Collaborate FAQs

What is Slaughter and May Collaborate?

Slaughter and May Collaborate is our legal tech programme designed to support, develop, test (and potentially pilot!) your product in collaboration with the firm. It has been designed to enhance the firm’s engagement with the best new legal tech developers, involving our Innovation team, lawyers, clients and industry experts (through our networks) every step of the way, to help shape the development of new technology for the legal sector.

What benefits does Collaborate offer? 

If you are successful in your application, you will be supported by dedicated Collaborate Mentors from our Legal Tech and Innovation team, who will work with you to build a bespoke programme for you and your team and continue to support you throughout. The programme will offer a series of skills and advice based sessions in addition to access to our people, clients and resources to help your product grow. We will also offer you the opportunity to pitch to our partners for equity investment via our venture investment platform, Slaughter and May Ventures (see below for more information). 

Further information on all of the programme benefits is available via our benefits section. 

How is Collaborate different to Slaughter and May's Fast Forward programme? 

Collaborate differentiates itself as a programme which focuses solely on developing exciting new products or services for the legal sector, whilst Fast Forward offers free legal advice and other benefits to a range of emerging technology businesses. Please note that legal advice is not included as part of our Collaborate programme.

How long is the Collaborate programme and when does it run? 

Our fourth cohort will run from April – June 2024. Where timings (or plans) for the programme change, we will notify you accordingly with as much notice as possible. 

Can I take part in the Collaborate programme part-time? 

We do ask that successful cohort members commit to the programme for the full 12-week duration, this is so that you can get the most out of the programme and its content. However, the programme is not overly intensive and is by no means full-time – our core programme offering averages 2 sessions per week, you can then work with your dedicated mentors to add as many (or as few!) additional sessions ad you like.  

What is the focus of the fourth Collaborate cohort? 

Whilst Collaborate is open to legal tech products of all shapes and sizes, we are particularly interested in working with legal tech products with a generative AI focus.

Who are the mentors? 

Dedicated mentorship will come from both our legal and business experts at Slaughter and May, as well as our Collaborate Alumni Network. In addition, cohort members can benefit from the advice and expertise of our Collaborate Advisory Network and our Client Innovation Network from a broad range of sectors. 

How often will I speak or meet with the Collaborate team? 

Each successful applicant will have their own dedicated Collaborate Mentor from the Legal Tech and Innovation team. Your dedicated mentor will work with you to create a bespoke programme that suits you and your team – check-ins can be daily, weekly, monthly; it really is up to you. 

Our core programme sessions, that we expect all cohort members to attend, are spread out across the 12-week programme with two per week on average. We will collaborate with you to ensure that you are getting the most out of the programme and will endeavour to offer you as much guidance and support as possible.  

What happens after the programme finishes? 

Once you have graduated from the programme, you will become part of the Collaborate Alumni Network, offering you the opportunity to get to know our previous cohort members to share and learn from each other post-programme. We will of course continue to support you beyond the end of the programme, although this may look different for everyone. 

Where we feel your product is a good fit for our business, we may invite you to continue to work with us beyond the end of the programme in the form of a pilot. This is not guaranteed and is at our discretion.   

How do I apply? 

For 2024 we have revised our application process to make it as easy as possible to apple to join our programme. If you are interested in joining our fourth Collaborate cohort, please complete our online application form by Thursday 29 February 2024.  

The application should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and asks that you provide a short video covering key information as well as a few short supporting questions. If we think you would be a good fit for the programme, we will invite you to join us for an informal interview and chat to enable us to learn more about you, your product and team, and to give you the opportunity to understand more about us, the programme and what we might be able to offer you.

What do I need to include in my application?  

We have a very comprehensive application process comprising of a short video and form, to enable us to know all there is about your product or service, your team and why you’d like to join our programme. We have also included space for you to upload supporting or additional information - the more we know the better!

Can I apply as a single founder? 

Yes, of course. Collaborate is open to legal tech companies of all shapes and sizes. Whether you are a team of ten or a team of one, we are excited to work with you to test, develop and expand your product. We do however ask that you have at least a Minimum Viable Product that we can work with you on.

Can I apply if I have already raised funding? 

Certainly! A few of our Collaborate Alumni had already taken on external funding prior to starting their Collaborate journey. One of the benefits of Collaborate is that as a firm we expect nothing from our cohort members in return (except their enthusiasm and time!) – we do not require a stake in the company and will not interfere with any funding opportunities. We do however offer you the opportunity to pitch to our partners for equity investment via our venture investment platform, Slaughter and May Ventures (see below for more information) – though this is at your discretion and there is no obligation to do so.  

You are also more than welcome to apply even if you have relationships with (or investment from) other law firms, however we do ask that you disclose this to us in your application form.

When is the deadline for applications? 

Applications must be submitted by midnight on Thursday 29 February 2024. We anticipate accepting successful applicants onto the programme in March 2024 and the programme is expected to run from April until June 2024. Where timings (or plans for the programme) change, we will notify you accordingly with as much notice as possible.  

What happens after I submit my application?  

There is a five-step process after you have submitted your application: 

1. Initial review of your video application, we may revert with follow up questions via email if we have any!  
2. First round interview/chat to get to know you a little better and see if we are the right fit. 
3. If necessary - second round interviews (with relevant people from across our business). 
4. Decision made, and, if successful, an offer to join our cohort and start our onboarding processes. 

When will I hear if I have been successful?  

We will review applications on a rolling basis and hope to get back to you within a few weeks to follow up with a first round interview/chat, or to let you know if we think you aren’t the right fit for the programme this time. We expect to respond to all applicants by the end of March 2024 with a final decision. 

If I am unsuccessful, will you provide feedback?  

Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applications we can’t provide detailed feedback on application outcomes.  

Is my business right for Collaborate? 

We want to support exciting innovators and entrepreneurs in the area of legal tech who need help developing their products. There is no minimum size/shape/age/financial position for acceptance into our Collaborate programme, and applications are open to legal tech businesses at varying stages of maturity. We do however ask that you have at least a Minimum Viable Product that we can work with you on. 

Diversity and inclusion is an important priority for us in all areas of our work, both in and outside of our firm. We are keen to support diversity in legal tech and are especially interested in hearing from diverse voices. If you think that you could benefit from the programme, then we would love to hear from you! 

Do I have to be a UK based business? 

There are no restrictions on where you are based, but if you are accepted into the programme, you may be required to visit our London office (Slaughter and May, One Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YY) on a number of occasions throughout the programme. 

If I need to relocate during the programme, is accommodation provided for? 

Unfortunately not. We do ask that successful applicants are able to attend our key programme sessions and events in person, as we find this garners the best results for everyone involved. However, should you be based outside of London or internationally, we will strive to offer hybrid sessions and events wherever possible.

Do I need to agree investment terms to join Collaborate? 

No. Unlike some other programmes, we do not require those participating in Collaborate to agree an investment opportunity. Whilst we offer you the opportunity to pitch to our partners via Slaughter and May Ventures, this is entirely optional and not a requirement of participation.  

What is Slaughter and May Ventures? 

Slaughter and May Ventures is our venture investment platform through which we offer the opportunity for legal tech businesses to pitch for equity investment from the firm’s partners. These investments are made by partners acting as individuals, rather than by the firm. 

Do I have to pitch for equity investment?  

No, you do not. Whilst we offer you the opportunity to pitch to our partners for equity investment via Slaughter and May Ventures, this is entirely optional and not a requirement of participation. 

Is investment guaranteed?  

No, the Collaborate team will review pitch suitability and investment decisions will be made at the discretion of individual partners.

What if my fundraising cycle falls outside of the programme dates (April – September 2024)?  

We understand that every organisation’s funding cycle will differ. Successful applicants for the programme will be offered the opportunity to pitch for investment when it is the right time in their fundraising cycle, whether or not this falls after the completion of the programme window.

Do I need to have any minimum technical requirements to apply?  

No, Collaborate is open to companies at all stages of maturity. However, information security and data privacy are of the utmost importance to the firm.  The expectation is that all applicants should understand the nature of the information that their products/systems may process and that they will incorporate appropriate controls to secure that information.  

Will I have to sign Terms and Conditions if I am successful in my application?  

Yes, to take part in the programme you will need to agree to our standard terms and conditions.   

Who owns the company IP? 

All participants involved in the Collaborate Programme will own their IP. We do not take ownership.