New Zealand legaltech LawVu acquires Belgian contract specialist ClauseBase to expand AI drafting tools
New Zealand legal technology company LawVu has acquired Belgian contract automation specialist ClauseBase, strengthening its artificial intelligence offering for in-house legal teams.
While the purchase price has not been disclosed, a LawVu spokesperson said the transaction values the combined business at £150 million. The acquisition follows a recent commercial partnership between the two companies, under which ClauseBase’s contract drafting software was made available to LawVu customers.
LawVu chief executive Sam Kidd said the deal forms part of the company’s strategy to deliver what he described as “end-to-end” legal artificial intelligence for corporate legal departments.
ClauseBase’s technology focuses on AI-powered contract drafting and review. LawVu said the software enables in-house legal teams to create, redline and refine agreements in minutes rather than hours. Following the acquisition, the product will be rebranded as LawVu Draft.
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The software includes contract templates, preferred clauses and AI-assisted contract review functionality, allowing legal teams to standardise drafting while maintaining control over risk and language.
Founded in 2015, LawVu provides a legal operations platform designed for in-house teams. Its system supports the management of matters, client files, contracts and invoices, positioning the company as a provider of integrated legal operations technology rather than a single-function tool.
LawVu’s client base includes multinational and consumer-facing organisations such as Estée Lauder, Joe & the Juice and Arsenal Football Club. The company operates internationally, with offices in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
ClauseBase, based in Belgium, has built a reputation for its contract automation capabilities, particularly among legal teams seeking to streamline drafting and negotiation workflows using artificial intelligence. The acquisition brings that expertise fully in-house for LawVu, following the initial collaboration between the two businesses.
The deal also builds on LawVu’s recent growth trajectory. In 2021, the company raised £9 million in a Series A funding round led by New York-based private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners. At the time, LawVu said the funding would be used to accelerate the adoption of its platform among in-house legal teams globally.
LawVu did not indicate whether ClauseBase staff or leadership would join its management team, but confirmed that the technology would be integrated into its existing product suite.
The acquisition reflects continued consolidation in the legal technology market, as providers seek to offer broader platforms combining legal operations, contract management and artificial intelligence-driven drafting tools.