Ex-Legora and Big Law lawyers get a16z backing for AI law firm Athena

Athena, a legal startup founded by former Legora staff, has raised a $2.5M pre-seed round led by a16z Speedrun, Andreessen Horowitz’s startup accelerator, the company said on Tuesday.

Athena does not sell AI tools to law firms. It works with its own affiliated law firm, where AI agents check contracts against the deal terms, flag problems and draft changes. Lawyers then review the work and sign off before it reaches the client.

The firm handles commercial real estate deals, from purchase agreements to loans and closings. It charges a fixed fee per deal, which it says is typically 30% to 50% less than clients paid before.

“ Most legal AI companies sell tools to traditional law firms. We took a different approach, ” said chief executive Cem Ucan.

Athena says it has signed 22 clients in the two months since launch. It also says lawyers’ review time fell by more than 70% in its first six weeks, as the system learns from their corrections.

Ucan worked at Baker McKenzie before joining Legora, the Swedish legal AI firm valued at $8.8B that sells to law firms. Co-founder Kieran John Keenan built systems there to test how well its AI performed.

Others are betting on the same model. Norm Ai runs its own affiliated law firm, and UK startup Keith is building an automated law firm for home sales.

Athena helps commercial real estate investors close deals faster. Its proprietary AI agents work alongside experienced transactional attorneys at its affiliated law firm on acquisitions, sales and financing, from purchase agreements and due diligence to loan documents and closings. Legal services are provided exclusively by Athena Circle, which offers fixed-fee pricing, with attorneys responsible for every legal decision and all work delivered to clients. Backed by a16z Speedrun, Athena is building a new model for legal services that makes complex transactions faster and more affordable.

Sandra Hinshelwood is dedicated to connecting business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals with the ideas shaping their industries. Sandra Hinshelwood is dedicated to connecting business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals with the ideas shaping their industries.

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