Meet Dr Catriona Wolfenden
From Theory to Practice: Dr Catriona Wolfenden on Legal Innovation That Actually Works
When The Exchange welcomes Dr Catriona Wolfenden in June 2025, our community will hear from someone who has successfully bridged the gap between innovation theory and practical implementation in a traditional legal environment.
As Product and Innovation Director at Weightmans, Catriona leads innovation initiatives that align with both firm strategy and client needs—making her perspective invaluable for legal operations professionals seeking to drive meaningful change.
An "Accidental Lawyer" Turned Innovation Leader
Catriona's journey is anything but conventional. After completing a PhD in medical law and the Bar Vocational Course, she joined Weightmans in 2007, was admitted as a solicitor in 2011, and promoted to Partner in 2019. Her path from civil litigation practitioner to innovation leader gives her a rare understanding of both legal practice realities and transformation possibilities.
Before moving into her current role, Catriona gained valuable frontline experience as a team leader in the costs department and as a Professional Support Lawyer, providing strategic know-how, training, and technical support both internally and to clients. This operational background ensures her innovation work remains grounded in practical legal needs rather than abstract concepts.
Building an Award-Winning Innovation Program
Under Catriona's leadership, Weightmans' innovation team has been shortlisted for over 20 National Innovation awards since 2018, with notable wins including:
Modern Law Awards 2019 for "Best Use of Technology" through a collaborative project with Kira Systems (AI software provider) and the University of Liverpool's Computer Science Department
Runner-up at the British Legal Tech Awards 2020 for "Technology Venture of the Year" for an RPA Email filing assistant
Runner-up for "Most Innovative Firm of the Year" at the British Legal Tech Awards 2022
These achievements demonstrate Catriona's ability to deliver innovation that creates measurable impact—a crucial skill in an industry where technology investments must demonstrate clear value.
Why Catriona's Perspective Matters for Legal Ops
Catriona brings several unique insights directly relevant to the challenges facing legal operations teams:
Beyond the Buzzwords: As someone who "fell into innovation", Catriona offers a refreshingly pragmatic view of legal technology adoption, focusing on solving real problems rather than chasing trends.
Building Cross-Functional Partnerships: Her collaboration with universities, tech providers, and internal stakeholders showcases the importance of diverse perspectives in successful innovation.
Future-Focused Skills Development: Her interest in the evolving skill set needed by tomorrow's lawyers aligns with the talent development challenges many legal operations teams face.
Practical Implementation Knowledge: As co-author of a book about innovation in law firms that covers "all the practical aspects we wish we had known about at the start", Catriona shares hard-won implementation wisdom.
Leadership Beyond the Firm
Catriona's influence extends beyond Weightmans through her roles as:
Former director of UKLTA (The Legal Tech Association for the UK)
Member of the Liverpool Enterprise Partnership Professional and Business Services Board (three-year term)
Member of UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship Panel College
These positions demonstrate her commitment to advancing the legal innovation ecosystem—creating knowledge and networks that benefit the entire profession.
Join the Conversation
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 12:30-1:30pm GMT
The Exchange podclub is designed for legal operations professionals who want to improve the delivery of legal services through innovation, connection, and idea-sharing. Each monthly session features thought-provoking content selected by our guest speaker, followed by facilitated discussion and networking.
