In the dynamic world of legal technology, Simon Hill, the CEO and co-founder of Xperate, stands at the forefront of innovation and growth. With a serial tech entrepreneur career spanning decades and a passion for creating impactful solutions, Simon has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of Xperate since its inception in September 2021.
What’s something you’re most proud of about Xperate or your team
Simon takes immense pride in Xperate's continuous monthly growth since its inception. The company, now boasting 83 employees, has seen a 142% year-on-year growth in revenue. For Simon, the brilliant individuals Xperate has recruited have been key to the continuous monthly growth of Xperate.
If you could give your younger self, career advice, what would it be
Reflecting on his journey, Simon would advise his younger self to have a gap year before embarking on a career, enjoying life, and achieving personal goals. He emphasises the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people.
Do you have an unlikely source of inspiration or motivation?
Simon draws a basic inspiration from an unexpected source—fear of failure of not achieving the high personal goals he sets for himself. This drives him to do his best for clients and the Xperate team. It pushes him to strive for excellence and make a positive impact in the legal tech landscape. Simon’s primary motivation though is to ensure that Xperate always exceeds client’s expectations along the lines of Xperate’s basic client focused approach ‘we’ll bring your ideas to life’
How do you unwind outside of work?
Outside of the boardroom Simon unwinds through a variety of activities. Whether it's mountain biking, running for his thinking time, skiing, rugby (watching now!) or enjoying the thrill of driving performance cars, he understands the importance of balancing work and personal life. His analogue film cameras provide a technology detox, allowing him to appreciate the mechanical simplicity of a bygone era.
What is a common problem or contradiction in your industry that you think needs to be talked about?
One of the prevalent challenges in the legal tech industry that Simon believes needs open discussion is the reluctance of legal tech vendors and law firms to embrace offshoring. Many firms are interested but fear the potential risks and potential career limiting implications if things go wrong. Simon emphasises that offshoring can indeed be cost-effective and beneficial with the right partner. Xperate, with its focus on SMEs globally (and that includes the largest law firms and legal tech vendors in the world), provides a unique hybrid offshoring model, blending legal expertise and other areas to ensure efficacy and productivity.