Philip Holdsworth is a litigation partner at Robins Appleby, a midsize law firm located in downtown Toronto.

The firm specializes in complex commercial litigation, insolvency and restructuring, partnership disputes, shareholder disputes, and regulatory compliance. Known for meticulous attention to detail and strategic litigation management, Robins Appleby provides solutions grounded in rigorous legal analysis, helping clients navigate complicated legal challenges effectively.Robins Appleby emphasizes precision, reliability, and client-centric advocacy, ensuring each client feels prioritized and supported throughout the litigation process. This commitment to high standards underpins the firm's reputation in the Toronto legal community.

Philip faced a common challenge in litigation practice: balancing thoroughness with efficiency.

Complex commercial litigation cases often involve extensive document discovery, detailed research, and careful analysis, consuming significant time and resources. Philip recognized that his team needed a more streamlined way to handle the intensive research tasks inherent in their cases without sacrificing quality or client attention.

"The mindset about trying to find tool to allow us to be more efficient and cut down on labour-intensive processes got me involved in the legal innovation zone," Philip explained. He sought a solution that would significantly reduce the time spent on repetitive yet essential tasks, freeing senior lawyers to concentrate on high-value strategic work.

"The mindset about trying to find tool to allow us to be more efficient and cut down on labour-intensive processes got me involved in the legal innovation zone."

He turned to Alexi during the pandemic, initially integrating its Memo product into the firm’s workflow.

Alexi quickly proved its value by delivering high-quality research memos in mere minutes, dramatically outperforming traditional methods. Phil noted the clear difference early on: "A student was taking six to eight hours, and the memo turned around in four minutes."

The platform's intuitive interface and direct integration with relevant case references further enhanced usability. Philip described it as providing lawyers a "superpower," allowing them to perform essential tasks rapidly and confidently, without compromising accuracy or depth.

"I really think it's a game changer. I don't feel like I can go back—it's become a necessary competency for delivering excellent client service."

Lawyers at the firm now complete routine research swiftly, enabling them to dedicate more resources to strategic analysis and client interactions.

The adoption of Alexi created substantial productivity gains, allowing Phil and his team to deliver higher-value service within tighter timelines.

Phil emphasizes the transformational nature of Alexi's impact: "I really think it's a game changer. I don't feel like I can go back—it's become a necessary competency for delivering excellent client service."

Beyond time savings, Alexi positioned Robins Appleby at the forefront of legal innovation, fulfilling what Philip calls an "innovation imperative." As Phil concludes, integrating AI into their practice wasn't just beneficial—it was essential for maintaining competitive advantage and providing exceptional client value.