Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has, in collaboration with document automation specialists, created Deed Architect, a bespoke tool for use in drafting pension deed documents.

Deed Architect will transform the way in which deeds are created, using artificial intelligence to streamline the process and bring greater certainty of accuracy.

“This tool will revolutionise how we draft pension documents,” said Stephen Richards, partner, Stephenson Harwood. “As well as making the process much faster, it will also lead to significant cost efficiencies for clients. By using the automated tool, clients will be able to pay for the specialist legal insight where it matters, and leave the standard pro forma work to Deed Architect.”

Pensions partner Stephen Richards led the project, which he worked on in collaboration with professional support lawyer Julia Ward and head of innovation Paul Orchard.

The Stephenson Harwood pensions team is one of the largest in the City; it supports both pension scheme trustees and sponsors. The team has advised on some of the most ground-breaking pensions matters of recent years. Highlights have included advising the trustees of the Barnardo’s staff pension scheme on the construction of RPI, and assisting the trustee board of a multi-billion pound pension fund in relation to a multi-million pound claim against one of the world’s largest fund managers.