Technically Legal - A Legal Technology and Innovation Podcast

Best of 2025 - From IP Lawyer to Investor to CEO to Legal Ecosystem Builder (Avaneesh Marwaha, Litera CEO)

Dec 24, 2025

Avaneesh Marwaha, CEO of Litera and former IP lawyer, shares his inspiring transition from law to tech entrepreneurship. He discusses his motivations for seeking an active business role and the value of a legal education in the corporate world. Avaneesh reveals Litera's transformation into a comprehensive legal tech ecosystem, powered by AI, and highlights its strategic partnership with Microsoft. Additionally, he offers insights on the challenges startups face and how Litera is innovating to enhance productivity in law firms while focusing on proactive client service.

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ANECDOTE

From Lawyer To Founder And Operator

Avaneesh left private practice to join and then buy a CPR/defibrillator training business called Code Red (Cobra) and scaled it nationally.
He learned hands-on business skills like P&L, hiring, sales, and exit strategy that pivoted him from law to operator and investor.

INSIGHT

Lawyers Often Enter Post-Decision

Avaneesh found outside counsel is often reactive, engaged after business decisions are made rather than in the boardroom.
He prefers being in the decision-making room and found that role more energizing than executing legal tasks.

ADVICE

Go To Law School With A Purpose

Don't go to law school without a clear plan for how you'll use the degree; hone your target practice area early.
Law school still builds critical skills, but aim to enter with direction to avoid early burnout.

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Avaneesh Marwaha, the CEO of Litera, visits the show to discuss his journey from IP lawyer to becoming a legal tech CEO and investor. He discusses the motivations behind his career pivot, including his desire to be a decision-maker and his passion for the business side of law.

The conversation delves into the evolution of Litera, from its origins as a document-focused migration software company to its current role as a comprehensive legal tech ecosystem. Avaneesh highlights the company's strategic shift from acquiring to building new technologies. He also emphasizes the importance of Litera's strong partnership with Microsoft and the company's focus on enhancing law firms' productivity and client service.

Key Takeaways:

Pivoting from Law to Business: Avaneesh's move from practicing IP law to an in-house role and eventually becoming a CEO was driven by his desire for a more active role in business decision-making. He saw lawyers as reactive to business decisions, and he wanted to be at the forefront of the action.
The Value of a Law Degree in Business: Avaneesh shares his perspective on the value of a law degree for business professionals, highlighting the critical thinking and risk tolerance skills it provides. He notes that the corporate transaction course he took in law school was particularly beneficial, teaching him about corporate governance and fiduciary duties.
Litera's Evolution: Avaneesh discusses how Litera has grown through strategic acquisitions and a recent focus on internal development. He explains how the company integrates various tools, like Kira and Foundation, to create a seamless ecosystem for lawyers within their daily workflows, primarily in Outlook and Word.
The Impact of Generative AI: The discussion touches on the transformative impact of AI on the legal tech industry. Avaneesh explains how AI has enabled Litera to accelerate its product development and introduce features that proactively assist lawyers with tasks like document comparison and client relationship management.
Build vs. Buy Strategy: Avaneesh outlines Litera's shift from a buy-heavy strategy to a more balanced build-and-invest approach. This change is largely due to the increased efficiency and speed of development enabled by AI tools.
Future of Legal Tech: Avaneesh shares his vision for the future of Litera, which includes a focus on "maniacal client service" and helping law firms proactively grow their business. He believes that as automation handles routine tasks, lawyers will have more capacity for business development and client-centric work.

Things We Talk About

Kira Systems - A company acquired by Litera specializing in AI-powered contract analysis.
Foundation Software - A business acquired by Litera focused on knowledge management.
Doxly - A document formatting and repair tool.