Breaking News: Clio has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire vLex, the legal research and AI productivity platform. The transaction is valued at $1 billion and will be paid in a combination of cash and stock.
This transaction combines Clio’s legal operating system, trusted by over 200,000 legal professionals, with vLex’s cutting-edge legal intelligence platform, anchored by Vincent, its advanced AI built on the industry’s most comprehensive global legal database.
“This is a watershed moment for Clio and the broader legal profession,” said Jack Newton, CEO and Founder of Clio. “For 17 years, we’ve built the foundational platform that enables law firms to operate at their highest potential. With vLex, we’re building on that foundation with technology that understands the substance of the law. By bringing together the business and practice of law in a unified platform, we’re revolutionizing every aspect of legal work. This sets the stage for a future powered by agentic AI, and marks the establishment of a new industry category—one that will empower legal professionals to serve clients with unprecedented insight and precision.”
“This signals the onset of a transformative era in the legal industry, unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Lluís Faus, CEO and Co-Founder of vLex. “Together with Clio, we have a bold vision for the future that empowers legal professionals to go beyond traditional research and operational silos, harnessing deeper intelligence and broader impact. With the most comprehensive global legal library and firm insights, Clio and vLex are uniquely positioned to reshape the mechanics of legal work and redefine the trajectory of the profession.”
This is the most significant acquisition in Clio’s history, both in scale and strategic impact, they said. More than strengthening the platform, it accelerates the company’s ability to deliver on its mission of transforming the legal experience for all. Building on Clio’s steady momentum upmarket, the acquisition further expands its global footprint and underscores the vast, untapped opportunity for innovation across the broader legal industry. Clio is now positioned not only to help legal professionals manage their firms, but to power the full delivery of legal services—extending its reach across the trillion-dollar global legal services market, they added.
The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Goldman Sachs acted as Clio’s exclusive financial advisor. Law firms Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Gowling WLG served as legal counsel to Clio.
JP Morgan acted as vLex’s exclusive financial advisor. Law firms Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP, Hogan Lovells International LLP, and Uría Menéndez Abogados, SLP served as legal counsel to vLex.
Note: More AL comment and analysis in following piece.
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