Harvey Opens Toronto Hub to Accelerate Legal AI Growth in Canada
San Francisco-based AI company Harvey is launching a new office in Toronto this October. The goal is to support its Canadian expansion and broader product development efforts. This move reflects the company’s commitment to growing within Canada’s legaltech market.
Harvey, valued recently at $5 billion USD, plans to hire over 20 professionals in engineering, sales, and customer success by early next year. The company chose Toronto for its strong pool of engineering talent, respected academic institutions, and an active AI community. This marks a long-term investment in the region.
“There are several strong players in the legaltech space in Canada, and I think that’s a reflection of the tremendous opportunity here,” said CTO Siva Gurumurthy.
About Harvey and Its Product Offering
Founded in 2022 by Winston Weinberg, a former securities and antitrust litigator, and Gabriel Pereya, an ex-Google DeepMind researcher, Harvey provides AI tools designed specifically for law firms and professional service providers. Its name pays homage to Harvey Specter, the lead character of the TV show Suits, which was filmed in Toronto.
Harvey’s software uses advanced large-language models to automate and simplify complex legal tasks. It enhances contract analysis, due diligence, compliance checks, and litigation workflows. The platform also supports secure collaboration and helps firms extract insights from proprietary and public legal data.
Canadian Market and Strategic Importance
While Harvey’s primary focus is legal services, it is expanding into adjacent professional services. For example, it co-developed a mergers and acquisitions platform with PwC. Canadian law firms like Davies and Gowling WLG are already clients, and the Toronto office aims to strengthen these relationships.
CTO Gurumurthy emphasized that Toronto will serve as a “core development engine” for Harvey. Canada hosts around 35,000 law firms, many of which could benefit from Harvey’s AI solutions. Gurumurthy has expressed optimism about the local technical talent and the opportunities in the Canadian market.
Toronto is Harvey’s first engineering hub outside the United States. Gary Lam will lead the new site, focusing on supporting Canadian clients and contributing to the company’s global growth.
Competitive Legaltech Landscape
Harvey’s Canadian expansion places it alongside notable players in the legaltech sector such as Clio, Blue J, and Spellbook, as well as established firms like Thomson Reuters and Dye & Durham. Gurumurthy highlighted Harvey’s strengths in security, customization, and rapid product development, as well as its close collaboration with top AI model providers and legal domain experts.
Market Dynamics and Funding
Legaltech funding has surged recently, reaching levels similar to the 2021 peak. This surge is driven largely by AI innovations, although some uncertainty remains around the sustainability of this growth. Law firms often try multiple products before committing to one, adding complexity to the market.
Harvey’s expansion coincides with its strong fundraising performance. In June, it closed a $300 million USD Series E round at a $5 billion valuation, following a Series D round just four months earlier that valued the company at $3 billion. To date, Harvey has raised $800 million USD from investors including Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia, GV, and the Open AI Startup Fund.
Global Footprint and Future Plans
Currently, Harvey employs 350 people and serves over 500 clients across 54 countries. The company recently surpassed $100 million USD in annual recurring revenue. Besides Toronto, Harvey opened an office in London last fall and plans to establish hubs in Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru, India, and Germany this year.
For legal and product development professionals interested in AI applications within the legal sector, Harvey’s expansion signals increasing opportunities to engage with AI-powered tools tailored for legal workflows. Exploring AI education and training can provide an edge in adapting to these evolving technologies. Learn more about AI courses relevant to legal and product roles at Complete AI Training.
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