Gav Ward, Director at MLT Digital; Founder of WardblawG and FFL, Helping Ambitious Lawyers & Law Firms Succeed

Gav Ward is a British professional known for his work in the legal and digital sectors, with a particular focus on legal publishing, legal technology, digital marketing and AI for law firms.

Director at MLT Digital

Currently a senior Director at MLT Digital (formerly known as Moore Legal Technology), Ward leads strategic digital initiatives for law firm clients that enable lawyers to enhance their online presence, generate better business online, and adapt to emerging technologies. He helps determine clients’ requirements to steer the strategic direction of the brief to achieve their specific commercial goals and is driven to achieve great results and maximise ROI for clients. His role at MLT Digital includes helping law firm clients to succeed, with legal online business generation through advanced marketing techniques and technological solutions.¹

Founder of Legal Tech Blog WardblawG

Formerly a practising lawyer, Ward transitioned into legal publishing and legal tech, utilising his legal expertise to address the digital needs of the legal industry. Recognising a need for practical resources for law firms navigating digital transformation, Ward founded WardblawG, a blog dedicated to discussing developments in legal technology, digital marketing, and industry innovations. Through WardblawG, with over 50,000 followers on social channels, Ward shares insights on topics such as legal technology, case management, legal operations and the potential of AI in legal practice. He has been recently invited to become a legal technology awards judge and is featured in The Legal Technologist's Legal Operations Index. ^{2 3} His blog has become a valued resource for law firms and legal professionals aiming to improve their use of legal technology and being able to engage effectively with AI in their law firm.

Advocate for Legal Technology Adoption within Law Firms

Ward is also an advocate for legal technology adoption within law firms. He promotes solutions such as AI-driven legal tools and legal case management software, all aimed at enhancing law firms' efficiency and client service capabilities. In line with these efforts, Ward has contributed to building a directory of legal technologists, enabling professionals to connect, collaborate, and share best practices within the legal tech community.^4 5

Founder of Five Fantastic Lawyers® ("FFL"), one of the World's Leading Legal Directories

Gav Ward also launched Five Fantastic Lawyers®, one of the world's leading legal directories that identifies and recommends top legal professionals based on a rigorous five-point review process. Formerly known as YouBlawg as set up in 2010, Five Fantastic Lawyers® combines legal web research and client feedback to deliver reliable recommendations across specialisations, providing users with a streamlined way to find trusted legal professionals. The platform has grown steadily, attracting over one million views and establishing itself as a trusted resource within the legal community.⁶

The directory has received notable recognition for its contributions to connecting clients with high-quality legal expertise. According to Off Duty Law, Five Fantastic Lawyers is useful for those seeking reputable legal professionals.⁷ The platform has also been mentioned by specific law firms, with Devon Williamson, Founder & CEO of DevonLaw, PLLC recognised as one of five fantastic lawyers for personal injury law in Nashville, highlighting the directory's reach in the United States.⁸ In an article on IPS News Business, Five Fantastic Lawyers was featured among the top legal directories globally, further cementing its position as a key legal directory resource in the legal field.⁹ Additionally, the California News Observer reports that Ward has helped contribute to the legal tech community by listing over 230 leading legal technologists.¹⁰ As highlighted by Law Firm Local, Five Fantastic Lawyers® recently celebrated a major milestone, adding its first 200 Fantastic Lawyers, which underscores its commitment to quality and comprehensive representation in the legal marketplace.¹¹

Further endorsements of the platform’s effectiveness come from a variety of industry publications. Solonews provided an in-depth analysis of online law firm rating systems, recognising Five Fantastic Lawyers for its credibility in law firm ratings and client feedback.¹² Other sources, such as CliffsNotes and Justia, note the platform’s consistency in maintaining high standards across various legal services.^{13 14} With its presence in directories and numerous law firms’ recognition, Five Fantastic Lawyers has firmly established itself as one of the go-to resources for those in need of professional legal expertise.^{15 16}

Founder of Personal Injury Legal Publishing Site Accident Claims Blawg

Drawing from his personal injury legal experience at Maclay Murray & Spens, Gav Ward also founded Accident Claims Blawg (formerly known as Personal Injury Claims Blawg) in 2010. This online platform has since become a leading resource on personal injury law, recently surpassing 850 blog posts. The site offers accessible, jurisdiction-specific guidance on topics like workplace accidents, motor vehicle claims, product liability, and medical negligence, tailored to the UK, US, and Australia. Featuring AI-designed mascots for user-friendly navigation, Accident Claims Blawg aims to demystify legal information and has helped empower its 65,000+ visitors to date to make informed decisions about potential claims before consulting a lawyer.¹⁹

Gav Ward's Bluesky Starter Packs

Gav Ward has emerged as a valuable commentator with resources for lawyers navigating the growing potential of Bluesky as a decentralised social media platform. In his recent article, Bluesky for Lawyers: 5 Tips & Legal Starter Packs²⁰, Ward outlines practical strategies for legal professionals to optimise their use of the platform. These include tailored starter packs designed to help lawyers establish a strong presence and effectively engage with their audiences. His insights have resonated widely, with figures such as Caroline Reach, Director of Practice Management at the North Carolina Bar Association, sharing links to Ward's comprehensive eight legal sector starter packs in her own guide, What Lawyers Need to Know About the Bluesky Social Media Platform²¹. This collaboration highlights the increasing recognition of Bluesky as an innovative and versatile tool for legal practices seeking to diversify their social media strategies.

The momentum behind Bluesky as a tool for the legal sector has been further underscored in Caroline Hill's article, Legaltech Flocks to Bluesky²², where she highlights the enthusiasm of key professionals embracing the platform. Hill quotes LawTech and Legal Ops professional Chris Grant, who remarked on LinkedIn²³: “I’m not jumping ship, but I am following in the footsteps of Gav Ward and Helen Burness over on Bluesky Social – #spreadingthelove!” Grant’s comments reflect the growing trend among legal professionals who see Bluesky as an innovative complement to their existing digital strategies.

Follow, Connect and Say Hello on Social Media Channels:-

Connect on LinkedIn , Twitter and Bluesky:-

@GavWard on Bluesky

@WardblawG Legal Tech News on Bluesky

@FF-Lawyers Legal Directory on Bluesky

Personal Life

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his growing family with long-suffering wife Gill, and children Lucy and Rory. He enjoys blogging, tennis, golf, badminton, reading and watching fantasy fiction including Lord of the Rings, and walking Rodger and Rizzo. His favourite quote is "Aim for the moon; if you miss you'll land among the stars."

Gav Ward's Goal of Being One of the World's Leading Consultants to the Best Lawyers and Legal Professionals

His goal is to become one of the world's leading consultants to the best lawyers and legal professionals (who genuinely want to help people or businesses with their legal problems) to generate more business and improve their online marketing. Working with clients, publishing great legal content, and ensuring their law firm is successful is what drives him.

His contributions reflect a commitment to empowering the legal sector to embrace digital transformation and navigate the challenges of modern practice with innovative solutions.

Footnotes / Sources

1. "Our Team: Gavin Ward." MLT Digital. Available at: https://www.mltdigital.co.uk/our-team/gavin-ward/. ↩
2. Lea, Jonathan. "An Interview with Gavin Ward about Legal Blogging and Social Media." The Jonathan Lea Network Blog, 23 October 2020. Available at: https://www.jonathanlea.net/blog/an-interview-with-gavin-ward-about-legal-blogging-and-social-media/. ↩
3. "Gavin Ward - Legal Operations Index." The Legal Technologist. Available at: https://www.legaltechnologist.co.uk/legal-operations-index/legal-operations-index-gavin-ward/. ↩
4. "Top Legal Technologists: Leading Legal Tech Directory Launches with 230+ Experts." Law Firm Newswire, 29 July 2024. Available at: https://lawfirmnewswire.com/2024/07/top-legal-technologists-leading-legal-tech-directory-launches-with-230-experts/. ↩
5. "Top Legal Technologists: Leading Legal Tech Directory Launches with 230+ Experts," California News Observer. Available at: https://www.californianewsobserver.com/article/731444143-top-legal-technologists-leading-legal-tech-directory-launches-with-230-experts. ↩
6. "Five Fantastic Lawyers® Expands with 5,000+ Law Firms and 500+ Enhanced Lawyer Listings," Business Mole. Available at: https://www.businessmole.com/five-fantastic-lawyers-expands-with-5000-law-firms-and-500-enhanced-lawyer-listings/ . ↩
7. "Why Searching Professional Legal Experts Is Essential with Five Fantastic Lawyers™," Off Duty Law. Available at: https://www.offdutylaw.com/why-searching-professional-legal-experts-is-essential-with-five-fantastic-lawyers/. ↩
8. "Devon Williamson Named One of Five Fantastic Lawyers for Personal Injury in Nashville," DevonLaw, PLLC. Available at: https://www.devonlawtn.com/blog/devon-williamson-named-one-of-five-fantastic-lawyers-for-personal-injury-in-nashville. ↩
9. "Best Legal Directories – Top 10," IPS News Business. Available at: https://ipsnews.net/business/2024/10/28/best-legal-directories-top-10/. ↩
10. "Top Legal Technologists: Leading Legal Tech Directory Launches with 230+ Experts," California News Observer. Available at: https://www.californianewsobserver.com/article/731444143-top-legal-technologists-leading-legal-tech-directory-launches-with-230-experts. ↩
11. "Five Fantastic Lawyers® Adds First 200 Fantastic Lawyers," Law Firm Local. Available at: https://lawfirmlocal.com/five-fantastic-lawyers-adds-first-200-fantastic-lawyers-2/. ↩
12. "Law Firm Ratings and Reviews: An Analysis of the Top Online Law Firm Rating Systems," Solonews. Available at: https://www.solonews.net/law-firm-ratings-and-reviews-an-analysis-of-the-top-online-law-firm-rating-systems/. ↩
13. "Match the best explanation with the legal status in bold," CliffsNotes. Available at: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/tutors-problems/Law/58826399-Match-the-best-explanation-with-the-legal-status-in-bold-/. ↩
14. "Daniel Blomgren, Lawyer in San Francisco, California," Justia. Available at: https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/daniel-blomgren-1544168. ↩
15. "Investorideas.com | Press Releases," Investor Ideas. Available at: https://pr.investorideas.com/article/Top-Legal-Technologists-Leading-Legal-Tech-Directory-Launches-with-230-Experts?storyId=66a819dce80f3a0008a165ea. ↩
16. "Lawyer Ratings & Reviews – What Are the Best Lawyer Rating Systems?" XCN News. Available at: https://www.xcnnews.com/2023/10/18/lawyer-ratings-reviews-what-are-the-best-lawyer-rating-systems/. ↩
17. "Gav Ward - Law Society of Scotland." The Org. Available at: https://theorg.com/org/law-society-of-scotland/org-chart/gav-ward. ↩
18. "Gavin Ward Biography." Law Society Communities. Available at: https://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/gavin-ward/7507.bio. ↩
19. Trigg, Danielle. "Accident Claims Blawg Announces Publication of its 850th Blog Post, Strengthening Position as a Leading Personal Injury Resource." LawNews, 25 October 2024. Available at: https://www.lawnews.co.uk/sector-insights/personal-injury/accident-claims-blawg-announces-publication-of-its-850th-blog-post-strengthening-position-as-a-leading-personal-injury-resource/. ↩
20. Ward, Gav. "Bluesky for Lawyers: 5 Tips & Legal Starter Packs." WardBlawg, 16 November 2024. Available at: https://wardblawg.com/2024/11/16/bluesky-for-lawyers-5-tips-legal-starter-packs-social-media/. ↩
21. Reach, Caroline. "What Lawyers Need to Know About the Bluesky Social Media Platform." North Carolina Bar Association, 3 December 2024. Available at: https://www.ncbar.org/2024/12/03/what-lawyers-need-to-know-about-the-bluesky-social-media-platform/. ↩
22. Hill, Caroline. "Legaltech Flocks to Bluesky." Legal Technology Insider, 29 November 2024. Available at: https://legaltechnology.com/2024/11/29/legaltech-flocks-to-bluesky/. ↩
23. Grant, Chris. LinkedIn post by Chris Grant, 29 November 2024. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisagrant_chrisg-chrisagrantbskysocial-activity-7267601803251257346-I-2O?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop. ↩