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Legal tech just had one of its biggest shakeups yet. Clio, the company best known for modernizing how law firms manage their work, has closed a massive $500 million Series G round led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), valuing the company at $5 billion. But that’s only half the story. On the same day, Clio announced it has completed its $1 billion acquisition of global legal research platform vLex—a move that could reshape how legal professionals work with AI. Clio’s latest milestones mark a defining moment for the 16-year-old company founded by Jack Newton. What began as a cloud-based legal practice management tool is now positioning itself as an “AI-first” platform that connects every layer of legal work—from research to drafting to operations. With vLex now part of the company, Clio says it’s building what it calls the “Intelligent Legal Work Platform,” bringing AI into every part of the legal workflow. “This is a defining moment for Clio and for the legal industry,” said Newton, the company’s CEO and founder. “We founded Clio to transform the legal experience for all, and this milestone brings that mission to a new horizon. With vLex now part of Clio, and 350+ experts in law, data, and technology joining our team, we are combining the best minds and the best tools to build the world’s most powerful legal intelligence platform.” From Legal Software to Legal Intelligence: Clio’s $1B vLex Acquisition Marks a New Chapter in AI-Powered Law The acquisition adds vLex’s Vincent AI to Clio’s existing products—Clio Work, Clio Manage, Clio Grow, and Clio Draft. Vincent AI draws from a massive database of over 1 billion documents across 110 jurisdictions, according to a Monday news release. Combined with Clio’s existing system, it enables what the company describes as a connected ecosystem where legal professionals can move from insight to action in one place. Clio previewed this direction at its ClioCon 2025 event, introducing the idea of shifting from a static system of record to what it calls a “system of action.” Instead of lawyers jumping between tools to manage cases, research, and client operations, Clio’s integrated AI aims to learn continuously, improve over time, and streamline decision-making. The deal also expands Clio’s footprint into the enterprise market. Earlier this year, Clio acquired ShareDo, a U.K.-based legal tech company that now operates as Clio Operate—an adaptive work management platform for large law firms and corporate legal departments. Together, Clio Operate and vLex form the foundation of Clio for Enterprise, a new division built for complex global legal teams. Clio’s financial backers are betting big on its long-term vision. The $500 million Series G was led by NEA, with participation from existing investors TCV, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Sixth Street Growth, and JMI Equity. “Clio continues to demonstrate the clarity, execution, and ambition that define enduring market leaders,” said Tony Florence, Co-CEO at NEA. “Its integration of AI is reshaping how work is done across the profession.” The company also secured a $350 million debt facility from Blackstone and Blue Owl Capital to support future acquisitions and growth initiatives. Oakley Capital, the majority shareholder in vLex, took part of its deal in Clio stock—a sign of long-term confidence in the company’s trajectory. For Newton, the acquisition isn’t just about scale; it’s about redefining how the legal industry operates. With vLex, Clio moves closer to building an intelligent network that connects the business and practice of law—an ecosystem that understands both the mechanics and substance of legal work. Goldman Sachs acted as Clio’s exclusive financial advisor, with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Gowling WLG, and Pérez-Llorca providing legal counsel. J.P. Morgan advised vLex, with A&O Shearman serving as its counsel. With a global user base spanning more than 130 countries and approval from over 100 bar associations, Clio now sits at the center of a rapidly transforming industry. What started as a software company helping lawyers manage cases has become something much larger—an attempt to define the next generation of how law gets done.
