Andy Shovel and Pete Sharman, creators of the plant-based food brand THIS, are making a significant shift. Their new venture, Keith, is an AI-native regulated law firm initially focusing on conveyancing, aiming to slash transaction times by 70% with a 24/7 AI client agent. The firm is set to launch in Q3 2026.
Shovel’s previous venture offered plant-based bacon and chicken. Keith will operate under the regulation of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.
This pivot, while drastic, follows a familiar strategy: identifying a large, unchanged market and rebuilding it through technology. For THIS, it was meat alternatives; for Keith, it is conveyancing.
Keith has secured £2 million in seed funding from Backed VC, Breega, and angel investors. This funding will help establish the fully regulated AI-native law firm that Shovel, Sharman, and third co-founder Sam Tucker plan to launch by Q3 2026.
The firm will first tackle residential property conveyancing, the legal process of property ownership transfer, before moving into other legal fields.
Keith’s technology involves AI agents managing document review, drafting, client communication, and workflow, all within legal guidelines and overseen by qualified conveyancers when necessary.
Keith projects that up to 80% of traditional legal work can be automated. It offers a 24/7 client-facing AI service via phone and WhatsApp, designed to mimic human interaction, providing instant responses and updates without business-hour restrictions.
Annually, over 530,000 UK property transactions collapse, often due to slow and opaque conveyancing processes, representing a legal market worth approximately £54 billion. Keith is targeting a 70% reduction in transaction times. Shovel’s personal motivation arose from a challenging home-buying experience, leading to the idea for Keith.
Co-founder Sam Tucker, who previously founded the hybrid scheduling platform Common Surface, now leads product development at Keith. The company benefits from the expertise of non-executive director Eddie Goldsmith, a former chairman of the UK Conveyancing Association and a founder of a prominent conveyancing firm.
Keith is seeking authorisation from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, a strategic decision reflecting their innovative technological approach. As they expand into other legal areas, they anticipate seeking regulation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.