England: AI law firm wins first court case after landmark trial

Garfield AI, which became the first AI law firm authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in May 2025, successfully assisted a freelancer in recovering £7,000 in unpaid fees following a trial at Wandsworth County Court.

The claim was brought by Tamires Camal Taquidir, who alleged that a hospitality business had failed to pay for HR services she had provided. Following a three-hour hearing in May, the court ruled entirely in her favour and dismissed a counterclaim by the defendant.

Garfield AI handled the preparation of the case, including pre-action correspondence, court proceedings, witness statements and trial bundles. Advocacy at trial was conducted by Dominic Li of One Essex Court, who was instructed by the firm.

Philip Young, Garfield AI’s co-founder, described the outcome as “a landmark moment, not just for Garfield AI, but for access to justice”.

“For too long, businesses have been forced to write off debts because the cost, time and stress of litigation made pursuing them uneconomic,” he said.

“AI did not replace the judge, the barrister or the legal system. What it did was make the process more accessible, more efficient and more affordable, so that a meritorious claimant could get to the point where her case could be heard, and justice could be done.”

Co-founder Daniel Long said the case demonstrated the practical potential of legal AI.

“This case shows what legal AI can do in the real world. It is not about gimmicks or replacing lawyers… We are still at the beginning of this journey, but the momentum is already clear,” he said.

The firm, founded by Mr Young and quantum physicist Mr Long, specialises in small-claims debt recovery and says more than 600 claims have been initiated through its platform. It has recovered or resolved more than £500,000 in claims, with individual cases ranging from £30 to £10,000.