Relativity has long been one of the dominant providers of e-discovery software, and for many years, that meant its widely used, on-premises Relativity Server product. Thus, when the company introduced its cloud platform RelativityOne in 2017, those reading the tea leaves might have seen the foreshadowing of the eventual demise of the legacy Server product. […]
Relativity has long been one of the dominant providers of e-discovery software, and for many years, that meant its widely used, on-premises Relativity Server product. Thus, when the company introduced its cloud platform RelativityOne in 2017, those reading the tea leaves might have seen the foreshadowing of the eventual demise of the legacy Server product.
Now, that eventual demise is even more imminent, as the company has announced that, beginning Jan. 1, 2028, it will require that all new matters be hosted on RelativityOne.
This is writing that has been on the wall for some time, of course. Relativity says that more than 75 percent of its business has already transitioned to its cloud offering. Still, it marks a significant turning point for the company and a significant milestone in the legal profession’s accelerating shift to cloud-based technologies.
Still, the news does not mean the immediate demise of Server. In a blog post announcing the decision, Relativity’s CEO Phil Saunders said that, while new matters will need to be created in RelativityOne after the deadline, existing Relativity Server matters created before Dec. 31, 2027, will continue to be supported. There will also be limited geographical and use case exceptions to the policy, he said.
Read more about RelativityOne in the LawNext Legal Technology Directory.
Even as the legal profession has seen greater adoption of the cloud, there have remained many law firms and organizations that have preferred on-premises solutions for data security and control reasons. But on-premises solutions are constrained in their capabilities as compared to the cloud, particularly as greater processing power is needed to integrate artificial intelligence and handle larger data volumes.
“We believe in our bones that native cloud software represents the most promising path forward,” Saunders wrote in the announcement, saying that we have reached a “tipping point” where “native cloud software undeniably provides the superior performance, scale, and security required to address the legal data challenges of tomorrow.”
The three-year advance notice designed to give the company’s customer base adequate time to plan their transition. Relativity had already established a transition support program that includes financial incentives, migration assistance, and test environments.
It has also set up a dedicated email address (cloudjourney@relativity.com) for customers to inquire about transition support and impact assessment.
While some law firms and legal departments may not be ready for the cloud, Relativity says that it will work with customers to develop customized transition plans that are “achievable, economical, and will set their businesses up for success.”
The announcement comes as Relativity continues to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities, particularly through its Relativity aiR platform, which Saunders said has been adopted by more than 130 early users.
“In 2025, we are furthering our investments in Relativity and working alongside our strategic partners to provide the platform, playbook, and coaching needed to help you achieve awesome outcomes with generative AI,” Saunders wrote.
Saunders’ post also provided an update on the company’s Legal Data Intelligence (LDI) initiative, which it launched last year. This initiative, which includes participation from various industry stakeholders, aims to create standardized models and definitions for legal technology workflows.
While Saunders stopped short of issuing a death certificate for its Server product, the decision to move all new cases into the cloud means its days are numbered. And with Relativity being one of the largest players in the e-discovery space, not to mention the legal technology space, its move is sure to only further accelerate the legal industry’s broader shift to the cloud.
