Global disputes firm HFW has announced a development partnership with a UK startup in the controversial field of litigation analytics. Under the partnership, HFW lawyers have access to the Solomonic system, which draws on court data to predict outcomes of litigation decisions. In return, Solomonic will call on HFW’s litigation expertise to help develop its platform and data analysis.

London-based Solomonic was founded by Gideon and David Cohen, a barrister and solicitor respectively, along with analytics consultant Dr Henry Stott. Its platform allows litigators to track how similar cases have been treated, pick out individual data points which might affect their case prospects or tactics, and draw on examples of how particular judges have previously dealt with particular fact patterns or arguments, or individual expert witnesses. 

Litigation analytics is a fast-growing field in the US but a relative novelty in England and Wales. 

Noel Campbell, head of HFW litigation, said: ‘Combining Solomonic’s data with our experience and expertise as litigators will allow us to be more efficient and effective as lawyers, and ultimately enable our clients to make more informed, commercial decisions.’