Global law firm Eversheds Sutherland International announced their entrance into the tech sector on Tuesday, launching an innovation-led web-based legal service for startups.
The new product, ‘Eversheds Sutherland Disrupt’ (ES Disrupt), is a bespoke online legal service for startups and scaleups, offering such businesses access to legal advice tailored to their needs. It offers startups the chance to access legal information relevant to the varied – and sometimes complex – legal requirements they have to face when building their business.
Modelled on the ‘one-stop-shop’ approach, ES Disrupt offers a suite of legal documents which can be tailored to meet individual startups’ requirements. Everything from funding and company formations, to hiring, corporate compliance and trading contracts can be requested via the ES Disrupt website.
ES Disrupt is the brainchild of trainee Jocey Nelson. Prior to starting her training contract with Eversheds Sutherland, Jocey worked for a tech incubator and experienced first-hand how receiving no or inadequate legal advice can materially impact the chance of success for a startup. ES Disrupt was her proposed solution, and was the winning entry in the firm’s ‘CEO Innovation Challenge’ in 2016. Nelson said:
“Having the opportunity to be part of such a unique journey has been a fantastic experience. The hard work has been worth it and the support from the firm, incredible. We enjoy a culture that cultivates an environment in which you’re actively encouraged to think outside the box and ES Disrupt epitomises exactly that.
“I’m very much looking forward to continuing this journey by supporting our clients through the use of this exciting new product.”
Earlier this year, Eversheds Sutherland was named winner of ‘Innovation in Legal Expertise’ at the prestigious FT Innovative Lawyers Awards. The firm is ranked number eight in the FT50, the list of the most innovative law firms in Europe.