How Zeidler Group Scales Legal Expertise with AI and Legal Engineering

Inside Zeidler’s AI-Powered Legal Tech Model

What if a single lawyer’s expertise could be scaled into hundreds without losing trust, accuracy, or regulatory insight? At Zeidler Group, this is not a hypothetical—it’s the foundation of their legal and compliance services for asset management.

Zeidler Group combines deep legal expertise with advanced AI technology. “We’re not just building tools,” says founder Arne Zeidler. “We’re creating legal technology that solves real problems and helps clients stay ahead.” Since 2008, the firm has evolved into a hybrid of LegalTech, RegTech, and law practice, serving clients from boutique firms to leading global asset managers.

The Book That Inspired a New Approach

Zeidler’s approach traces back to a key influence: Richard Susskind’s The End of Lawyers?, published in 2008. The book explores how legal work could shift from manual processes to system-driven delivery.

“It gave me a vocabulary for what I was already imagining,” Zeidler recalls. Susskind introduced the concept of legal engineers—professionals who combine legal knowledge with system design and technology. What was once a radical idea is now core to Zeidler Group's daily work.

Lawyers at Zeidler don’t just interpret law; they act as legal engineers who train and guide large language models (LLMs). This ensures AI outputs are precise, legally sound, and operationally relevant. “The legal engineer role describes what our team actually does every day,” Zeidler explains. Their AI tools are shaped by lawyers, not generic automation, preserving critical legal reasoning.

From Passporting to Platform Solutions

The hybrid model began during Zeidler’s time at Baker McKenzie, when Lehman Brothers requested cross-border passporting for UCITS funds—a routine but legally intricate process.

“A partner said, ‘Someone could build a business around this.’ That’s exactly what I did.” Zeidler identified that many fund-related legal tasks are structured and repeatable, making them ideal for systematization. This insight led to Zeidler Group’s foundation as both a law firm and a legal tech developer.

Scaling Legal and Compliance with AI

AI, especially LLMs, sits at the heart of Zeidler’s current transformation. These models process vast text data, capable of interpreting, summarizing, and generating legal and regulatory content.

“LLMs are made to work with law and regulation,” Zeidler says. “They can reduce the burden of dense documentation and empower lawyers and compliance officers.” AI is embedded across Zeidler’s solutions, enhancing existing products like their MMR-Tool, which reviews thousands of marketing documents across multiple jurisdictions including the US, UK, EU, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Switzerland.

An AI-driven upgrade to Zeidler’s KID production engine is underway, promising to change how investor documents are created industry-wide.

However, Zeidler emphasizes that AI tools can’t replace human judgment in compliance. “You can’t just hand over compliance to an algorithm,” he warns. Their tools are designed to support critical thinking, with lawyers always involved in the loop.

Trust, Transparency, and Legal Accountability

Owning both legal and tech sides allows Zeidler Group to offer unmatched accountability. Clients know their AI tools are developed and reviewed by lawyers, not outsourced developers unfamiliar with the context.

This builds essential trust in an area where minor regulatory errors can have big consequences. The key questions—Who built the AI? What data trains it? Who takes responsibility?—are answered clearly: “We do, at every step.”

Global Reach, Local Focus

With offices in Germany, Ireland, the UK, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Australia, India, and the US, Zeidler Group combines international reach with local expertise. Their tools reflect not only broad regulations but also jurisdiction-specific nuances—a capability only a legally embedded team can deliver effectively.

Innovation Labs: Anticipating Client Needs

Zeidler’s Innovation Lab in Phoenix, Arizona serves as an R&D hub where emerging AI technologies are tested and new use cases explored. For example, AI-based video analysis, once considered niche, is gaining traction due to client interest in video content compliance monitoring.

“Our team often finds solutions before the problem becomes obvious,” Zeidler notes. When the market catches up, Zeidler is already prepared.

Ambitions for the Future

Zeidler Group remains self-funded, avoiding external pressure to grow at any cost. This independence allows focus on long-term value over short-term gains.

“We aim to be the global leader in law and compliance for asset management,” Zeidler says. “AI makes it possible—not by hiring hundreds of lawyers, but by having the right models, training data, and legal expertise to do it responsibly.”

Why Choose Zeidler?

Financial institutions facing complex regulations can benefit from Zeidler’s unique blend of legal depth, scalable technology, asset management experience, and human connection.

“Clients often say how much they enjoy working with our team,” Zeidler adds. “In the end, even with advanced technology, it’s about trust, people, and delivering real value.”