Here are the best options if you are looking for alternatives to Across Legal for compliance and certification:
- PrivaLex Partners
- Across Legal
- Vanta
- Drata
- Legal Army
- ECIJA
- Secureframe
- OneTrust
Looking for alternatives to Across Legal for compliance, ISO 27001 certification or implementing an ISMS?
Across Legal is a well-known boutique law firm in the startup ecosystem, specialised in technology, privacy, intellectual property and M&A. If what you need is to implement controls, get certified or prepare for audits with a partner that runs the process end-to-end, it is worth considering other options.
This guide reviews the best alternatives to Across Legal when your priority is compliance and certification: consultancies specialised in information security and platforms that complement or replace a purely legal approach with a technical, audit-oriented one.
(The options in this list are not ordered by any specific criteria unless otherwise stated.)
These are the 8 best alternatives to Across Legal
1. PrivaLex Partners
PrivaLex Partners is a boutique consultancy specialised in compliance and information security for tech startups and scaleups.
Unlike a generalist law firm, PrivaLex focuses on implementation and getting the certification process: gap analysis, design and implementation of the management system, control documentation, team training and preparation for certification audit.
The firm has worked with over 200 clients in various countries and 7+ years of experience on ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, NIS2, DORA, ENS and GDPR projects.
PrivaLex does not sell software: it provides judgement, experience and direct execution tailored to your architecture and market. If you need to comply with Nis2 or DORA for Fintech compliance, PrivaLex has specific experience in European regulation.
In Spain, PrivaLex manages FUNDAE funding so that your team’s mandatory training can be 100% funded.
Cybersecurity and certification require more than legal advice: they require control interpretation, technical documentation and audit preparation. PrivaLex covers the full cycle.
Some strengths of PrivaLex Partners:
- Specialisation in compliance and certification (not just legal advice)
- Multi-framework: ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, NIS2, DORA, ENS, GDPR in a single firm
- European and Spanish focus: LOPDGDD, ENS, NIS2, DORA with local expertise
- Gap analysis and internal audit before the certification audit
- FUNDAE management included in Spain (funded training)
- 205+ clients in 14 countries, including references such as Wallapop, Factorial, Holded, Cobee
2. Across Legal
Across Legal is a boutique firm specialised in startups, scaleups and venture capital, with services in technology, privacy, intellectual property and M&A.
It offers strategic legal support and compliance from a law-firm perspective and is a reference in the Spanish ecosystem for corporate, investment and digital law.
In summary:
Best for: Startup/scaleup focus, integrated services (legal + privacy + IP + M&A), strong links with VCs and accelerators.
Focus: Oriented to legal advice and corporate work; for ISMS implementation or ISO 27001/ENS certification it is often combined with a technical consultancy or compliance platform.
3. Vanta
Vanta is an automated compliance SaaS platform that helps companies prepare for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and GDPR.
Its model is self-service: you connect AWS, GitHub, Okta and other tools, and Vanta monitors controls and generates evidence. Especially suitable when you prefer automation and already know the frameworks; if you need European regulation (NIS2, DORA, ENS) or ongoing human support, consider also a consultancy.
In summary:
Best for: Strong automation, integrations with many tools, very popular with US/UK startups.
Focus: Strong on automation and US/UK markets; certification is issued by an external accredited body. Consider human support if you need European regulation (NIS2, DORA, ENS).
4. Drata
Drata is a continuous compliance platform similar to Vanta, with support for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and GDPR.
It offers evidence collection automation and control mapping across frameworks. Useful for teams that want autonomy and have prior compliance experience.
In summary:
Best for: Modern interface, solid automation, multi-framework support.
Focus: Centred on automation and self-service; ideal when you want autonomy and already have compliance experience. For funded training or coordination with auditors, consider an additional partner.
5. Legal Army
Legal Army is a 100% digital law firm with an on-demand legal outsourcing model, focused on privacy, tech and digital law.
It targets companies without in-house legal teams or that need extra capacity. It offers outsourced legal services (contracts, GDPR, IP) rather than management system implementation or certification.
In summary:
Best for: Accessible digital model, scalable, useful for legal and privacy advice.
Focus: Oriented to legal services and on-demand privacy; for ISMS implementation or preparation for certification audits it is often combined with a compliance consultancy.
6. ECIJA
ECIJA is a full-service law firm with a strong technology, media, privacy and compliance practice.
It has large capacity for complex projects and corporate or institutional clients. It combines legal advice with compliance and privacy practices.
In summary:
Best for: Large team, established brand, capacity for large projects.
Focus: Oriented to complex projects and corporate or institutional clients; if you seek boutique agility and certification focus, a specialised consultancy may be a better fit.
7. Secureframe
Secureframe is a compliance platform that automates preparation for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and GDPR.
It connects to your cloud infrastructure and collects evidence continuously. Focus on speed to certification with less emphasis on specific European regulation.
In summary:
Best for: Evidence automation, preparation for multiple frameworks.
Focus: Centred on speed to certification and evidence automation; especially suitable for SOC 2 and ISO 27001. For NIS2/DORA/ENS with European expertise, consider a specialised consultancy.
8. OneTrust
OneTrust is an enterprise platform for risk management, privacy and compliance, with modules for GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 and more.
Designed for large organisations with dedicated compliance teams and large budgets.
In summary:
Best for: Very broad framework coverage, global recognition.
Focus: Oriented to large organisations with dedicated compliance teams; very broad framework coverage and global recognition. For startups, a more agile solution often fits better.
Difference between a law firm and a compliance consultancy
A law firm like Across Legal advises you on contracts, IP, M&A, privacy and the regulatory framework: it tells you what the law requires and how to document it from a legal perspective.
A compliance consultancy like PrivaLex supports you in implementing controls, designing the ISMS, training the team and preparing for certification audit. The value lies in technical execution and audit judgement, not just advice.
Information security management system (ISMS) requirements include process documentation, evidence and continual improvement; a specialised consultancy integrates all of this and gets you ready for the certification audit.
6 criteria for choosing among alternatives to Across Legal
1. Do you need only legal advice or also certification?
If you need to get certified in ISO 27001, ENS or SOC 2, prioritise implementation consultancies (PrivaLex) or platforms (Vanta, Drata) that prepare you for audit.
2. European regulation (NIS2, DORA, ENS)?
If you operate in Spain or the EU and must comply with NIS2, DORA or ENS, prioritise partners with specific experience in these frameworks (PrivaLex, local consultancies).
3. First certification?
If it is your first time, human support (PrivaLex, consultancies) reduces the risk of gaps in audit and documentation that does not match your operations.
4. Multiple frameworks at once (ISO 27001 + NIS2, SOC 2 + GDPR)?
Choose a multi-framework solution that maps common controls and avoids duplicate effort (PrivaLex, Vanta, Drata).
5. Funded training (FUNDAE) in Spain?
PrivaLex manages FUNDAE in full; platforms and many law firms typically do not offer this service.
6. Who coordinates with the certification body?
Platforms focus on preparation and evidence; coordination with the external auditor is typically handled by a consultancy that supports you end-to-end.
5 mistakes when relying only on legal advice for certification
1. Confusing legal advice with implementation
Legal advice tells you what the standard requires; implementation involves controls, evidence, training and internal audit. Without the latter, the certification body will not certify.
2. Not preparing the team for audit
Training and awareness are mandatory under ISO 27001 and other frameworks. Team training and audit simulation are typically part of an implementation service (compliance consultancy).
3. Generic documentation not adapted to your operations
Auditors value documentation adapted to your actual processes. Generic templates lead to findings and delays.
4. Going to the certification audit without prior preparation
Going to the certification audit without a prior internal audit often leads to non-conformities. A consultancy runs that internal audit before the official one.
5. Ignoring technical requirements (controls, evidence)
Compliance is not only legal: it requires technical controls, evidence and periodic review. A compliance consultancy covers both sides.
If you want guidance on how to obtain ISO 27001 certification as a startup in the EU, PrivaLex has guides and tailored support.
How PrivaLex can help with alternatives to Across Legal
If you value Across Legal but need implementation and certification (not just advice), PrivaLex is the alternative to Across Legal focused on technical compliance and audit.
PrivaLex does not replace your law firm for M&A or corporate work: it is the compliance team that does gap analysis, builds your ISMS, documents controls, trains your team and prepares you for certification with confidence.
We have worked with over 200 clients in various countries on ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, NIS2, DORA and GDPR. Many clients use a law firm (Across Legal or another) for legal matters and PrivaLex for certification and information security.
Schedule a strategic session with PrivaLex and find out how to prepare your compliance and certification with technical judgement and without relying only on legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are alternatives to Across Legal?
They are other options when you need compliance and certification (ISO 27001, ENS, SOC 2, NIS2, etc.): consultancies like PrivaLex that implement and certify, platforms (Vanta, Drata) or other firms (Legal Army, ECIJA) depending on whether you prioritise legal advice or technical implementation.
Does Across Legal certify for ISO 27001?
Across Legal is a law firm specialised in startups, privacy and IP. ISO 27001 certification is issued by an accredited body; implementation and preparation are typically done by consultancies (PrivaLex) or platforms (Vanta, Drata).
When to choose a compliance consultancy instead of a law firm?
When you need to implement an ISMS, get certified, train the team or prepare for a certification audit. Legal advice is complementary; implementation and audit are the core of a compliance consultancy.
Does PrivaLex replace Across Legal?
Not necessarily. PrivaLex focuses on compliance and certification; Across Legal on legal services (tech, IP, M&A, privacy). Many companies use both: a law firm for legal work and PrivaLex for ISO 27001, NIS2, ENS or SOC 2.
Do alternatives to Across Legal cover NIS2 and DORA?
Consultancies like PrivaLex work specifically with NIS2 and DORA for Fintech compliance. Platforms (Vanta, Drata) are more oriented to SOC 2 and HIPAA. Law firms typically advise on the framework; technical implementation usually requires a compliance partner. A GDPR audit can help you align privacy and security before certification.
How much do alternatives to Across Legal cost for certification?
It depends on the model: platforms (Vanta, Drata) charge an annual subscription plus certification cost; consultancies (PrivaLex) typically work on a project basis with clear scope and include full support and, in Spain, FUNDAE management.
Choose the best alternative to Across Legal for your compliance
Compliance and certification are not only a legal matter: they require implementation, controls and audit preparation.
If you need expert support for implementation and certification (ISO 27001, NIS2, ENS, SOC 2), schedule a strategic session with PrivaLex and find out how to prepare your compliance with technical judgement and without relying only on legal advice.