Product Comparison 2026
DEPLAW vs. 42DBS (ShakeSpeare Legal)
42DBS (Munich, subsidiary of Slovenia’s Zejn Group) offers ShakeSpeare® Legal, a graphical BPM workflow configurator with document management and OCR, which the vendor describes as cloud practice-management software or as an add-on for mass proceedings such as VW diesel, regulatory offences and flight-passenger rights. It can run in the cloud, in a private cloud or on-premises. The table sets DEPLAW against the publicly documented features; where information is missing, for example on BPMN conformity, RVG/GKG, telephony or payments, it says “not publicly stated”.
System depth
Complete law-firm platform
Inbox, deadlines, invoices (RVG/GKG) and client funds in one system. ShakeSpeare Legal is also described as an add-on to existing practice-management software; RVG/GKG billing and client funds are not publicly stated.
Standard
BPMN 2.0 – open & exportable
Visually modelled, workflows exportable. ShakeSpeare: graphical BPM configurator; the BPMN notation and export format are not publicly stated.
AI
AI agents as a workflow step
Logged, multi-LLM, with pseudonymisation before external requests. ShakeSpeare: ML-supported OCR data capture (ABBYY); generative AI assistants are not publicly stated.
Native
Telephony & payments included
Integrated at no extra cost. ShakeSpeare: telephony and online payments are not publicly stated.
| Kriterium | DEPLAW | 42DBS (ShakeSpeare Legal) |
|---|---|---|
| Platform & Architecture | ||
| Country of development | Germany | Based in Munich · subsidiary of Slovenia's Zejn Group · development location not stated[2][3] |
| Architecture | Cloud-native, browser-based · Kubernetes | Browser-based (alternatively Windows interface) · cloud platform · containers not stated[3][7] |
| On-premise option | Kubernetes cluster included | Yes · cloud, private cloud or on-premises (own servers)[8][3] |
| GDPR compliance | End-to-end encryption, 2FA, OAuth, TÜV-pentested | GDPR-compliant per vendor · Open Telekom Cloud (Frankfurt) · regular pentests[8][3] |
| Workflow & Automation | ||
| Workflow engine | BPMN 2.0 editor · visually modelable | Graphical BPM workflow configurator, no programming · BPMN notation not stated[1][3] |
| Workflow portability | Open & exportable, no lock-in | not publicly stated |
| Automation depth | Freely modelable · any process | Freely configurable · own plug-in building blocks (BPA/RPA) · standard flows adaptable[3][5][6] |
| Conflict checking | Automatic | not publicly stated |
| AI Integration | ||
| AI assistant | Case-based, deeply integrated | AI assistant not publicly stated · ML-supported OCR data capture (ABBYY)[9][3] |
| AI in workflows | Native, as a process step | ML/OCR in workflows possible (project-based) · LLM use not publicly stated[9] |
| German Law & Compliance | ||
| beA integration | Full · incl. bulk signing | beA module: automatic receipt, audit-proof storage, time-controlled acknowledgements of receipt[5] |
| RVG / GKG billing | RVG & GKG, time-based billing | not publicly stated |
| DATEV compliance | Direct export | Standard DATEV Anwalt export (optional)[6][10] |
| Financial accounting | Natively integrated · multiple entities | Financial accounting not publicly stated · invoice approval (S-Invoice)[1][6] |
| Dunning & enforcement proceedings | Fully automated | not publicly stated |
| Natively Integrated Features | ||
| Integrated telephony | Calls from the case file, logged automatically | not publicly stated |
| Online payments | Included, at no extra cost | not publicly stated |
| Online case file / client portal | Full, included | Client platform with role-based partial access to files for clients and third parties[6] |
| Dashboards & reporting | Real time · Excel export, Power BI connection | Process overview for management · KPI tracking · data export to BI tools[4][10] |
| Technology & Openness | ||
| REST API | Open, for third-party systems | API and standard integrations available · REST specification not stated[8][3] |
| Mobile app | Native iOS & Android app | Browser-based on PC, tablet, phone · native app not publicly stated[4] |
| Word processing | Natively integrated | Automatic brief generation / text configurator[6] |
| Support & partner network | Direct vendor support | Multilingual support teams, local integration partners · German partner network: seeking partners[8][3][12] |
| Entry barrier & onboarding | Browser-based · quick to get started | Public price list (€33–49/user/month plus VAT) · workflow customisation up to 10 hrs included[6][11] |
Alternative to 42DBS (ShakeSpeare Legal): who fits when?
When 42DBS (ShakeSpeare Legal) fits
- 42DBS (ShakeSpeare® Legal) fits if legal-tech companies or law firms want to model mass proceedings (e.g. VW diesel, regulatory offences, flight-passenger rights) with standard flows as a cloud workflow and collaborate internally and externally (call centre, substitute counsel, external lawyers).
- 42DBS fits if an existing practice-management system (e.g. Advoware via the standard interface) is to be supplemented by a configurable BPM workflow building block with document management, OCR and beA mailbox automation.
- 42DBS fits if the workflow platform is also to be used for other business processes (invoice approval, contract management, compliance/QM) and a public price list with a low entry point is wanted.
- 42DBS fits if operation in the Open Telekom Cloud, in a private cloud or on-premises is wanted.
When DEPLAW fits
- DEPLAW fits if the entire matter handling (inbox, deadlines, invoices under RVG/GKG, client funds) is to sit in one platform, instead of being connected to a separate practice-management system via interfaces.
- DEPLAW fits if processes are to be maintained as open BPMN 2.0 models and AI agents are to be embedded as logged workflow steps (multi-LLM, pseudonymisation before external requests).
- DEPLAW fits if telephony, online payments and client funds are to be native to the platform; in use are 350,000+ automated matters and 100,000+ cases per year.
- DEPLAW does not fit sole practitioners without recurring case patterns; pricing: Kickstart from €299 per licence/month (from 3 licences), self-hosted by individual quote, net, companies only.
Basis: publicly available vendor information and press reports, retrieved on 18 October 2026; numbers in brackets refer to the sources below. “ShakeSpeare” is offered by 42DBS GmbH (Munich, subsidiary of the Zejn Group) (legal notice, shakespeare-software.com). Trademark ownership has not been checked separately. The comparison is meant as a factual orientation.
Sources
- [1] ShakeSpeare: Startseite, retrieved 18 October 2026
- [2] ShakeSpeare / 42DBS: Impressum, retrieved 18 October 2026
- [3] ShakeSpeare: Über uns (42DBS GmbH, ShakeSpeare-Technologie), retrieved 18 October 2026
- [4] ShakeSpeare: Technologie, retrieved 18 October 2026
- [5] ShakeSpeare Legal: Workflow Automation für Massenverfahren, retrieved 18 October 2026
- [6] ShakeSpeare Legal: Software für Rechtsanwälte (Funktionen, Preise), retrieved 18 October 2026
- [7] ShakeSpeare Legal: Legal-Tech-Automatisierungssoftware (Überblick, FAQ), retrieved 18 October 2026
- [8] ShakeSpeare: FAQ, retrieved 18 October 2026
- [9] ShakeSpeare: Machine Learning und KI, retrieved 18 October 2026
- [10] ShakeSpeare Legal: Rechtsabteilung, retrieved 18 October 2026
- [11] ShakeSpeare: Workflows digitalisieren und automatisieren (BPM), retrieved 18 October 2026
- [12] ShakeSpeare: Implementierungs-Partner weltweit, retrieved 18 October 2026
Is a statement about 42DBS (ShakeSpeare Legal) out of date or wrong? Write to us at info@legaldata.tech; documented errors are corrected promptly.
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