TLDR:
- A new legal AI venture called Bench IQ promises to help lawyers understand how judges think in order to improve courtroom results
- The company raised $2.1 million in funding and has law firm investors like Cooley, Fenwick & West, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
A new legal AI venture called Bench IQ, founded by Jimoh Ovbiagele, Maxim Isakov, and Jeffrey Gettleman, aims to use artificial intelligence to help lawyers understand how individual judges think in order to tailor their arguments and improve courtroom results. The Toronto-based startup recently raised $2.1 million in funding from venture capital firms Maple and Haystack, with investments from law firms like Cooley, Fenwick & West, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Bench IQ uses large language model-based AI technology to offer insights into the decision-making patterns of judges, covering 100% of their rulings, not just their written opinions. The company plans to offer on-demand pricing and annual subscription plans for law firms, with 12 large law firms already signed on as pilot customers.
Bench IQ differentiates itself from other AI companies in the legal field by providing explanatory insights into judges’ legal reasoning beyond statistics. The company’s co-founder, Jeffrey Gettleman, conceived the concept while at Kirkland, emphasizing the importance of understanding judicial decision-making for formulating winning legal strategies. Bench IQ’s CEO, Jimoh Ovbiagele, stated that the company, although currently small, plans to rapidly expand its team.
While the legal AI market is competitive, with companies like Harvey and EvenUp attracting high-profile investors, Bench IQ sets itself apart by focusing on providing deep insights into judges’ legal reasoning. Ovbiagele’s previous company, ROSS Intelligence, faced legal challenges and is currently non-operational, but Bench IQ is actively working to defend against litigation and further develop its AI technology for the legal industry.
