Clio Acquires vLex for $1 Billion in Landmark Legal Tech Deal 

Canadian Legal Software Giant Makes Its Largest Acquisition to Date 

June 30, 2025 – In a transformative move that will reshape the legal technology landscape, Clio has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Barcelona-founded, Miami-based legal research and AI company vLex for $1 billion in cash and stock. 

The acquisition represents Clio’s most significant deal to date and comes approximately one year after the Vancouver-based company secured a $900 million funding round that valued it at $3 billion in 2024. 

Strategic Integration of Legal Practice Management and AI Research 

The transaction combines Clio’s legal operating system, trusted by more than 200,000 legal professionals, with vLex’s comprehensive legal research platform and AI capabilities. This merger creates an integrated solution that spans practice management, legal research, and artificial intelligence tools. 

vLex, which was largely bootstrapped until it was purchased by private equity firm Oakley Capital in 2022, has been a highly sought-after asset. The company was founded 26 years ago and has built extensive legal databases and AI-powered research tools serving legal professionals globally. 

Competitive Landscape and Market Positioning 

Clio won out over at least one other bidder, San Francisco-based Harvey, which last week announced a strategic alliance with LexisNexis. This competitive bidding process underscores the strategic value of vLex’s technology and market position in the rapidly evolving legal tech sector. 

The acquisition positions Clio to compete more effectively against established legal research giants while leveraging AI to serve small and medium-sized law firms that need efficiency tools but may lack the resources of larger practices. 

The deal is expected to close later in 2025, subject to customary regulatory approvals. The transaction structure involves both cash and stock components, though specific details of the financing arrangement have not been disclosed. 

Impact on the Legal Tech Industry 

This billion-dollar acquisition marks a significant consolidation in the legal technology sector, bringing together practice management and legal research capabilities under one platform. The deal reflects the growing importance of AI-powered tools in legal practice and the trend toward comprehensive, integrated solutions for legal professionals. 

The merger is expected to accelerate the development of AI-driven features across both companies’ product portfolios, potentially setting new standards for how legal technology platforms serve their users.