Technically Legal - A Legal Technology and Innovation Podcast

The Business of Law: From IP Lawyer to Investor to CEO to Legal Tech Ecosystem Builder (Avaneesh Marwaha, Litera CEO)

Sep 25, 2025

Avaneesh Marwaha, CEO of Litera and former IP lawyer turned legal tech leader, shares his inspiring journey from practicing law to driving innovation in legal technology. He reveals his desire for a more active role in business decisions and discusses Litera's evolution into a comprehensive legal ecosystem. Avaneesh highlights the integration of AI into tools like Outlook and Word, enhancing productivity for law firms. He also covers the strategic shift from acquisitions to building in-house technology and the importance of partnerships, particularly with Microsoft.

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ANECDOTE

From Lawyer To Healthcare Business Owner

Avaneesh left private practice to join and invest in a CPR/defibrillator training company where he learned P&L and operations.
He scaled and sold the business, which taught him real-world product, hiring, and sales skills beyond law.

INSIGHT

Law Is Often Reactive To Business

Avaneesh found law practice reactive because outside counsel often engage after business decisions are made.
That realization pushed him to seek boardroom roles where he could shape decisions, not just execute them.

ADVICE

Go To Law School With A Plan

Only go to law school if you have a clear plan for how you'll use the degree or a focused path to build relevant experience.
Hone skills and attract employers by targeting your coursework and internships to your intended legal area.

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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.