Swedish legal AI platform Legora is rapidly expanding into Australia, driven by strong demand for automated legal solutions like contract review and due diligence, and supported by the country’s growing AI investment and government initiatives. Legora emphasizes responsible AI adoption with human oversight, adapting its technology to local markets and creating new roles for legal professionals rather than replacing them.
Global investment in artificial intelligence is surging, with Australia emerging as a key destination for tech giants and startups alike. Major players such as OpenAI, Amazon, Microsoft, and Blackstone are making significant investments in Australian infrastructure, including data centers and computing clusters. The Australian government’s new National AI Roadmap aims to further boost investment, expand AI-related skills, and integrate AI technologies across public services.
Swedish AI startup Legora, valued at $1.8 billion, is expanding rapidly into Australia. The company specializes in automating legal work, particularly contract review and due diligence. Legora’s CEO highlighted their swift growth, noting that the Australian team has expanded from a single person to a projected 50 employees within a year. There is strong demand both globally and locally for legal AI solutions, with law firms seeking to differentiate themselves and expand their services through technology.
AI’s role in the legal industry has evolved quickly. While early applications focused on basic, repetitive tasks, AI is now capable of handling increasingly complex legal work. For example, in mergers and acquisitions, AI enables law firms to conduct comprehensive contract reviews under tight deadlines, enhancing both efficiency and strategic decision-making. This shift is in line with predictions, such as Goldman Sachs’ estimate that 40% of legal tasks could be automated by AI.
Despite the benefits, there are concerns about the use of AI in sensitive sectors like law. Legora addresses these by ensuring a “human in the loop” approach, prioritizing security, privacy, and responsible adoption. The company emphasizes the importance of change management and AI literacy, helping lawyers understand AI as a tool that complements their expertise rather than replacing it. This approach is crucial for building trust and ensuring effective integration of AI in legal workflows.
Interest in legal AI is strong across the Asia-Pacific region, including markets like Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Korea. While the core technology remains consistent, Legora adapts its tools to fit local working practices and incorporates firm-specific knowledge into its workflows. Rather than eliminating jobs, the rise of legal AI is creating new roles, such as “legal engineers,” and offering lawyers opportunities to combine their legal expertise with AI skills, making this an exciting time for the profession.