German Legal Tech Summit 2025 attracts over 800 participants to Hanover

Three years after its premiere, the German Legal Tech Summit has finally established itself as a nationwide event for the digital future of the legal market. Around 800 trade visitors from law firms, companies, administration, politics, science and legal tech start-ups came together at the Hanover Exhibition Center on December 4, 2025. The patron was Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Stefanie Hubig.

Focus on artificial intelligence and the future of legal work

The event clearly demonstrated the extent to which AI is already changing legal work and the role it will play in the future. Opening speeches by Dr. Jochen Köckler (CEO of Deutsche Messe), Jörg Offenhausen and Dr. Benedikt Quarch (German Legal Tech Hub) emphasized that the industry is changing and needs orientation.

In his keynote speech, sociologist Prof. Harald Welzer addressed the question of what happens when thinking and communication are increasingly automated. AI can analyze volumes of data, but it cannot replace human creativity or the unexpected. Networking and social interaction remain key human skills.

High demand for practical knowledge and guidance

The summit was fully booked, both the exhibition and the workshops, masterclasses and panel discussions. Franca Lehfeldt moderated the main stage. Sessions such as "From Prompt to Daily Business" illustrated the willingness of participants to not only understand digital tools, but to actively integrate them into their everyday work.

Su Reiter (Reiter Media) also gave specific recommendations for action on digital branding for law firms, which met with great interest from the audience.

Lower Saxony's Minister of Justice, Dr Katrin Wahlmann, was also present and called for a strong path to digitalization during her appearance.

We need the e-file - no AI can run on a paper file.

Dr. Katrin Wahlmann, Minister of Justice of Lower Saxony

In a panel discussion with Stefanie Otte (President of the Higher Regional Court of Celle), Prof. Dr. Volker Römermann (Humboldt University of Berlin) and Belit Onay (Lord Mayor of Hanover), the challenges and regulatory issues surrounding AI in the legal system were highlighted. Karsten Hardraht, General Counsel at KfW, emphasized the importance of the interplay between technical support and human judgement.

Exhibition showcases practical legal tech solutions

The exhibitors presented technologies that are already noticeably changing legal processes today - including automation, document management and digital workflows. Participants included companies such as June, Dillitrust, BRYTER, Libra, Beck-Noxtua and Prime Legal AI.

Focus on diversity, young talent and innovation

The summit once again sent a strong signal for diversity in the legal market. Formats such as the Legal Tech Women Lunch, the Legal Fight Club and the Start-up Pitch Trophy offered visibility for young talent and new business models.

The 2025 pitch competition was won by Nenna AI, an AI model with a focus on data protection. Founder Lars Moll accepted the award on the Summit stage.

Outlook for 2026: Two-day event planned

Next year, the event will be held as a two-day summit for the first time. The next edition will take place on December 2 and 3, 2026, once again at the Hannover Exhibition Center.

The Summit was founded in 2023 and is now one of the most important events for digitalization, AI and innovation in the legal market. Since 2024, it has been jointly organized by Deutsche Messe AG and the German Legal Tech Hub and sees itself as a central platform for interdisciplinary exchange between law, technology and business.