Eve, an AI startup founded by Jay Madheswaran, is automating plaintiff legal work from initial client intake through settlement. In a conversation with a16z partner Alex Rampell, Madheswaran explains how the technology helps small law firms expand their capacity, allowing each attorney to manage roughly 500 clients instead of 100, and make cases economically viable that were previously too small or unprofitable to pursue.
The interview explores how AI reshapes legal economics: by cutting the cost of handling cases, it opens access to legal representation for people and claims that the legal system previously ignored. The discussion covers how lawyers shift toward higher-value work as routine tasks automate, the potential for to negotiate with each other, and what happens to the legal industry when the billable hour model breaks down.
Madheswaran and Rampell also consider how both sides gaining AI superpowers changes litigation strategy, and whether a small firm can reach billion-dollar revenue by serving a vastly larger client base at lower cost per case.
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