David Scott from HighFive, the technology subsidiary of law firm HF, worked with the Centre for Digital Innovation and academics from the University of Salford to develop an ethical AI solutions for their business.
The challenge
As legal and insurance clients increasingly demanded faster, tech-enhanced services, HF saw an opportunity to diversify their offering and embed innovation into their business model. But creating new technology internally posed major questions:
- What role could artificial intelligence realistically play in legal workflows?
- How could they test and validate an emerging tech product in a traditional industry?
- Could a law firm deliver innovation at startup speed without compromising client trust?
- How could they ensure that any AI solution they developed, would operate in an ethical way?
The Solution
HF launched HighFive, a dedicated internal startup focused on developing tech solutions that add measurable value to its legal service offering. In order to build and implement AI solutions to the insurance sector, they partnered with the Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI). With the prodution of an ethical solution, an absolute priority, the CDI paired HighFive with academics from the University of Salford to make sure that the technology was rigorous, safe and fair.
The partnership offered:
- Technical guidance on AI feasibility, development pathways, and system integration
- Research-backed validation to test assumptions and strengthen credibility with insurers
- Go-to-market support, helping shape a commercial strategy to win client buy-in
- Ongoing collaboration post-launch to support iterations and product growth
Impact
- Faster, Smarter Fraud Detection:
High‑5’s AI tools help insurers and legal teams identify fraudulent claims earlier and with more accuracy. - Enhanced Client Offerings:
HF now goes to market with legal services plus digital tools—making them more competitive and future-proof. - Reputation for Innovation:
Working alongside CDI gave HF the academic depth and R&D credibility to stand out in a conservative industry.
“It’s helped us win more work. Clients see we’re not just delivering legal advice—they see we’re bringing them tools that add value.”
— David Scott, Partner at HF
Find out more about the Knowledge Exchange partnerships
Does your business want to explore innovative new ideas, but lacks vital skills or resources for building, testing or launching your project? You can work with the Centre for Sustainable Innovation to access expertise and specialist resources. There are multiple ways to get invovled but the best place to start is to get in touch and tell us about your project and where you need assistance.
Want to find out more about how Knowledge Exchange can benefit your business? Read our full article on this topic.