Ex-BigLaw Partner Sam Davidoff Launches Align to Digitize Trial Binders
Sam Davidoff launched Align, an AI-driven platform that digitizes legal trial binders for U.S. litigators.
Why it matters: Litigators and legal teams face inefficiencies managing voluminous case materials. Align’s platform offers a secure, familiar digital alternative to paper binders, improving case preparation across solo lawyers and AmLaw 100 firms alike.
- Sam Davidoff founded Align in 2020 after 20 years at Williams & Connolly.
- Align digitizes traditional trial binders, integrating AI to organize case materials efficiently.
- The platform is SOC 2 Type II certified, ensuring high data security standards.
- Clients range from solo practitioners to AmLaw 100 firms, including Babin, Bessner, Spry LLP.
Sam Davidoff, former Williams & Connolly partner, launched Align Legal Technologies in 2020 to address challenges in managing trial binders. He recognized that litigators often rely on voluminous paper binders, which are cumbersome and inefficient, yet no existing digital tool replicated their workflow effectively.
"I spent two decades managing complex litigation where organizing case files was a massive task," Davidoff said in a 2023 interview with LawSites. "The goal was a digital binder that feels familiar but leverages AI to streamline case research and organization." Align’s platform uses artificial intelligence to index, categorize, and retrieve case documents, supporting litigators’ traditional trial preparation methods.
The platform has garnered adoption across a broad spectrum of legal professionals—from solo attorneys to top-tier AmLaw 100 firms. For example, Babin, Bessner, Spry LLP—a litigation boutique—has integrated Align into its workflow. Partner Michael Bookman highlighted that Align helps attorneys "transform overwhelming volumes of case data into organized, actionable materials," reducing pretrial preparation time significantly.
Data security is crucial in legal tech. Align holds SOC 2 Type II certification, verifying its controls for data confidentiality and availability. This compliance alleviates concerns about handling sensitive client information, a priority for large firms.
Align is part of a growing movement where experienced litigators shape legal technology solutions tailored to frontline legal work. By digitizing trial binders and using AI-enhanced organization, Align aims to improve litigation efficiency while preserving workflows familiar to the legal community.
By the numbers:
- 2020 — Year Align was founded by Sam Davidoff
- AmLaw 100 firms — Among Align’s client base
- SOC 2 Type II — Security certification ensuring data protection
Yes, but: While Align shows promise, third-party adoption data is limited, and some litigators still prefer traditional paper workflows for complex cases requiring physical documents.
What's next: Align is expected to expand AI capabilities and deepen integrations with e-discovery and legal research platforms in 2024.