International focus & name change for the UK Document Excellence Group

Global News

02
Oct
2019

Editor

To reflect the desire of UKDEG to widen its focus and be more inclusive of international members, a new scope and rebrand is to be launched at its annual conference which includes updating the name to DOCUMENT EXCELLENCE GROUP (DEG).

While the group’s primary base of operations will remain in the UK, it will seek to provide a more global offering, supporting members with locally-driven content and representation, along with educational webinars accessible to all.

The rebrand also sees the group combining forces with affiliated US group (USDEG, formerly the New York Word Legal Users Group), led by Sherry Kappel of Litera Microsystems and Tracy Kraft of Kraft Kennedy, following their successful relaunch in 2018.

Over recent years more and more law firms are working globally, bringing new collaboration challenges particularly around documents. Chair of the Document Excellence Group, Andrea Bowyer of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, says “while we understand there are cultural differences, we know that international firms struggle with the same document production issues as UK firms and we want to help and support them by using our many years of experience to drive change and facilitate improvements. We look forward to welcoming new members and sharing some of the solutions we have that can help reduce the issues.”

Since it was established, the group has worked to raise standards around document production and collaboration.  The DEG Standard Styles framework, adopted by many law firms and precedent providers, was devised to bring stability and ease of use to legal documents while allowing firms to retain their individual identity and house-style branding.  

From humble beginnings in 2004, with a small collection of law firms in London, the group has grown to almost 1,000 individual members representing 400 organisations across both legal and financial services worldwide.  The not-for-profit user group of like-minded professionals is run by a team of volunteers.

The group’s aims are to:

• promote knowledge and collaboration;
• organise regular knowledge sharing and networking events;
• develop best practices.