PRESS RELEASE
York, July 2025
Just six months since launch—and with no external funding or marketing spend, Yorkshire-based legal tech start-up Whatwouldajudgesay.com has been thrust into the spotlight, shortlisted for Best Innovation at the 2025 Modern Law Private Client Awards.
The winners were announced at the Modern Law Private Client Awards on Wednesday 2nd July 2025. Read what happened here.
Media Spotlights Yorkshire-Based Legal Disruptor
The firm is already gaining national media interest for its bold new approach to divorce. Featured this week in the Yorkshire Post and Legal Futures, the Yorkshire-based team is being recognised for rethinking how financial disputes in separation are resolved—making the process faster, clearer, and significantly more affordable.
In The Yorkshire Post, award-winning Business Editor Chris Burn explores the firm’s ambitious plans to modernise family law. Legal Futures describes the platform as an “Uber for financial remedies,” highlighting its innovative, judge-led service as a game-changer in the £2 billion divorce industry.
Co-founder, Frank Arndt says; “We are quietly shaking up the system by doing something radically simple: giving separating couples a family judge’s written opinion on how their finances would likely be divided in court—without ever stepping foot in one.”
Blending legal expertise with intelligent automation, it delivers fixed-fee, judge-led transparency and guidance in just six weeks—cutting out courtroom delays, runaway costs, and legal ambiguity.
A Changing Landscape
Most couples spend months (sometimes years) paying lawyers to argue over an outcome that a judge could have summarised from the start. The time, stress, and spiralling fees are rarely worth it. We’re flipping the model—offering people judicial thinking first, not last.
This is more than legal advice. It’s a new approach to separation—led by judges, backed by senior barristers, and aligned with the Ministry of Justice Pre-Action Protocol for financial remedy cases.
This protocol clearly explains the conduct and sets out the steps the court would normally expect parties to take before commencing court proceedings.
The divorce client of the future will want informed clarity from trusted sources as Richard Susskind KC writes; legal change moves in three stages: denial, resourcing, and disruption. We agree with that sentiment. If law firms think we’re here to eat their lunch—they’ve missed the point. AI is already doing a pretty good job. And we’re testing it too.
But this isn’t about replacing lawyers. It’s about removing the waste, restoring control—by signalling a major shift in how divorce could be handled in the UK: with transparency, fixed fees, and early guidance directly from judges.
“The pain point in divorce isn’t just legal—it’s emotional, financial and practical. People want to know where they stand,” said Karen Arndt, Co-Founder and CEO.
“We’ve brought judges, top family law chambers, seasoned solicitors, and smart legal automation together to give people that judicial guidance upfront, not after months of delay and spiralling costs. It’s a smarter way to separate.”
Disrupting A £2 Billion Industry
The UK family law market is growing steadily at 5.4% surpassing £2 billion, mainly driven by the old-fashioned legal economy of units sold on a billable hourly rate basis.
We know that divorce is notorious for delays and spiralling costs. On average, couples wait 69 weeks to see a judge and spend around £44,000 on legal fees (source: Legal Futures). This model is outdated—and change is long overdue.
The market has never been more primed for disruption. Chairman, Maarten Albarda says; “We are fully expecting a backlash from traditional law firms, and we are ready for that. Bring it on!”
With the rise of LawTech, family law is set for the same shake-up FinTech brought to the heavily regulated banking sector. This is an area to watch closely—and the UK is perfectly placed to lead the charge.
Healthy debate and innovation are essential to progress. Rising complaints to the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) reflect growing frustration with delays, lack of communication, and unpredictable costs.
SRA data shows first-tier complaints (FTCs) have increased from 25,689 in 2013 to 36,887 in 2023.
The key issues:
- Delays (20%)
- Lack of communication (17%)
- Excessive costs (9%)
The Law Society has acknowledged rising public frustration, warning that access to justice is increasingly limited by affordability constraints and inefficiency.
And as Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos has said; “We must build systems that allow people to access justice without delay, complexity, or excessive cost. Innovation is no longer optional—it’s essential.”
Elite Legal Minds
Whatwouldajudgesay.com offers divorcing couples a fixed-fee written opinion on how their finances would likely be divided in court—without setting foot in one. Clients submit their financial disclosures securely online.
These are reviewed by solicitors at Paradigm Family Law LLP, who prepare a brief for a sitting family judge or senior barrister acting in a judicial capacity.
The firm partners with a carefully selected panel of senior barristers and judges recognised nationally for their expertise in financial remedy work. These are the same legal minds who routinely advise on the most complex and high-value divorce cases in the country.
Through these partnerships, clients gain access to a level of legal insight and judicial experience typically reserved for high-net-worth or high-profile disputes — now delivered at a fixed fee and within a six-week timeframe.
“Real innovation doesn’t shout—it gives control back to the client,” said Karen. “I’m not a lawyer—and that’s the point. I’ve been through divorce myself and know the endless waiting, the silence, the sense of helplessness.
People today won’t tolerate that. They want a personalised, informed, and active role in their divorce, not a one-size-fits-all process. That’s exactly what we’ve built by going straight to judges, barristers, and specialists who know this system inside out.”
Legal Tech with Purpose
The platform is also quietly transforming how legal services are delivered, with its team developing AI tools designed to mirror the decision-making process of a sitting family judge. The aim? To ensure financial disclosure reviews are consistent, fast, and robust—all while keeping a human in the loop.
“AI won’t replace the wisdom of a judge,” said co-founder Rupert Whitehead. “But it can support better outcomes and expand access to justice—by enhancing, not replacing, legal expertise. LawtechUK will transform law in the same way fintech disrupted banks a decade ago to inspire true start-up disruption.”
Yorkshire Engine Room
Although the company is headquartered in London, the operational and legal leadership is firmly rooted in Yorkshire. Its legal partner, York-based Paradigm Family Law LLP, is also proud to have been shortlisted for Private Client Team – Family Law at the Modern Law Private Client Awards 2025. The recognition reflects Paradigm’s specialist expertise in financial remedy and its unwavering commitment to client care.
Evelyn Peacock, Legal Director at Paradigm Family Law LLP, oversees the legal review and operational delivery of every case.
“We’re here to make things easier, not harder,” Evelyn said.
“Clients come to us overwhelmed. We give them structure, support and trusted legal insight—without dragging things out.”
Backed by Global Talent, Built in Britain
The leadership team reflects both international experience and strong local grounding:
- Maarten Albarda, Chairman – Former global media executive at Coca-Cola, based in USA.
- Karen Arndt, Co-Founder & CEO – former global media and tech executive (IBM, Dentsu Japan & Ogilvy New York)
- Rupert Whitehead, Co-Founder – Former Google Developer Relations Lead, London
- Frank Arndt, Co-Founder – Dual qualified, UK solicitor, European Lawyer and trained judge in Germany, expert in UK & international high-net-worth divorces
Together, they are developing legal services designed for a more modern world—powered by smart technology and guided by real-world legal expertise.
“SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy—and Yorkshire is no exception,” said Karen Arndt, Co-Founder and CEO. “This is homegrown innovation solving a national problem. We’ve gone from idea to award shortlist in under 12 months, with no outside investment or advertising. It’s working because it’s needed.”
About Whatwouldajudgesay.com
Launched in early 2025, WhatWouldAJudgeSay.com is a legal tech platform that offers separating couples a written, judge-led opinion on how their finances would likely be divided—delivered within six weeks, for a fixed fee.
Backed by Paradigm Family Law LLP and partnered with top UK family law chambers, it combines legal expertise with smart automation to bring early resolution and reduce legal cost, delay, and stress.
Media Enquiries Welcome
For interviews, commentary, or media opportunities in relation to innovation in divorce law, legal tech, or judicial reform, please get in touch.
Thank you.
📧 Email: Karen@whatwouldajudgesay.com
📞 Phone: +44 (0) 20 3951 0212
📅 Book a call: https://whatwouldajudgesay.youcanbook.me
🌍 Website: www.whatwouldajudgesay.com
High-res logo, supporting imagery, background information available from our on-line media pack; here.
Featured Article in the Yorkshire Post (subscription required)
“Meet the Yorkshire couple who’ve founded a divorce advice service – with her ex-husband as part of the team”
By Chris Burn, 5 July 2025 — (subscription required)
The Yorkshire Post recently profiled Whatwouldajudgesay.com, spotlighting how Yorkshire-based co-founders Karen and Frank Arndt are shaking up the divorce process. In the article, journalist Chris Burn explores how the pair – who are not just business partners but also formerly married – are bringing innovation, affordability and clarity to a notoriously complex area of law.
The Problem They’re Solving:
While divorce rates are falling, the number of contested financial remedy cases is soaring — up 66% in 2024. These disputes are dragging on for over a year on average and incurring huge legal costs for relatively small financial disagreements. The article references a recent case where £2,000 in dispute led to £13,000 in combined legal fees.
The Whatwouldajudgesay.com Solution:
For a fixed fee of £5,000, the service delivers a written legal opinion from a family law expert (often a former judge) within six weeks — answering the number one question people ask at the start of divorce: “What would a judge say?” If both parties agree on the recommendation, Paradigm Family Law can finalise the divorce for an additional fixed fee of £1,500.
A Disruptive Approach with Deep Expertise:
Karen brings decades of global media and tech experience; Frank is a dual-qualified international divorce lawyer who pioneered fixed-fee billing at Paradigm Family Law. Together, they’re joined by Rupert Whitehead (formerly of Google) and Maarten Albarda, former global media director at Coca-Cola — who is also Karen’s ex-husband and part of the extended leadership team.
Behind the Business:
The article explores how the team’s personal and professional experiences led them to reimagine how divorce could be done differently. Frank is quoted saying that even as a divorce lawyer, he first encourages couples to reconcile. But when divorce is inevitable, they believe it shouldn’t take 69 weeks and a bitter battle to get there.
Recognition & Early Traction:
Though the company only launched in 2025, it’s already been shortlisted for Best Innovation at the 2025 Modern Law Private Client Awards. With early interest from couples, individuals and even litigants already in the system, it’s gaining national attention for changing the game.
See full article in The Yorkshire Post (subscription required)