Big Law Embraces AI: Cleary Gottlieb Launches Firm-Wide Generative AI Platform 'Legora'

May 15, 2025

AUTHOR Inside Practice

Cleary Gottlieb Partners with Legora to Advance AI Integration in Legal Workflows


Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has announced a strategic partnership with Legora, a legal AI platform, to enhance the firm's integration of artificial intelligence into its legal workflows. This collaboration follows a successful pilot program in 2024 and aims to deploy Legora's suite of AI-driven services across the entire firm.


"Cleary is committed to embedding AI into our workflows in strategic and competitive ways," said Cleary Managing Partner Michael Gerstenzang. "Partnering with Legora allows us to unlock efficiencies across the firm and deliver differentiated, high-quality work for our clients."


Legora, founded in 2023 and led by CEO Max Junestrand, is designed to maximize collaboration between lawyers and machine intelligence. The platform enables legal professionals to complete end-to-end tasks more quickly and accurately, enhancing workflow efficiency. Legora supports the review of tens of thousands of documents, offers markup capabilities in Microsoft Word, and is equipped with enterprise-grade security and privacy features. Currently, it is utilized in over 20 countries by more than 250 clients.


"The U.S. is the most important market for innovative legal technology," Junestrand stated. "Legora is excited to expand our footprint in North America and partner with the pioneering lawyers at Cleary. In this fast-moving market, it will be firms like Cleary who lead the way and innovate in their ability to deliver exceptional client service."


This partnership is part of Cleary's broader strategy to integrate AI across its operations. The firm recently acquired Springbok, a generative AI product development company, to accelerate innovation and develop custom AI solutions for clients and practice groups. Additionally, Cleary's e-Discovery and Litigation Technology (DLT) group, ClearyX, and Practice Innovation team are all focused on leveraging AI to enhance legal service delivery.


"Our firm is committed to embedding AI in a way that is both strategic and thoughtful," said Ilona Logvinova, Cleary's Director of Practice Innovation. "This is not about simply rolling out AI across the firm, but about engaging with identified, high-value use cases that enhance our ability to serve clients across practices, teams, and regions."


This partnership marks a significant step in the evolution of legal services, highlighting the growing importance of AI in the legal industry and Cleary Gottlieb's commitment to innovation.

Cleary Gottlieb - Big Law

Cleary Gottlieb Partners with Legora to Advance AI Integration in Legal Workflows


Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has announced a strategic partnership with Legora, a legal AI platform, to enhance the firm's integration of artificial intelligence into its legal workflows. This collaboration follows a successful pilot program in 2024 and aims to deploy Legora's suite of AI-driven services across the entire firm.


"Cleary is committed to embedding AI into our workflows in strategic and competitive ways," said Cleary Managing Partner Michael Gerstenzang. "Partnering with Legora allows us to unlock efficiencies across the firm and deliver differentiated, high-quality work for our clients."


Legora, founded in 2023 and led by CEO Max Junestrand, is designed to maximize collaboration between lawyers and machine intelligence. The platform enables legal professionals to complete end-to-end tasks more quickly and accurately, enhancing workflow efficiency. Legora supports the review of tens of thousands of documents, offers markup capabilities in Microsoft Word, and is equipped with enterprise-grade security and privacy features. Currently, it is utilized in over 20 countries by more than 250 clients.


"The U.S. is the most important market for innovative legal technology," Junestrand stated. "Legora is excited to expand our footprint in North America and partner with the pioneering lawyers at Cleary. In this fast-moving market, it will be firms like Cleary who lead the way and innovate in their ability to deliver exceptional client service."


This partnership is part of Cleary's broader strategy to integrate AI across its operations. The firm recently acquired Springbok, a generative AI product development company, to accelerate innovation and develop custom AI solutions for clients and practice groups. Additionally, Cleary's e-Discovery and Litigation Technology (DLT) group, ClearyX, and Practice Innovation team are all focused on leveraging AI to enhance legal service delivery.


"Our firm is committed to embedding AI in a way that is both strategic and thoughtful," said Ilona Logvinova, Cleary's Director of Practice Innovation. "This is not about simply rolling out AI across the firm, but about engaging with identified, high-value use cases that enhance our ability to serve clients across practices, teams, and regions."


This partnership marks a significant step in the evolution of legal services, highlighting the growing importance of AI in the legal industry and Cleary Gottlieb's commitment to innovation.

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