About TÜV NORD

The TÜV brand has stood worldwide for neutrality, safety and reliability for over 150 years. TÜV NORD's experts test, assess and certify in numerous industries — from mobility and real estate to energy and industry — and the coveted TÜV quality seals are recognised globally.

The Decision: Why AI?

AI is a megatrend that is taking hold in legal tech as well. TÜV NORD has been engaging with this technology in many ways for some time — including a joint venture with other TÜV companies to develop the safety inspection of AI itself. So when looking at the legal department, AI support was the natural next step.

"No one knows better than us at TÜV NORD: where there are people, mistakes happen. It's human to forget or overlook something. That's where AI's huge potential lies — it reduces errors."

— Markus Heeseler, Lawyer, TÜV NORD Legal Department

Key benefits TÜV NORD wanted from Legal AI

• Time savings: AI scans large volumes of contract documents far faster than humans
• Relief for senior lawyers: Repetitive tasks shift to contract lawyers in group companies
• Cost savings: Automation of contract reviews and process optimisation
• Productivity at scale: AI scales effortlessly to handle large numbers of contracts in a short time

The Solution: Legartis as a Word Add-In

TÜV NORD evaluated several tools and prioritised usability. The decisive factor: Legartis is integrated as a Word Add-In — no separate application to open. After a single training session, the team could use the tool, configure their playbook, and run reviews — all without any IT skills.

"We were looking for a tool that's ready to use immediately. Legartis needs no lengthy onboarding phase and works as a Word Add-In. That was perfect for us."

— Markus Heeseler, TÜV NORD

The Use Case: NDAs First

TÜV NORD started with Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) — standard texts with clear scope and low complexity. A manageable starting point, with the option to extend to other standard contracts once the AI proves itself.

Onboarding: A Project, Not Just a Tool

Even with a low-effort tool, TÜV NORD treated the rollout as a project: clear project structure, defined stakeholders, working groups for playbook decisions, and an MS Teams channel for coordination. The Legartis support team was praised for being efficient and unbureaucratic.

"Legartis support is efficient and uncomplicated. If we have a question, we can simply call quickly and get an immediate answer."

— Markus Heeseler, TÜV NORD

Results After 3 Months

~100 NDAs reviewed with 16 active users — an internal pilot that already proved the value.

"Legartis is excellent self-promotion for the modern legal department: lawyers — usually known as traditional — are right at the front. Our colleagues were amazed."

— Markus Heeseler, TÜV NORD

What changed

• Significant time savings during NDA review
• Standardisation: revisiting standard texts and internal rules created the first impulses for harmonisation
• Positive attention up to executive board level for the legal department's modernisation
• High trust in the AI's results, even in pilot phase

Outlook: Beyond NDAs

TÜV NORD plans to extend the use of Legartis to other standard contracts — including general terms and conditions, and complex document review such as M&A data rooms or international tender procedures.

"AI scans data rooms much faster, so that we lawyers can focus on specific problem areas. Especially for smaller legal departments, the program offers huge potential because it bridges resource gaps. The benefit is simply enormous."

— Markus Heeseler, TÜV NORD