Relativity Reveals AI Partnerships, $170M R&D Boost, and Platform Rebrand
At RelFest Chicago 2026, Relativity announced new AI partnerships and a $170M R&D investment.
Why it matters: Relativity's AI collaborations, platform rebranding, and investment signal key advances in legal tech tools for law firms and in-house teams. These moves indicate growing integration of AI into legal workflows and market offerings.
- KPMG became the first alliance partner for Relativity claiR conversational AI, joined by law firms Latham & Watkins, Ashurst, Perkins Coie, and Troutman Pepper Locke.
- Relativity rebranded its cloud platform from RelativityOne to Relativity aiR to unify its AI capabilities under one brand.
- ClaiR, the conversational AI tool for lawyers, is scheduled for general availability in early 2027.
- Relativity invested over $170 million in R&D in 2025, increasing investment by over 40% from previous years, according to company data.
At RelFest Chicago 2026, Relativity outlined strategic expansions of its AI-driven legal tools and partnerships. It named KPMG its first alliance partner for claiR, a conversational AI designed to streamline legal workflows for lawyers. Joining KPMG as early collaborators are law firms Latham & Watkins LLP, Ashurst, Perkins Coie, and Troutman Pepper Locke. These participants are part of the claiR Advanced Access program, providing input before the planned general release in early 2027.
Relativity also highlighted expanded integrations using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a framework that enables embedding AI features across platforms. The company plans to integrate AI-driven tools directly into applications like Microsoft Word to enhance legal document drafting and review. This initiative builds on Relativity's recent acquisition of Gavel to improve in-app legal workflows.
In a branding update aligned with its AI focus, Relativity renamed its flagship cloud platform from RelativityOne to Relativity aiR. This change reflects the consolidation of AI capabilities as central to the platform's development and user experience.
Relativity CEO Phil Saunders emphasized the role of collaboration: “You don't get the best solutions by working in isolation. You get them by bringing together people who see a problem from different angles.” Saunders made this statement during RelFest Chicago 2026, underlining the company's approach to co-development with alliance partners.
On investment, Relativity committed over $170 million to research and development in 2025, representing a 40% increase compared to earlier years, according to company financial data. This level of spending underscores the company's dedication to advancing AI capabilities in legal tech.
Built In Chicago reports that this investment is among the highest in the legal tech sector, reflecting a strategic pivot towards AI innovation.
By the numbers:
- $170 million — Relativity's R&D investment in 2025, up 40% from previous years
- Early 2027 — Planned general availability date for claiR conversational AI
What's next: ClaiR's general release is expected in early 2027, with further AI integration updates planned at subsequent industry events.