Lawhive Opens New York Office and Assembles Team to Lead US Law Firm Acquisition Strategy

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lawhive, the world’s first AI-native law firm founded in 2021 to transform consumer legal services, has opened a New York office and is building out the team behind its US law firm acquisition strategy. As part of the expansion, the company has appointed senior attorney James Peters as Managing Director for North America and Allen Rodriguez as Vice President of Business Development, alongside assembling an expert team of legal advisers to support the launch of its law firm acquisition strategy.

Peters brings more than 20 years of experience in consumer legal services, legal tech and law firm operations. He will lead Lawhive’s expansion and acquisition activity across the United States as the company builds a national network of law firms operating on the Lawhive platform.

Rodriguez, who previously led the Arizona firm acquired by Lawhive in its first US deal, is now part of the team as Vice President of Business Development, working alongside Peters on outreach to firms as the company expands its acquisition activity across the country.

To support the growth plan, Lawhive has assembled a specialist team of legal, regulatory and M&A experts including Crispin Passmore, former Executive Director of the UK Solicitors Regulation Authority recognized for his experience in legal services reform and regulatory innovation.

Lawhive has already established a growing US presence through its regulated ABS law firm in Arizona, working with more than 150 lawyers across the country and adding roughly one new lawyer every day. The company is now in active discussions with leading law firms across the country.

The move follows Lawhive’s recent $60 million Series B funding round, led by Mitch Rales, alongside GV (Google Ventures), TQ Ventures, Balderton Capital, Repeat, LTS and Anton Levy. The round brought total investment in the company to more than $115 million and marked a major step in its plan to scale a new model for consumer legal services.

Consumer legal services in the US is one of the largest professional service markets yet to undergo meaningful modernisation. Worth an estimated $200 billion annually, the sector remains highly fragmented. Bloomberg Law’s 2025 Attorney Workload and Hours survey found attorneys work around 48 hours per week but bill only about 36, highlighting how much time is spent on administrative and operational work rather than practicing law.

Lawhive’s strategy is to partner with and acquire leading consumer law firms and move them onto its operating platform. Acquired firms retain their professional identity and legal independence while gaining access to shared infrastructure, capital investment and technology designed to modernize how consumer legal work is delivered.

The company’s AI operating system automates core legal workflows and routine administrative tasks, enabling lawyers to spend more time on higher-value client work.

Lawhive is initially focusing its acquisition efforts on leading firms in family law, immigration, real estate, civil litigation and intellectual property, areas where demand is high and quality legal representation is critical.

Pierre Proner, Co-Founder and CEO of Lawhive, said: “We believe the next generation of consumer law firms will operate very differently from the traditional model. Across America there are outstanding firms serving their communities, but many operate without the infrastructure and support needed to scale. By partnering with and acquiring leading firms across the country, we can combine exceptional legal expertise with technology and operational systems that allow those practices to grow and operate far more efficiently.”

James Peters, US Managing Director at Lawhive, said: “Our first year operating in the US has demonstrated strong demand for a more modern approach to consumer legal services. We believe the fastest and highest quality way to meet that demand is by partnering with exceptional law firms already serving their communities. Lawhive’s model allows those practices to benefit from shared infrastructure, capital investment and technology while continuing to deliver the legal expertise their clients rely on.”

Law firms interested in learning more about Lawhive’s acquisition strategy can contact the team directly at [e-mail].

About Lawhive

Lawhive is a UK founded AI-native law firm that uses agentic AI to transform the delivery of consumer legal services. Its platform combines a network of experienced lawyers with AI-powered workflow tools that automate routine tasks, improve operational performance and make everyday legal services more accessible. Lawhive operates in the US and the UK, helping tens of thousands of clients each year with family law, landlord/tenant disputes, property transactions, civil disputes, consumer rights and more. For further information please visit www.lawhive.com.