LONDON — Garfield AI, an artificial intelligence company, successfully navigated a debt recovery case on May 14 at Wandsworth County Court. The company prepared legal materials and engaged a human barrister, leading to a judgment in favor of its client for a £7,000 unpaid debt.

Freelance HR consultant Tamires Camal Taquidir paid Garfield AI approximately £400 to initiate the legal process, which included sending a legal letter and filing court proceedings. Garfield AI, authorized by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in April 2024, managed all pre-trial legal work. This involved disputing a counterclaim made by the defendant and preparing four witness statements for the trial. Additionally, Garfield AI compiled a bundle of documents for the court.

The trial, lasting three hours, found in favor of Taquidir, with the court awarding her the money owed. Taquidir said: "I was owed money for work I had done, but it felt like the process of recovering it could be too stressful, expensive and time-consuming." She added: "Garfield AI made it possible for me to pursue the claim and keep going. When the counterclaim was brought, it was intended to intimidate me, but I knew I had accessible, cost-effective and competent support. I'm delighted by the result."

Dominic Li, the barrister who represented Taquidir, stated that Garfield AI presented the client's case "clearly and efficiently." He also said: "The advocacy at trial remained essential and a fundamentally human exercise." Philip Young, co-founder of Garfield AI, described the outcome as a landmark moment for access to justice, noting that many small businesses often must write off debts because of the high cost of litigation.