Webber Wentzel, one of the leading law firms in South Africa and a long-term ally of Linklaters, has picked Legora as its AI productivity platform, as the market share battle spreads into the global markets. They will also let some clients use the genAI system directly, (see below).
Legora will serve as the ‘first official anchor technology in Webber Wentzel’s Innovation Lab’ as part of a strategy to ‘design solutions purpose-built for the South African and broader African legal markets’, they added.
The partnership follows a year-long evaluation of Legora, which included ‘stringent security-first testing and assessment against other AI platforms’. So, that is clearly a win for Legora.
The firm was keen to underline that ‘at the heart of this partnership is a shared vision: collaborating to create legal technology that is not retrofitted from foreign markets, but is designed from the ground up for Africa’s operational, cultural, and regulatory realities.’
Which is an interesting thing to highlight – i.e. regional customisation of an AI platform.
Another aspect worth mentioning is the firm’s Fusion ALSP and legal tech group, which is part of their Innovation Lab, and which is to offer clients the following: ‘When AI-led solutions are the right fit, participating clients may access Legora on preferential commercial terms, supported by legal engineering expertise from Fusion’.
This will include direct access to Legora’s platform, ‘enabling clients to test, explore, and shape cutting-edge legal technology solutions for their specific use cases in collaboration with the firm’s lawyers and technologists’.
That’s a multiple win: the clients get to use Legora’s genAI platform – via Webber Wentzel; the law firm gets to do some consulting work for the clients on top of any legal work; and the vendor gets revenue from both sides. It also keeps the relationship ‘sticky’ between the lawyers and clients.
Aalia Manie, Head of Fusion at Webber Wentzel, commented: ‘We have been deeply impressed with Legora throughout the extensive evaluation process. What began as a pilot has become a hands-on partnership focused on shaping AI tools that reflect the realities of legal practice in Africa – where complexity, culture, and regulatory nuance demand more than off-the-shelf solutions.’
Max Junestrand, CEO, Legora, concluded: ‘As we continue to expand into new territories, we stay true to our belief that collaboration with legal professionals is essential to innovation that delivers real, lasting impact. We’re delighted to be embarking on this unique partnership with Webber Wentzel that will see Legora sit at the heart of the firm’s own AI innovation, and truly shape a legal AI offering for the African legal sector.’
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Legal Innovators Conferences in London and New York – November ’25
If you’d like to stay ahead of the legal AI curve then come along to Legal Innovators New York, Nov 19 + 20 and also, Legal Innovators UK – Nov 4 + 5 + 6, where the brightest minds will be sharing their insights on where we are now and where we are heading.
Legal Innovators UK arrives first, with: Law Firm Day on Nov 4th, then Inhouse Day, on the 5th, and then our new Litigation Day on the 6th.
Both events, as always, are organised by the awesome Cosmonauts team!
Please get in contact with them if you’d like to take part.
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