Courtney Blackman never thought she'd enter the tech world, having spent her career in the creative fields of fashion and media. Today, she leads Australia's first legal tech accelerator for startups.
From featuring on the New York TODAY Show as a fashion commentator to leading Australia’s first legal tech accelerator at top independent law firm Lander & Rogers, Courtney Blackman has landed quite some lofty roles.
Courtney’s multi-talented. She’s founded a media agency, run a print magazine, interviewed global celebrities, and restored an opera house.
Now, she leads Australian law firm Lander & Rogers’ LawTech Hub – Australia’s top program for startups and scaleups looking to support the legal industry with innovative tech ideas.
With an insider’s view of up-and-coming businesses worldwide (like Dispute Buddy!), we knew Courtney would be the perfect person to feature.
Courtney: My career really began in the UK. I ran a media agency, Forward PR, geared toward the creative industries – music and fashion, where we put together big events such as catwalk shows and album launches in cities like London, Paris, Milan, and New York.
Then I worked in publishing. My partner and I acquired a men's fashion and lifestyle magazine, where I became its editor-in-chief until we sold it. I also did a bit of work in television as a fashion commentator for the TODAY Show in New York, but based in London because they needed a North American accent.
My partner and I later moved to Canada and acquired an opera house to historically restore it. A lot of people might envision the Sydney Opera House, but it was not like that at all! It was a small wooden opera house built by the Order of the Oddfellows in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. We also ran a contemporary art gallery, which was exciting!
Our next adventure brought us to Melbourne, Australia. I became the chief marketing officer for a company called York Butter Factory, or YBF Ventures, which was the largest tech and innovation hub in Australia at the time. I was working with hundreds of startups and scaleups across a range of industries, including legal.
At YBF, we partnered with Lander & Rogers to create the LawTech Hub – Australia's first accelerator program dedicated to legal tech startups. Post-pandemic, Lander & Rogers asked me to join their team and run the LawTech Hub, and that's how I landed in the firm’s innovation function, the iHub.
Courtney: It’s fantastic! I work with startups and scaleups from around the world who are transforming the legal industry through technology. I also run legal tech and AI clinics with law students at universities in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Recently, I launched an internal program for legal assistants that looks at shaping AI’s role in the future of their work. I also helped build an AI fluency program to make sure everyone across the firm has a foundational understanding of AI.
Courtney: What matters is whether a startup aligns with our values and if it could make a meaningful difference for our clients and the broader community. That’s exactly what I saw with Dispute Buddy.
It just stood out to me, and that’s why I connected you to the right people. It felt like a great example of something worth getting behind.
Courtney: The Legal Tech Pitch Night is a really nice vehicle for us to see what's happening around the world with emerging technology in the legal ecosystem. It’s a way to showcase the startups and scaleups going through our six-month LawTech Hub to venture capitalists, potential customers, and leaders in the legal-tech space.
A lot of the people that have won have been in our LawTech Hub accelerator, which I think is a nice testament to the program because the judging panel is independent.
Courtney: We narrow it down to ten people that can pitch, but anybody can apply. Even if someone is not selected to pitch, they are at least on our radar.
We’re interested in ways to work better and more efficiently. Anyone that is shaking up the legal world through technology should apply!
Courtney: This year’s LawTech Hub will kick off in May and we’ve received applications from all over - Sweden, South Africa, India, the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Singapore, the U.S. What’s interesting is how these startups are responding to the big global platforms most law firms already use.
They’re zooming in on really specific problems: stuff like legal training simulations, automating case prep for international arbitration, AI tools for family law financial disclosures, AI governance, and even cutting out non-billable administrative work. They’re carving out niches, and it’s fascinating to see what’s coming through.
Courtney: I can’t speak for all lawyers, but the lawyers at Lander & Rogers are pretty special.
We’ve got an amazing culture – high-performing legal work combined with a really human, supportive environment. You feel that when you’re there. People trust and support each other, and you’re encouraged to be yourself. There’s a strong sense of collaboration and humility, too – excellence without ego.
We have a “dress for your day” approach, so it’s not the stereotypical sea of suits. You’ll see plenty of jeans and trainers, unless someone’s meeting with clients. It gives the place a really relaxed, welcoming feel.
One thing I will say about lawyers: their brains are incredible. Honestly, have a conversation with one and you’ll see, they’re pretty epic!
