Garfield AI handled the pre-trial work before a barrister represented the claimant at Wandsworth County Court
An SRA-regulated AI law firm says it has secured a court victory after its platform carried out AI-assisted pre-trial preparation before a human barrister represented the claimant at trial, in what Garfield AI describes as the first court trial victory achieved with the support of a regulated AI lawyer anywhere in the world.
Garfield AI said the case involved freelance HR consultant Tamires Camal Taquidir, who sought to recover £7,000 in unpaid fees. The platform assisted with the legal work leading up to trial, including preparing court documents and witness statements, while a human barrister represented the claimant at Wandsworth County Court on 14 May.
The claim succeeded, with Garfield saying the result demonstrated how AI could reduce the cost and complexity of pursuing lower-value claims that might otherwise be uneconomic to litigate. According to Garfield, the claimant spent around £400 pursuing the case.
Philip Young, Garfield’s founder and chief executive, said: “This is a landmark moment, not just for Garfield AI, but for access to justice. For too long, people and businesses have been forced to write off debts because the cost, time and stress of litigation made pursuing them uneconomic.
“Here, a freelancer who had done the work and not been paid was able to take her case all the way to trial, resist a counterclaim, and win. That is exactly why Garfield exists.
“AI did not replace the judge, the barrister or the legal system. What it did was make the process more accessible, more efficient and more affordable, so that a meritorious claimant could get to the point where her case could be heard and justice could be done.”
Garfield AI was authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in 2025 and focuses on helping individuals and small businesses pursue debt claims through the small claims court.
The case comes amid growing debate across the legal profession about the role of artificial intelligence in legal services. Courts and regulators have warned lawyers about the risks of AI-generated errors and fictitious authorities, while Garfield’s model combines automated document preparation with human legal oversight and advocacy.
Garfield AI said more than 600 claims have already been started on the platform. It said that, in just over one year, it has recovered or resolved more than £500,000 for users, with claim values ranging from around £30 to £10,000.