§ II — Process MMXXVI Twelve-Month Cycle
Certification
Certification is the process by which a firm is evaluated against the Raydorf AI Maturity Standard and, where applicable, the EU AI Act Readiness Attestation. The process is structured, documented, and repeatable. The methodology is public; the evidence is private.
§ I Eligibility
Eligibility
Raydorf currently certifies professional services firms operating in jurisdictions of the European Union and the Republic of Türkiye. Other jurisdictions may be admitted on application.
Firms must:
- Be a registered legal entity with at least twelve months of trading history.
- Operate in one of the industries listed on the Industries page.
- Designate a senior individual — typically the managing partner, CEO, or general counsel — as the firm's accountable signatory for the certification.
- Commit to the cooperation required to complete evidence review and assessor interviews.
§ II Process
The process
- Self-assessment
The firm completes the Raydorf self-assessment questionnaire against the published Standard. The questionnaire establishes the firm's claimed tier in each of the seven dimensions and identifies which EU AI Act provisions are in scope.
- Evidence review
The firm submits documentation under a non-disclosure agreement: AI policy, sensitivity labeling scheme, governance records, sample workflow documentation, training records, KPI dashboards, and other operational artifacts. Raydorf assessors review the evidence against the Standard.
- Assessor interviews
Structured interviews are conducted with leadership, fee-earners, and operational staff. Interviews verify that documented practices reflect actual operations. Interviews are conducted remotely or, on request, on site.
- Tier determination
The assessor determines a tier in each of the seven dimensions. The firm's overall tier is set at the floor of the weakest dimension. Where the EU AI Act Attestation has been requested, a separate determination is issued.
- Issuance and registry
Certified firms receive a certificate of conformity, a digital seal package for use on websites and collateral, and a public listing on the Raydorf Registry. Use of the Raydorf seal is governed by the Raydorf Mark Usage Guidelines.
The deliverable: a tier-specific seal, a certificate of conformity, and a Registry entry.
- Annual review
Certification is valid for twelve months. Recertification involves an updated self-assessment, refreshed evidence, and abbreviated assessor interviews. Material changes to the firm's AI program — acquisition, restructuring, change of accountable signatory — must be notified between reviews.
§ III Boundaries
What is not in scope
Raydorf does not provide consulting services, technology implementation, or ongoing operational support to certified firms. Independence between the certification function and any advisory function is maintained as a matter of policy. Firms requiring implementation support are referred to independent advisors.