The UK consumer legal market has been under the radar for unaffordable costs and complex, jargon-heavy, and alienating processes. As a result, each year around four million individuals and one million businesses are left facing serious legal problems without any professional legal assistance.
London-based legaltech startup Lawhive is all set to change this by making legal services more accessible and affordable. In a recent development, the startup snapped $40 million in Series A funding. This following the £9.5 million investment secured earlier this year.
The round was co-led by existing investor GV (Google Ventures) and TQ Ventures, with participation from Balderton Capital (which recently invested in Checkly and Tilt) Jigsaw, Episode 1 and Premier League footballers Harry Maguire and Reece James.
This investment will be used by the company to expand its offerings into the US, where the consumer legal market is estimated to be worth $130 billion.
How did it begin?
The inspiration behind Lawhive came from witnessing countless individuals struggle to access justice due to financial or logistical barriers. Recognising the untapped potential of AI in simplifying legal processes, the founders came up with a platform that would empower both lawyers and clients. By automating administrative and routine tasks, they could cut costs, improve efficiency, and ensure fair access to legal services for all.
Lawhive was established in 2019 by Pierre Proner, Jaime Van Oers, and Flinn Dolman. Their vision was simple yet profound: to make affordable legal support accessible to everyone. Frustrated by the prohibitive costs and inefficiencies of traditional legal services, the trio set out to create a tech-driven solution that democratises legal access.
Meet Lawrence: The AI lawyer
At the heart of Lawhive’s technology is Lawrence, an AI-driven legal assistant. This virtual lawyer automates routine legal tasks, from document drafting to compliance checks. Remarkably, Lawrence has demonstrated capabilities rivaling those of human lawyers, even passing part one of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
By handling repetitive tasks, Lawrence enables human lawyers to focus on complex cases, enhancing productivity while ensuring clients receive the best possible service.
A marketplace for lawyers and clients
Lawyers can use its AI-powered tools for workflow management, compliance, and payments. They can also connect with clients through the platform, either by working with their existing customers or by being matched with new ones. This functionality ensures that lawyers can operate more efficiently while consumers and small businesses gain access to legal professionals suited to their needs. The result is a legal ecosystem where technology and expertise converge.
From navigating family disputes to resolving small business challenges, the platform has proven its versatility and value. By automating legal processes, it has reduced the time and costs associated with traditional legal services, making justice more accessible than ever.
The future of legal tech
Lawhive’s approach to legal services positions it at the forefront of the legal tech revolution. By combining AI with a user-centric platform, the company is not only transforming how lawyers work but also reshaping the way legal services are delivered.
As the legal industry continues to evolve, Lawhive is poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring justice is accessible, affordable, and efficient.
Pierre Proner, CEO and co-founder of Lawhive, said: “Our mission is to make legal services accessible for everyone while helping consumer lawyers and small firms rediscover the joy of practicing law. This funding will accelerate our US launch, where demand for faster, more affordable legal services is significant. By augmenting the work of human lawyers with our technology, we’re addressing a critical need in the US market and unlocking new opportunities for millions of US attorneys.”
Schuster Tanger, Co-Founder/Co-Managing Partner at TQ Ventures, added: “The US legal market, arguably the largest in the world, is ripe for disruption. The pressing need for affordable legal access makes it the perfect environment for innovative tech solutions like Lawhive’s. The platform is fundamentally changing how legal services are delivered, benefiting both lawyers and clients by increasing efficiency and cutting costs.”
Vidu Shanmugarajah, partner at GV, said: “Lawhive’s rapid growth shows that the demand for affordable, tech-driven legal services is both real and scaling fast. As a lawyer by background, I’ve been impressed with Lawhive’s unparalleled technology and vision to move the legal industry into the modern era. We’re excited to double down on our investment as Lawhive brings its model to the US and beyond.”
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