Cleary ramps up AI push with Legora partnership

Cleary Gottlieb has entered into a strategic partnership with fast-growing legal AI platform Legora, as the firm moves to embed generative AI across its global operations.

Inside the deal

The tie-up follows a successful pilot in 2024 and will see Cleary roll out Legora’s platform firmwide.

The platform, known for its document review, mark-up and collaboration tools, supports bulk document analysis and integrates into existing tools like Word. Legora says it’s already used by more than 250 clients in over 20 countries.

Cleary’s managing partner Michael Gerstenzang said the partnership will help the firm "unlock efficiencies" and deliver "differentiated, high-quality work for our clients."

Stockholm-headquartered Legora - formerly known as Leya - launched in the US earlier this year and has been on a hot streak of Big Law deals, landing clients including Mishcon de Reya, Addleshaw Goddard, Harbottle & Lewis, Bird & Bird and Goodwin.

The startup was only founded in 2023 by CEO and Y Combinator alum Max Junestrand. It’s raised over $35 million in funding so far from investors including Benchmark, Redpoint, SV Angel and Y Combinator.

Bigger picture: building an AI powerhouse

The Legora deal is the latest piece of an aggressive AI buildout for Cleary.

In March, the firm acquired Springbok AI, a London-based generative AI developer, bringing in a team of engineers and data scientists to accelerate internal product development and custom client solutions.

The moves are part of what the firm describes as a "multi-faceted" AI strategy, which includes its e-discovery and litigation tech platform ClearyX, and a dedicated practice innovation team led by Ilona Logvinova.

"Our firm is committed to embedding AI in a way that is both strategic and thoughtful", said Logvinova. "This is not about simply rolling out AI across the firm, but about engaging with identified, high-value use cases."