Definely

High-Level Overview

Definely is an AI-powered LegalTech company that builds a suite of tools integrated into Microsoft Word to streamline the creation, drafting, review, and management of complex legal documents.[1][3][4][6] It serves law firms (including Magic Circle and White Shoe firms like A&O Shearman, Slaughter and May, DLA Piper, and Dentons) and in-house legal teams at Fortune 500 companies (such as Deloitte, BT Group, Ericsson, and Barclays), solving core pain points like endless scrolling, Ctrl+F searches, and loss of context in document navigation.[2][3][4] The platform addresses inefficiencies in pre-execution contract workflows through modules like Vault (AI-powered knowledge management from proprietary repositories), Draft (unified term management and cross-referencing), Enhance (multi-agent AI for drafting/review with 40% speed gains), Proof (automated proofreading), and PDF tools, operating on subscription and per-case pricing for scalability.[1][3][5][6] Definely has shown strong growth, nearly tripling ARR in 2024, securing a $30M Series B, and expanding to over 100 customers across Europe, North America (30% of revenue), Africa, Australia, and Asia, with recognitions like top 25 in Deloitte UK Technology Fast50 (2023) and top 100 in Sifted 100 (2025).[2][3][4]

Origin Story

Definely was founded in September 2017 in London by Nnamdi Emelifeonwu (CEO) and Feargus MacDaeid, both former lawyers at Magic Circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.[3][4][5] The idea emerged from MacDaeid's personal challenges as a registered blind lawyer navigating complex documents, highlighting broader accessibility and efficiency issues like poor tools for defined terms and cross-references; they initially aimed to aid visual impairments but quickly saw wider applications for all lawyers.[4][5] Early traction built on this foundation, evolving into a full suite by 2020 with subscription-based productivity tools, gaining Microsoft backing and rapid adoption amid LegalTech demand.[2][4] Pivotal moments include the 2024 ARR tripling, US market entry (now 30% revenue), and recent launches like Vault and Enhance, fueling a $30M Series B led by Revaia.[2][3][5]

Core Differentiators

• Seamless Workflow Integration: Built directly into Microsoft Word (not a separate platform), allowing lawyers to stay in their environment while instantly surfacing defined terms, cross-references, and precedents without navigation loss—eliminating Ctrl+F or printing.[3][4][5][6]
• Precision-First AI Tools: Modules like Enhance (multi-agent AI for 40% faster drafting/review via guided prompts), Vault (semantic search on proprietary repositories for clause insertion), and Proof (automated checks) prioritize context-aware accuracy for high-stakes deals.[2][3][5][6]
• Accessibility and Scalability: Originating from visual impairment needs, it offers customizable tables, annotations, and per-case pricing; supports litigation workflows and integrates with document management systems.[1][2][4]
• Proven Engagement and Ecosystem: Trusted by elite firms/corporates with high user adoption; flexible labeling, future workflow analytics, and global operations differentiate it from competitors like Clarilis or Leaflet.[1][2][3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Definely rides the vertical AI wave in the $900bn global legal services market, where generative AI meets domain-specific needs for precision in contract review/drafting amid rising deal complexity and regulatory demands.[4][5] Timing aligns with post-2023 AI adoption surge in LegalTech, accelerated by tools like Enhance entering as a "core technology layer" for workflows, while competitors focus on automation without deep Word integration.[1][3][5] Market forces favoring it include US expansion momentum, enterprise-grade security from inception, and interoperability with existing systems, positioning Definely to capture share in a fragmented space.[3][5] It influences the ecosystem by empowering lawyers (not replacing them), boosting efficiency for firms like Dentons, and setting standards for accessible, AI-augmented legal tools that enhance human judgment.[2][4][5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Definely is poised for accelerated global scaling post-Series B, with US East Coast hires, a new General Manager, and roadmap additions like AI auto-labeling, workflow management, and precedent analytics to deepen wallet share in existing customers.[2][3][5] Trends like agentic AI, multi-jurisdictional expansion, and integration with emerging legal stacks will shape its path, potentially solidifying it as indispensable infrastructure for legal teams worldwide.[3][5][6] As AI evolves, Definely's lawyer-built focus on precision and context could expand influence from drafting/review to full lifecycle management, transforming how the world accesses legal information—echoing its mission to make complex documents simple.[4]