The West Midlands’ “London problem” has shifted from talent leaving the region to value being captured elsewhere. Hybrid working now allows regional professionals to stay local while working for London firms, weakening local networks and economic impact. It also warns that rapid AI adoption is creating new data dependency on US-owned platforms, raising questions for professional and financial services firms around sovereignty, competitiveness and regional growth.

SuperTech WM has launched the Open Innovation Lab: Fighting Fraud, bringing together financial services, legal sector organisations, regulators, academics and technology innovators to tackle fraud. The programme focuses on AI-enabled fraud detection, digital identity, customer protection and fraud resilience, helping fintech, lawtech and regtech firms develop solutions to real industry challenges

As technology continues to reshape professional services, the legal sector is undergoing rapid and lasting change. Recognising the importance of preparing future talent, SuperTech WM recently led a regional event exploring The Future of Legal Careers in a Tech-Driven Landscape, delivered in partnership with Shoosmiths and supported by Birmingham Law Society and Birmingham City University.  

Bringing together around 70 students, practitioners and legal technology innovators, the event highlighted a defining message: Technology is not replacing lawyers — it is redefining what great lawyers do.  

Leading smart data expert Liz Brandt to joins the WM LawTech Forum to explore the UK’s smart data roadmap and where the regional opportunity exists in shaping this near future.

Covering core guiding principles to the development of this infrastructure in the UK context.
“the future is here already; it’s just poorly distributed”

Why the Legal Sector’s AI Future Depends on People, Not Just Tech. The latest thought leadership write up from SuperTech’s WM LawTech Forum with guest, Oxford Brookes University.
We’ve reached a point where generative AI tools are ready to reshape legal practice. Yet for many law firms, the real challenge isn’t figuring out what AI can do — it’s deciding whether to rely on it.

Emerging technologies, shifting client demands, and complex legal landscapes are reshaping how law firms and in-house legal teams operate. While the promise of innovation is immense, the journey to achieving it is not without its challenges.