How Keystone Law Reduced Onboarding Friction and Improved Compliance Efficiency with Credas

Overview

Keystone Law is a pioneering UK Top 100 law firm operating a unique platform model, with more than 650 lawyers working across a broad range of commercial and private client practice areas.

With a centralised risk and compliance function responsible for client onboarding, conflicts management, anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, sanctions screening and wider financial crime controls, the firm required a solution that could support both regulatory obligations and a seamless client experience.

As onboarding volumes increased and client expectations evolved, Keystone Law sought a more efficient and flexible way to conduct identity verification and customer due diligence without compromising compliance standards.

Credas provided that solution, helping Keystone modernise key aspects of its onboarding process through digital identity verification, company checks and streamlined client journeys that work within the firm’s existing compliance framework.

The Challenge

Manual processes creating unnecessary friction

Prior to implementing Credas, Keystone’s due diligence processes relied on a combination of manual document collection, traditional electronic verification tools, email-based communications and internal compliance reviews.

While these processes met regulatory requirements, they presented several operational challenges:

• Significant manual administration involved in collecting and reviewing identification documents.
• Multiple email exchanges and follow-ups required to obtain information from clients.
• Delays caused by clients being unfamiliar with compliance requirements and onboarding expectations.
• Administrative burden on lawyers and compliance teams that could be better directed towards higher-value work.

As the firm continued to grow, Keystone recognised the opportunity to modernise aspects of its onboarding process while maintaining an appropriate AML framework and supporting policies and procedures.

The Choice: Why Credas?

When evaluating providers, Keystone Law was looking for a solution that combined strong compliance capabilities with a straightforward and intuitive client experience.

Credas stood out because it delivered the right balance of functionality, flexibility, ease of use and value, while also supporting the way Keystone’s lawyers already work with their clients.

Key factors behind the decision included:

• Digital identity verification, biometric checks and document authentication within a single platform.
• Comprehensive Know Your Business (KYB) capabilities for both UK and overseas corporate entities.
• White-labelled onboarding journeys that clearly present Keystone Law as the requesting firm, helping reduce confusion for clients.
• Flexible workflows that can be tailored to different client and matter types.
• The ability to initiate individual verification journeys directly from related persons identified within company reports.
• A collaborative approach to integration, including support for Keystone’s existing CRM platform and onboarding processes.

Importantly, Credas enabled Keystone to enhance compliance processes without forcing lawyers into a rigid or impersonal onboarding model. Lawyers can continue to build and manage client relationships in a way that suits their practice while remaining within a consistent compliance framework.

The Solution

Streamlining onboarding and due diligence

Credas now forms part of Keystone Law’s wider onboarding and compliance workflow, supporting both individual and corporate due diligence requirements.

The platform is used for:

• Individual identity verification.
• Biometric verification and document authentication.
• UK and overseas company verification.
• Collection of onboarding information directly from clients.
• Enhanced due diligence and wider AML compliance processes.

By digitising key stages of onboarding, Credas has simplified the client journey while giving the compliance team greater visibility and consistency across the firm.

Reducing duplication and improving efficiency

One particularly valuable capability has been the ability to launch verification journeys directly from related individuals identified within company verification reports.

This reduces duplication, streamlines onboarding for corporate clients and creates a more connected due diligence process across matters involving multiple parties.

Integration that works around existing processes

Rather than requiring Keystone to redesign its workflows around new technology, Credas worked closely with the firm’s teams to ensure the platform aligned with existing systems and ways of working.

The successful integration with Keystone’s CRM platform was a key factor in supporting adoption and minimising disruption during implementation.

The Results

Less manual administration

By replacing multiple manual steps with a digital onboarding process, Keystone has reduced the time spent collecting and chasing identification documentation.

Straightforward matters now require significantly less manual handling, allowing compliance resources to focus on activities that may need extra attention or where professional judgement adds the greatest value.

Faster onboarding and improved client experience

Clients benefit from a clearer and more intuitive onboarding process, helping reduce delays and improve completion rates.

The result is a smoother experience for both clients and lawyers, with fewer bottlenecks during the onboarding journey.

Greater consistency across the firm

The use of a standardised verification platform has improved visibility and consistency for the central compliance team while supporting a more unified approach to AML and customer due diligence across the business.

Positive feedback from lawyers and clients

While onboarding volumes and matter profiles vary, Keystone has seen measurable improvements in efficiency and has received positive feedback from both lawyers and clients regarding the simplicity and convenience of the process.

“We were looking for a solution that combined strong compliance capability with a straightforward client experience. One of the main challenges we wanted to address was the amount of manual administration involved in onboarding clients and collecting identification documentation. Credas has helped reduce a lot of that friction by giving clients a clearer and simpler process to follow. It has also improved consistency and visibility for our compliance team, reduced manual handling in straightforward matters, and helped speed up onboarding overall.”

Luke Haddon, MLRO, Keystone Law

Supporting Growth Through Better Onboarding

For law firms operating in an increasingly digital environment, balancing regulatory compliance with client experience has become more important than ever.

Credas has helped Keystone Law modernise key aspects of its onboarding process while maintaining the compliance standards expected within the legal sector.

The flexibility of the platform has been particularly valuable, allowing different practice areas and lawyers to tailor onboarding journeys to suit their clients while operating within a consistent and controlled compliance framework.

Looking Ahead

“Keystone Law demonstrates how law firms can modernise onboarding while maintaining the compliance standards expected within the legal sector. By working closely with the team and integrating with their existing processes, we’ve helped deliver a solution that improves efficiency, supports consistency and creates a simpler experience for both lawyers and clients.”

Rhian Del-Valle, Director of Enterprise Partnerships

As Keystone Law continues to grow, Credas remains an important part of the firm’s strategy to deliver efficient, compliant and client-focused onboarding at scale.