City firm claims machine-learning breakthrough

In the latest breakthrough claim for artificial intelligence in law, a firm today announced what it says is the first successful test of predictive coding for document review in a full High Court trial. International firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) said it had achieved a successful outcome after a 12-day hearing in David Brown v BCA Trading Limited, in which relevant document were identified with predictive coding. Predictive coding is a machine-learning technique, which involves identifying documents with an algorithm which learns by iteration, dramatically cutting the cost of e-disclosure. In May 2016 BLP obtained a court order overruling the opposing party's opposition to the technology in the case. BLP was representing BCA Marketplace in an unfair prejudice claim brought by a minority shareholder in a business BCA had acquired.