Solicitor turned lawtech entrepreneur Lauren Riley appeared on the popular reality show four years ago
A former family solicitor who shot to fame following a spell on The Apprentice has raised over £500,000 to help support her law app business.
Lauren Riley appeared on the BBC’s hit reality show in 2014 and went on to launch The Link App, an online platform that provides a secure and paperless way for law firms to communicate with clients. Now, several years on, Riley has revealed she’s drummed up over half a million pounds in financial support since she put her legal career on hold.
The financial milestone comes on the back of a successful round of fresh funding backed by Mercia Equity Finance, a UK technology investment specialist, alongside existing and new investors. Collectively, the group raised £344,000 to help support Riley’s lawtech dream.
Commenting on her fundraising success, Riley told Legal Cheek:
“This represents a significant step for The Link App and supports our position in the market; accelerating our growth, product and ability to make a positive impact on our law firms users. We’re currently busy hiring additional talent for our Manchester office and many other exciting projects to be announced soon.”
Riley was a family lawyer at St Albans outfit Labrums Solicitors before taking part in series ten of The Apprentice. The Lancaster University law grad, who was axed in week seven, attributed her failure on the programme to Lord Sugar’s supposed dislike of lawyers.
The solicitor turned tech entrepreneur wasn’t the only legally-mined contestant to take part in the show in 2014. Riley was joined by Felipe Alviar-Baquero, a former City lawyer who spent four years at magic circle giant Slaughter and May before going on to work at the London office of top US firm Latham & Watkins. Alviar-Baquero was dumped from the show in week nine.
