More than one in six top City litigators is using artificial intelligence to analyse how judges think and are likely to rule. Nearly a third believe artificial intelligence has driven down client fees. These are among the headline findings of the latest Annual Litigation Trends Survey published by the London Solicitors Litigation Association.  

Asked what type of work their teams currently use AI for, most of the 138 litigators who responded cited legal research, document review and preparing chronological material. ‘Profiling of judges’ was cited by 24.

More than two-thirds said clients expect litigators to use AI where appropriate. Just four of 142 litigators responding to this question said their clients were reluctant for them to use it. Forty-three said AI had reduced fees. 

Of 143 respondents who expressed a view on the state of the London litigation market, 46 said it was growing and 46 shrinking, with 51 declaring the market unchanged. Those who thought work has gone elsewhere most commonly cited arbitration (23), with Dubai (17) and Singapore (14) the leading destinations. 

More than half (75) support the ‘light-touch’ statutory regulation of litigation funders, but only a minority (31) oppose a cap on funders’ returns. Around a fifth of respondents say a strict cap should apply in all cases, while a third feel caps should be limited to consumer or collective actions.

More litigators consider their firm’s approach to diversity, equity and inclusion to be strengthening than diminishing. Just 12 considered that DEI had become less of a priority over the past year. 

Most respondents thought their firms could do more to promote mental health and wellbeing in the litigation sector.  

Of the 143 people who took part in the 2025 survey, most were partners, consultants, or senior/managing partners. 

John McElroy, LSLA president and partner at Fieldfisher, said: 'It is extremely positive to see sustained confidence in London as a leading global centre for litigation, particularly as the market moves decisively to harness technologies, such as AI. At the same time, the findings underline the importance of the profession working collectively to drive meaningful progress in diversity, equity and inclusion, and to foster a culture that genuinely prioritises wellbeing. The LSLA is committed to playing a central role in that effort – convening, challenging and collaborating across the profession to drive meaningful and lasting change.'