Canadian Legal Tech Startup Clio Acquires vLex For €848M To Boost AI Research Tools

vLex was backed by Oakley Capital (UK) and the Faus brothers. Both will reinvest in the new combined company to support long-term growth.

“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.”

vLex, founded in 2000 by brothers Lluís and Angel Faus, has built one of the world’s largest legal libraries. Its AI assistant, Vincent, helps legal professionals research and draft documents accurately using a database of over one billion legal records.

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In 2023, vLex expanded its U.S. presence by merging with Washington-based Fastcase, gaining access to over a million American lawyers.

Clio, founded in 2008 (operating as Themis Solutions Inc.), is a global leader in cloud-based legal practice management, helping over 200,000 lawyers with tasks like billing, scheduling, and document management.

This acquisition supports Clio’s goal of combining legal operations and practice under one AI-driven platform. It also follows Clio’s massive €763 million Series F funding round in July 2024—the largest software raise in Canadian history.

“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 revolutionising 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.”

The deal brings together Clio’s law firm management system with vLex’s legal research and AI tools, including its generative AI assistant, Vincent. Vincent is known for linking AI responses to real case law, helping reduce errors—a key concern in legal tech.

The acquisition is expected to close later in 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Goldman Sachs advised Clio, while J.P. Morgan advised vLex.

This move could shake up the LegalTech space, positioning Clio to compete with giants like Thomson Reuters and LexisNexis, who are also building AI-powered tools.

About Clio

Clio is the world’s leading provider of cloud-based legal tech, offering affordable, easy-to-use tools that help lawyers run and grow their firms more efficiently and profitably. Its platform lets legal professionals manage their work securely from any device, anywhere—while delivering a better experience for their clients.

About vLex

vLex is a global legal tech company making legal work easier with AI-powered tools. It combines a massive legal database with smart technology to help lawyers save time and work more efficiently. Its main product, Vincent, is an AI assistant that fits into any legal workflow—offering personalized research, insights, and automation for law firms of all sizes.