Code the Future of LegalTech in 48 Hours

LegalTechTalk Hackathon

Relive the innovation and excitement from the 2025 Hackathon

Are you ready to solve the next big challenge in legal innovation?

Hackathon

If you can build, automate, or architect systems, this is your moment. In 48 hours, you’ll build agentic AI systems designed to tackle real legal-world challenges – and show how intelligent, multi-agent workflows can reshape how the industry works.

Team up. Think fast. Transform.

We’ll match selected applicants into teams of 4, mixing skills and backgrounds to form legaltech dream squads. Only 6 teams will be selected to battle it out live on the LegalTechTalk showfloor — solving real problems, prototyping bold ideas, and pitching to industry leaders. Judges and mentors will be on hand throughout to guide, challenge, and champion your progress.

Already have your crew? No problem — apply as a team (details below).

The Challenge:

We can’t tell you just yet (where’s the fun in that?), but here’s what we can say:

Our goal is for you to solve high-stake legal challenges using agentic AI. Think intelligent agents, multi-agent collaboration, and real-world legal applications. The exact brief will be revealed during the official kick-off session.

Innovators in Action

Over 48 hours, six diverse teams of 4-5 participants, blending legal and tech expertise, brought their A-game to the LegalTechTalk showfloor. They tackled real-world legal challenges, prototyped cutting-edge solutions, and pitched innovative ideas to industry leaders. With the support of judges and mentors, the teams demonstrated how intelligent, multi-agent AI systems can reshape the legal industry.

2025 Winners

The winning team created an intuitive, real-time assistant that brings clarity to complex contracts, freeing up legal teams to focus on what matters most.

Our 2025 winners showcased an In-House Legal Two-Way Living Intelligence Layer. Combining 20 years of legal expertise, 60 years of software development experience, and 15 years of AI innovation, the team created an AI-powered tool designed to simplify legal contract analysis. With features like conversational Q&A, intelligent escalation for lawyer review, plain-English summaries, and a secure web interface, this solution empowers legal professionals and client-facing teams to make smarter, faster decisions.

Unlocked Career and Collaboration Opportunities

Participants stood out with the chance to fast-track interviews and explore potential pilot programmes with law firms and in-house teams.

Collaboration with QuantumBlack Experts

Teams gained direct access to mentors from QuantumBlack – McKinsey’s AI and advanced analytics powerhouse – as they tackled real-world legal challenges, including a two-hour Quantum Black workshop.

Be Judged by the Best
Judged by the Best

Pitch your prototype to a panel of senior legal innovation leaders from some of the world’s top international firms.

Prototypes were pitched to a panel of senior legal innovation leaders from some of the world’s top international firms.

Who Applied

The LegalTechTalk Hackathon isn’t just about ideas – it’s about opportunity. By entering, individuals positioned themselves and their team on a global stage in front of the most influential names in law and technology.
Unlock Career and Collaboration Opportunities
Participants stood out with the chance to fast-track interviews and explore potential pilot programmes with law firms and in-house teams.
Judged by the Best
Prototypes were pitched to a panel of senior legal innovation leaders from some of the world’s top international firms.
Collaborate with QuantumBlack Experts
Teams gained direct access to mentors from QuantumBlack – McKinsey’s AI and advanced analytics powerhouse – as they tackled real-world legal challenges, including a two-hour Quantum Black workshop.

Who Should Apply

Who Applied

We’re looking for builders, problem-solvers, and tinkerers who love turning bold ideas into real, working systems. If any of the following sounds like you – you’re exactly who we want:

Technical Builders (meaning you can code/ know technical design):

  • Frontend, backend / AI (python), UI/UX specialists
  • Data scientists

Legal domain experts (meaning you understand the problems being solved)

  • Legal engineers, lawyers, knowledge lawyers, legal operations

📚 Want to prep early?
We recommend reading up on LangGraph Studio — it’ll help set the stage for what’s to come.

Our judges were looking for builders, problem-solvers, and tinkerers who love turning bold ideas into real, working systems. This included:

Technical Builders (meaning you can code/ know technical design):

  • Frontend, backend / AI (python), UI/UX specialists
  • Data scientists

Legal domain experts (meaning you understand the problems being solved)

  • Legal engineers, lawyers, knowledge lawyers, legal operations

What We're Looking For

How Teams Were Assessed

Throughout the hackathon, our judges - made up of senior leaders from top law firms, tech, and consulting - will be checking in with teams and reviewing progress.

Your solution will be evaluated on:

  • Innovation – Are you rethinking what’s possible?

  • Feasibility – Can it be realistically implemented?

  • Tech Execution – How well does it work?

  • Impact – Will it drive real change in the legal industry?

Throughout the hackathon, our judges - made up of senior leaders from top law firms, tech, and consulting - reviewed team progress and evaluated solutions based on:
  • Innovation – Are you rethinking what’s possible?

  • Feasibility – Can it be realistically implemented?

  • Tech Execution – How well does it work?

  • Impact – Will it drive real change in the legal industry?

Key Details - coming soon for 2026

Dates & Timing
  • Application Deadline: 6 June

  • Teams Selected/ Notified: 13 June

  • Virtual Briefing: 25 June, led by QuantumBlack

  • Hackathon Kick-Off: 9:00 AM, 26 June

  • Hackathon Ends: 3:00 PM, 27 June

  • Winners Announced: 3:35 PM, 27 June

All participants are expected to attend in person for the hackathon.

Dates & Timing - 2026 dates to be announced
  • Application Deadline: tba

  • Teams Selected/ Notified: tba

  • Virtual Briefing: tba

  • Hackathon Kick-Off: tba

  • Hackathon Ends: tba

  • Winners Announced: tba

Stay tuned as we build for our 2026 Hackathon

Meet Our 2025 Judging Panel

Lisa Mather

Lisa Mather

Group General Counsel
MARS WRIGLEY

Stephen Xu Headshot

Stephen Xu

Senior Director of Product
QUANTUMBLACK,
AI BY MCKINSEY

Laura Hodgson Headshot

Laura Hodgson

GenAI Lead
LINKLATERS

Helder Santos

Helder Santos

Global Head of Legal Tech & Innovation
BIRD & BIRD

Dr. Catriona Wolfenden

Catriona Wolfenden

Director of Product and Innovation & Partner
WEIGHTMANS

Max Junestrand

Max Junestrand

CEO
LEGORA

Tom Hambrett

Tom
Hambrett

Chief Legal Officer & Partner
REVOLUT

Andrew Forman Headshot

Andrew
Forman

Director
TD COWEN

Tara Waters Headshot

Tara
Waters

Founder
TLW CONSULTING

Alex Baker Headshot

Alex
Baker

Founder
LEGAL TECH COLLECTIVE

Jason Ly Headshot

Jason Ly

Senior Manager of AI Acceleration
CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN HAMILTON LLP

Andrew Forman Headshot

Andrew Forman

Director
TD COWEN

Meet Our 2025 Judging Panel

Dr. Catriona Wolfenden

Catriona Wolfenden

Director of Product and Innovation & Partner
WEIGHTMANS

Max Junestrand

Max Junestrand

CEO
LEGORA

Lisa Mather

Lisa Mather

Group General Counsel
MARS WRIGLEY

Tom Hambrett

Tom Hambrett

Chief Legal Officer & Partner
REVOLUT

Tara Waters Headshot

Tara Waters

Founder
TLW CONSULTING

Helder Santos

Helder Santos

Global Head of Legal Tech & Innovation
BIRD & BIRD

Jason Ly Headshot

Jason Ly

Senior Manager of AI Acceleration
CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN HAMILTON LLP

Stephen Xu Headshot

Stephen Xu

Senior Director of Product
QUANTUMBLACK,
AI BY MCKINSEY

Alex Baker Headshot

Alex Baker

Founder
LEGAL TECH COLLECTIVE

Andrew Forman Headshot

Andrew Forman

Director
TD COWEN

Laura Hodgson Headshot

Laura Hodgson​

GenAI Lead
LINKLATERS

Andrew Forman Headshot

Andrew Forman

Director
TD COWEN

2025 Applications Closed - Stay Tuned for 2026

Deadline to apply is 6 June 2025 at 23:59 BST

Applying as a team? Email your details to [email protected]

FAQs

2025 applications are now closed. But if you're curious as to what it took to make the cut, applicants could...apply as an individual and be placed in a team of 4-5 with a mix of skills and backgrounds. If you already had a team, you could apply together by emailing your details to us.

Applications for 2026 are not yet open and the process/ criteria may vary - we advise you stay tuned 😊

In 2025, all participants required either strong legal knowledge or to be comfortable writing Python and have a working knowledge of containers. The hackathon is hands-on and technical, focused on building agentic AI systems to solve real-world legal challenges.

You would have been notified if you had been selected and later introduced to your team members.

If you were selected to compete, you would have been introduced to your team members ahead of the event via a dedicated Slack channel. This gives everyone a chance to connect, share ideas, and get aligned before the hackathon kicks off.

Only six teams qualified to compete on-site at LegalTechTalk 2025. These selected teams took part in the live 48-hour hackathon, building and pitching their solutions at the heart of the event.

Yes – each member of the six selected hackathon teams received a complimentary ticket to attend LegalTechTalk 2025.

Yes – judges checked in during the event, walking around to observe progress and get a sense of how each team was approaching the challenge.

Yes. In 2025, the hackathon station was accessible to participants from the morning of 26 June until the winner is announced at 4pm on 27 June. Teams were welcome to bring sleeping bags, blankets, and anything else needed to stay and work overnight.

All participants must attend on-site at LegalTechTalk in London. Virtual participation is not available.