LONDON  – Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), an international law firm, has made legal history with its pioneering use of predictive coding in a 12-day High Court trial on behalf of client BCA Trading (BCA). The Litigation and Corporate Risk team at BLP achieved a favorable judgment in a case involving BCA, where predictive coding was employed for a substantial document review exercise.

BLP asserts that this trial marks the first time predictive coding has been tested to full trial extent. The firm initially secured an English court order permitting the use of predictive coding, overcoming opposition from the opposing side in May 2016.

This recent triumph stems from BLP’s continued representation of BCA Marketplace, following its involvement in the company’s £1.2bn reverse takeover. BLP defended BCA against an unfair prejudice claim by a minority shareholder of Tradeouts Limited, a company in which BCA had acquired a majority stake. The judgment, delivered on March 9, 2018, ruled in favor of BLP and BCA on all counts, dismissing the unfair prejudice petition. The decision heavily relied on contemporaneous documents disclosed using predictive coding. This successful deployment of technology during a High Court trial underscores its reliability and cost-saving benefits.

BLP remains dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and technology within the legal sector. Oliver Glynn-Jones, Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution at BLP, emphasized the firm’s commitment to using predictive coding as part of a broader effort to provide efficient legal services tailored to evolving client needs.

Glynn-Jones stated, “We are delighted with the successful outcome of this case, both as a positive outcome for a valued client and as evidence of how predictive coding can be deployed effectively during litigation.”

BLP’s pioneering approach to legal tech includes not only predictive coding but also other AI solutions like Opus 2’s Magnum platform for unilateral case management and RAVN’s Applied Cognitive Engine (ACE). With these tools, BLP aims to streamline legal processes and reduce client costs.

The BLP team leading the case included Oliver Glynn-Jones, Robin Ganguly, Rebecca Wardle, and Alasdair McAlpine, with Sa’ad Hossain QC and Joyce Arnold of One Essex Court serving as instructed counsel.