Legaltech platform Avvoka has secured $18.7 Million in a growth investment round led by Valhalla Ventures, the firm of Preqin founder Mark O’Hare. This marks O'Hare's first investment since the landmark sale of his data firm Preqin to BlackRock in 2025. The new capital is earmarked to accelerate Avvoka's expansion in the United States and enhance its AI-powered contract drafting infrastructure for major law firms.
A Strategic Investment in Legal Infrastructure
The investment from Valhalla Ventures is a significant endorsement of Avvoka's long-term vision for the legal sector. Mark O’Hare, who built Preqin into a global leader in alternative assets data, brings substantial experience in scaling enterprise platforms. His backing signals strong confidence in Avvoka's approach to modernizing legal workflows through structured, supervised systems rather than standalone AI tools.
O’Hare emphasized that Avvoka's appeal lies in its recognition that scalable drafting is an infrastructure problem, not a tool problem. He noted that firms aiming to expand their services without diluting their institutional expertise will require platforms built with this principle in mind. This perspective aligns with the industry's growing need for robust systems that can safely manage the complexities of AI integration.
Addressing the Evolution of AI in Law
Founded in 2016 by former Magic Circle lawyers Eliot Benzecrit and David Howorth, Avvoka has focused on a distinct philosophy. The company embeds AI within the rules-based automation frameworks that legal teams already trust, enhancing rather than replacing existing processes. This approach has proven critical as the legal industry moves from AI experimentation to day-to-day operational deployment.
Co-founder Eliot Benzecrit explained that the pace of legal drafting has fundamentally changed, increasing client expectations and work volumes. He stated that firms now require drafting infrastructure that combines structure, governance, and human oversight with AI capabilities. This integrated system is essential for scaling operations without compromising the quality and consistency that define a firm's reputation.
Powering High-Volume, High-Stakes Legal Work
Avvoka's platform is designed to transform legal documents into structured, reusable templates automatically using large language models. The system identifies variables, clauses, and conditions while built-in controls ensure every draft adheres to a firm’s established standards. This makes the technology uniquely suited for high-volume legal work that demands exceptional accuracy and consistency across all matters.
The company's success is demonstrated by its adoption among top-tier legal organizations, counting over 20% of the Am Law 100 as clients. Prominent firms such as A&O Shearman, Fenwick, and Ropes & Gray utilize the platform for their drafting needs. Avvoka also serves major in-house legal teams, including at multinational corporations like Warner Bros. Discovery.
Fueling US Expansion and Platform Development
With the new £14 million in capital, Avvoka plans to significantly expand its presence in the United States market. This strategic move will allow the company to better serve its growing list of American clients and capitalize on the increasing demand for AI-driven legal solutions. The investment provides the necessary resources to build out its US-based team and infrastructure for this next phase of growth.
In addition to geographical expansion, the funding will be used to deepen the platform's capabilities for complex legal work. Co-founder David Howorth confirmed the capital will help support high-variation drafting while maintaining strict governance and control. This focus ensures that as firms modernize their operations, they can do so without sacrificing institutional knowledge or accuracy.
This $18.7 Million investment marks a pivotal moment for Avvoka and reflects a broader maturation in the legaltech market. It validates the company's infrastructure-first approach, emphasizing that the future of legal AI lies in responsible, governed integration rather than simple adoption. As Avvoka expands its global footprint, it is well-positioned to help legal organizations navigate the complexities of scaling their services in a new technological era.