Clio, the Vancouver-based firm behind one of the world's most widely used legal tech platforms, just made its boldest move yet: a US$1 billion acquisition of vLex, a legal intelligence firm known for its AI-powered research tools and vast global law database.

“This is a watershed moment for Clio and the broader legal profession,” said Jack Newton, Clio’s CEO and founder. “We’re revolutionizing every aspect of legal work.”

If Clio made its name helping lawyers run their practices more efficiently, this acquisition signals a shift into something much deeper: software that doesn’t just manage legal work — it understands it. vLex’s platform is powered by Vincent, an AI tool that draws on a billion-plus documents from the world’s largest editorially enriched legal database. Trusted by firms, courts, and legal societies, Vincent aims to help lawyers reason across jurisdictions, test legal theories, and analyze video and audio evidence.

Clio wants to integrate that kind of intelligence directly into the daily operations of law firms everywhere.

A new category: Intelligent legal tech

For Newton, the merger is meant to not only be additive, but transformative. Clio’s legal operating system is already used by more than 200,000 legal professionals globally. By folding vLex’s deep legal knowledge and AI capabilities into its suite, Clio aims to create a new industry category at the intersection of legal operations and legal reasoning.

It’s a bet on what Newton calls “agentic AI”—tools that can act on behalf of legal professionals, not just provide static insights. That could mean automating research across multiple countries, flagging issues before they become risks, or customizing workflows based on complex case details.

"With vLex, we're building on that foundation with technology that understands the substance of the law,” Newton said.

Clio’s momentum is unmistakable

The vLex deal follows a string of major moves that underscore Clio’s shift into the global enterprise market. Earlier this year, Clio acquired U.K.-based ShareDo, a case and work management platform used by some of the world’s largest law firms. That acquisition planted Clio firmly in the enterprise legal segment and expanded its footprint across the U.K., U.S., and Australia. Combined with Clio’s USD $900 million raise in 2024—the largest in Canadian history—and a doubling of ARR, the company is signaling it’s not just scaling up. It’s redefining the scale itself. With over 1,100 employees worldwide and new investments in legal payments, philanthropy, and international expansion, Clio is moving quickly to serve the full spectrum of legal organizations—from solo practitioners to global firms.

The trillion-dollar opportunity

Legal services is a trillion-dollar global industry, and much of it still runs on outdated systems and siloed workflows. Clio sees that as its opening. With Vincent’s capabilities—ranging from fast, cross-border legal analysis to workflow customization—Clio is now positioned to support not just firm management, but the full delivery of legal services at scale.

Lluís Faus, CEO and co-founder of vLex, called the deal “the onset of a transformative era in the legal industry.”

“Together with Clio, we have a bold vision for the future that empowers legal professionals to go beyond traditional research and operational silos,” he added. “We’re uniquely positioned to reshape the mechanics of legal work and redefine the trajectory of the profession.”

What’s next

The deal, which includes both cash and stock, marks one of the largest legal tech transactions to date. And while the press release doesn’t detail how quickly Vincent will be integrated into Clio’s platform, the intent is clear: build an all-in-one system that helps lawyers manage their firms and practice law more intelligently.

As Newton put it, “We’re shaping a future where legal services are more insightful, connected, and accessible than ever before.”