Linklaters clients will now be able to sign the firm's documents on their iPads and smartphones, consigning completion meetings and engrossments to the dustbin of history.

The firm said that it had decided to test 'E-signing' after noticing that agreements in the rental market frequently sported digital signatures. Under the new system, clients are emailed a link to the relevant documents which highlight where they have to add their signature, initials or a date. Which they can then do with a simple click, allowing them to buy their power stations from the comfort of their yacht and hundreds of miles from 1 Silk Street.

Having tested the technology on four deals, Linklaters now plans to roll it out across the firm. Guinea pig finance partner Mark Nuttall, the first Linklaters lawyer to test the system, said that a traditional hand-written completion can be a lengthy process. Whereas now, "with the click of a mouse or a tap of the tablet, it can be reduced to minutes". RollOnFriday had a go on the demo, and is pleased to report that it successfully signed the firm's Managing Partner up to some onerous obligations and a year's supply of Tatler.



Apparently he can get out of it.



Nuttall said that some of Linklaters' clients were now thinking about incorporating the technology into their own organisations, "as part of their own efficiency drives". In the meantime, E-sigs could spell the end of the completion meeting at 2am waiting for 600 page documents to be proof read. Well, the end as far as clients are concerned anyway.