.
What are some of the new projects being undertaken by the UKJT?
The UKJT is currently working on the following projects:
Digital Asset Control: Providing guidance on the legal concept of ‘control’ in relation to third category digital assets, as recommended by the Law Commission.
Liability for Harms Caused by AI: Addressing the ability of English law to provide redress for harms caused by AI, potentially considering statutory intervention.
International Jurisdiction Taskforce (IJT): Understanding common ground between jurisdictions on digital assets and trading.
Why was the UKJT selected to provide guidance on digital asset control?
The UKJT was chosen for this work as it has “established itself as an internationally credible voice at the intersection of the law and technology”.
What is the International Jurisdiction Taskforce (IJT) and what does it aim to achieve?
The IJT is a subgroup within the UKJT tasked with identifying common legal ground across different jurisdictions regarding digital assets and trading. Its goal is to achieve some level of private law alignment between the moast commonly chosen commercial jurisdictions, to reduce market uncertainty.
AI Liability and Regulation
What is the UKJT doing to address liability for harms caused by AI?
The UKJT is working on a legal statement that addresses the ability of English law to provide redress for harms caused by AI. This includes considering weather statutory intervention is necessary to clarify liability for developers and users of AI tools.
Why is the UKJT addressing the issue of AI liability?
The UKJT recognizes that there is market uncertainty about liability for developers and users of AI tools when things go wrong. this uncertainty can hinder the adoption and development of AI technologies.
How does the UK approach to AI liability compare to that of the EU and the US?
EU: The EU is developing an AI Liability Directive,which would introduce a “presumption of causality,” making it easier to hold AI developers liable for damages.
US: The American Legal Institute launched a project aimed at creating Principles of the Law, Civil Liability for Artificial Intelligence, aiming to provide a framework for AI liability in the US.
UK: The UKJT is assessing the current legal framework and considering whether statutory intervention is needed to address gaps or uncertainties in AI liability.
Key Takeaways
What are the key priorities for the future of LawTech in the UK?
The key priorities for the future of LawTech in the UK include:
Supporting AI and machine learning initiatives in legal services.
Unlocking international digital trading.
Clarifying the legal status of digital assets and smart contracts.
Addressing liability for harms caused by AI.
Promoting international collaboration and alignment on digital asset regulation.
Why is the legal sector considered the UK’s USP?
The UK’s legal sector is considered a unique selling proposition (USP) due to its:
Judiciary of integrity
Respected lawyers
Globally recognized legal system
Summary Table: Key Organizations and Their Focus Areas
| Organization | Focus Area | Key Activities |
| —————- | ——————————————————————– | ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— |
| lawtechuk | growing the UK’s LawTech market and enhancing its global position. | Supporting AI and machine learning, fostering innovation, promoting collaboration, and driving digital conversion. |
| UKJT | Clarifying the law and removing impediments to technology adoption. | Publishing legal statements on digital assets and smart contracts, developing digital dispute resolution rules, providing guidance on digital asset control and AI liability. |
| IJT (UKJT) | International alignment on digital asset and trading regulations. | Identifying common legal ground across different jurisdictions, promoting private law alignment to reduce market uncertainty. |