Holding Redlich launches Cicero AI platform pilot with Automatise
Holding Redlich has commenced a two-month pilot of the Cicero AI litigation platform, developed by Australian technology company Automatise, with the programme to be trialled across key practice groups and offices nationwide.
The pilot phase, following an earlier trial in select matters, will operate within Dispute Resolution & Litigation, Workplace Relations & Safety, and Construction, Infrastructure & Projects practice groups in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Canberra.
The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the platform in improving efficiency, ensuring data security, and supporting legal practitioners in their case work.
Practical focus
Damian Della Gatta, Chief Information Officer at Holding Redlich, outlined the rationale for the partnership and the objectives behind the broader evaluation of Cicero within the firm's workflows. "Partnering with Automatise aligns with our commitment to practical innovation across the firm."
"Our focus remains on solving real-world challenges for our legal teams and clients, and this collaboration is a strong step in that direction," said Damian.
Cicero has already shown it can reduce document review time, surface contradictions at an early stage and free our lawyers to focus on analysis rather than administration. Automatise have listened closely to our feedback and already adapted their platform to the way we work, which gives us confidence as we broaden the rollout. Security and data sovereignty remain top priorities for both our firm and our clients. Being able to confidently demonstrate how client data is securely managed, used, and tracked has been a key factor in our decision to move forward with the pilot phase.
The trial seeks to quantify gains across several metrics, including document throughput, response times for legal advice, and overall satisfaction among lawyers using the Cicero platform.
Platform features
Cicero, designed for litigation professionals, includes tools to improve the processing of large volumes of documents and to support the auditability required in legal matters.
The system integrates automated document parsing and optical character recognition to convert various file types into searchable text and to split bundled documents into tagged segments.
The platform offers objective coding and generates concise summaries—ranging between 50 to 100 words—to help legal teams manage and prioritise their workload.
Cicero supports natural-language fact investigation, allowing users to ask questions and receive direct, referenced answers backed by relevant source extracts.
The system also includes on-demand chronologies, letting practitioners build detailed timelines across chosen issues or topics in minutes.
Collaboration with Automatise
Automatise's Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Rayment, highlighted the collaborative aspect of the engagement with Holding Redlich in refining Cicero's functions for litigation settings.
"Holding Redlich brings deep litigation expertise and a practical mindset.
The firm's legal experts have already helped us refine Cicero's ability to defensibly justify answers so that the platform fits seamlessly into busy litigation workflows. We look forward to demonstrating measurable efficiency gains for their clients."
The pilot will be overseen by a joint evaluation team, comprising members of both organisations, tasked with monitoring performance outcomes and adapting the approach where required.
Broader context
The project comes as law firms in Australia and elsewhere examine the potential of AI-driven tools to meet the increasing demand from clients for more technologically supported legal services.
The pilot is part of Holding Redlich's wider investment in technology and AI-based initiatives.
Damian Della Gatta commented on the motivations driving those initiatives.
"In addition to clients increasingly expecting law firms to adopt modern tools, younger lawyers now want to work with the latest technology and AI," he said. "Integrating tools like Cicero into our processes not only offers ample learning and development opportunities, but also helps attract and retain talent.
"This pilot project is one of several AI initiatives at Holding Redlich. We will continue to invest in technology that supports our teams in delivering tailored, high-quality solutions for clients."
