White & Case backs Saudi contract review start-up
White & Case has invested in Clauze.AI, a Saudi Arabian AI contract review platform founded by a former partner of the firm. The financing marks the first time the US law firm has backed an AI legaltech business in the Middle East, and will fund the start-up's expansion across Saudi Arabia and neighbouring markets.
Clauze.AI provides a regional-focused contract review assistant for corporate legal teams. The platform highlights contract clauses and risks, and tracks legal obligations for businesses operating in the region.
A platform built for local legal systems
Heather McDevitt, chair of White & Case, said: "AI is reshaping the delivery of legal services and being at the forefront of this change is important to us in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where we have a long history and deep commitment."
McDevitt added that the investment reflects opportunities created by Saudi Vision 2030 and the kingdom's focus on digital transformation and innovation.
Waad Alkurini, founder of Clauze.AI, said legal teams in the region have been "underserved by AI tools" created for different legal systems and languages. She added: "Clauze.AI is built specifically for the way legal work is done here in Arabic and English, inside complex regulatory frameworks, with data that cannot leave the kingdom."
The Riyadh-based company was founded this month by Alkurini, who spent just over a decade with White & Case, including three years as a partner leading the firm's Riyadh office. For legal professionals tracking how AI for Legal tools are adapting to regional requirements, the platform's bilingual and data-residency focus is the core differentiator.
Legaltech investment picks up globally
The deal follows a series of recent investments in legal AI start-ups. Chilean platform Magnar secured $8m in a Series A round from investors including Argentinean law firm Beccar Varela, with the round co-led by 6 Degrees Capital and Hi Ventures.
Norwegian legaltech start-up Newcode also raised $13.5m in new financing earlier this month, bringing its total capital raised this year to $20m. The round was led by venture capital firm OnDean Forward.
Why this matters for legal professionals
Contract review remains one of the most time-intensive tasks for corporate legal teams, and tools built for US or European legal systems often fail to handle Arabic-language contracts or Gulf regulatory frameworks. Clauze.AI's focus on local data residency requirements - a non-negotiable for many Saudi clients - signals that legal AI is moving beyond one-size-fits-all models. For paralegals and junior lawyers handling document review, the AI Learning Path for Paralegals offers practical grounding in how these contract analysis tools work in daily practice.
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