Irish legal tech achieved significant milestones in 2025, highlighted by major acquisitions, funding rounds, and expansions. Brightflag, a legal software company, was acquired by Dutch firm Wolters Kluwer for €425 million. Johnson Hana, known for technology-enabled outsourced legal services, sold to US-based Eudia for €42 million.
TrialView secured €3.5 million in funding, led by Elkstone Ventures for international expansion. Clio, with its European headquarters in Ireland for over ten years, announced an expansion of its Dublin office.
These developments occurred during a tumultuous period for the legal industry, where AI is viewed as both an opportunity and risk for automation.
Key Deals and Expansions The acquisitions and funding underscore the sector's growth:
Brightflag acquisition by Wolters Kluwer for €425 million. Johnson Hana sale to Eudia for €42 million. TrialView's €3.5 million round led by Elkstone Ventures. Clio's Dublin office expansion. Global AI Rivals in Legal Tech In AI for legal professionals, Harvey (US, OpenAI-backed) raised three nine-figure rounds in 2025, reaching an $8 billion valuation and $100 million annual recurring revenue. Sweden's Legora follows with over 400 customers and a $150 million Series C valuing it at $1.8 billion.
Irish Perspectives on Growth Stuart Connolly, founder of Open Forest, sees Stockholm outpacing Dublin. “Stockholm [is] gaining this really great traction for their start-ups when it should be Dublin, or it should be Ireland at least,” he says. “We have the talent to do it here but people are just too slow.”
Connolly highlights the lack of legal tech accelerators hosted by Irish law firms and shares experiences from selling AI to lawyers who were slow to adopt.
Open Forest provides automated tools for incorporation and ongoing legal, tax, and accounting services for early-stage businesses.
Alex Kelly, co-founder of Brightflag, questions law firm pyramid structures amid AI automating junior work. He anticipates hybrid roles and AI literacy in education at places like Harvard and Stanford.
Stephen Dowling, TrialView founder, notes automation of document analysis could alter legal services, potentially squeezing junior jobs but creating new opportunities. “There could be a squeeze on the volume of jobs available in the legal profession,” he says.
Research and Judicial AI Dr Brian Barry leads JudgeAssist at Trinity’s School of Law, funded with up to €2 million by the European Research Council. The project focuses on trustworthy AI for judicial decision-making aligned with rule-of-law values.
Barry advocates designing AI to detect bias and provide explanations, starting in lower-stakes settings.
TrialView mitigates errors with cited sources and cross-checks, focusing on litigation document analysis.
Law Firm Adoption Bird & Bird's Dublin office, led by Jennifer McBride, strongly adopts AI like Microsoft Copilot and Legora, with mandatory training. The approach is “AI as co-pilot, not autopilot.”
McBride notes challenges in measuring ROI but values time savings with proper supervision.
Future Outlook Experts foresee market consolidation, cost restructuring, and demands for client benefits in 2026. Kelly sees excitement from investment interest. Connolly questions Ireland's mindset but spots opportunities for domain experts.
Dowling highlights AI's promise for better access to justice at fair prices. The sector's 2025 success positions Ireland amid global shifts, though sustainability depends on speed and collaboration
