Rel Labs brings legal tech innovation is now live, as Relativity — a global leader in legal technology — formally announces Rel Labs, an investment arm and innovation hub to accelerate transformation in legal data intelligence. This initiative seeks to expand the capabilities of its core platform, RelativityOne, while fostering partnerships with startups and existing developer partners.
The hub will work closely with The LegalTech Fund (TLTF) to identify and support the most promising legal tech startups. As part of this effort, Relativity is enhancing its Developer Program (launching a new structure in 2026) to provide clearer growth pathways, increased support, and stronger collaboration opportunities for its developers. With over $170 million earmarked for research and development (R&D) across 2025, the company aims to back both seasoned software vendors and breakthrough entrepreneurs. PR Newswire+1
Backing Bold Ideas in Legal Tech
Rel Labs is designed for all stages of innovation — from early concepts to enterprise-ready solutions. Priority will be given to ideas that address pressing challenges in legal data intelligence, such as improving workflows, compliance, investigations, data breach response, and integrating advanced AI tools into existing platforms. Innovators, system integrators, and strategic partners will all have defined roles in this ecosystem. Relativity+2EDRM+2
Phil Saunders, CEO of Relativity, emphasized the importance of a partner-rich platform at a time when AI is rapidly reshaping legal tech. “Backing the legal tech community’s boldest ideas … to advance the system of action within RelativityOne,” he said, highlighting that extensibility and community are central to Rel Labs’ mission. PR Newswire
Developer Program Revamped
Under Rel Labs, Relativity is revamping its Developer Program for 2026. Developer partners will be classified into three categories:
- Innovators — independent developers building applications or extensions for RelativityOne.
- System Integrators — groups that deliver custom implementations and workflows.
- Strategic Partners — those co-developing solutions with Relativity itself. PR Newswire+1
This new structure aims to provide clearer benefits and growth paths, helping devs scale solutions and align more closely with what customers need. The developer community, counting over 50 existing partners, stands to gain more resources, better support, and enhanced access to Relativity’s platform and AI tools. PR Newswire
Investment and Ecosystem Growth
Rel Labs is not just an internal hub — it involves capital investment, startup backing, and ecosystem building. The company will fund new strategic partnerships, strengthen current ones, and support startups via TLTF. This approach promises to deepen the impact of innovations and ensure that RelativityOne stays at the forefront of legal tech trends. PR Newswire+1
Relativity’s $170M+ R&D spend for 2025 underscores that this initiative is well-resourced. That budget supports both platform development and the growth of new features, including AI-powered capabilities, better data intelligence, and tools for compliance and breach investigations. PR Newswire
Why It Matters
Legal teams today face accelerating data challenges: huge volumes of documents, complex cross-border rules, stricter compliance demands, and the need for faster, more accurate tools. Rel Labs legal tech innovation positions Relativity to help solve these pressures by encouraging external innovation and accelerating delivery of practical solutions.
Emerging startups often struggle with funding, access, and integration. By offering not just capital but also real support and access to platform tools, Rel Labs could become a major catalyst for legal tech transformation.
What to Expect Next
- Applications for innovators and vendors to join Rel Labs will open soon.
- Relativity will begin scaling startup partnerships via TLTF.
- The new Developer Program launches in 2026, delivering clearer role definitions and growth paths.
- At Relativity Fest (Oct 7-9, 2025), participants will see App Hub showcases, the Developer Summit, and sessions spotlighting startup-built solutions. PR Newswire+1
Rel Labs legal tech innovation is more than a project; it’s a sign of how the legal tech industry is shifting toward open, collaborative, and AI-enhanced models. As Relativity and its community push forward, we could see dramatic changes in how legal work is performed — faster, more precise, and more responsive to modern needs.
