Category: news

Chicago, Illinois – July 14, 2020: Arbor Ridge Partners, the M&A advisory firm dedicated to the Legal Technology and Legal Services industry, is pleased to announce that our client, LightSpeed, has been acquired by Xact Data Discovery (XDD). LightSpeed has been providing litigation support, eDiscovery, managed review, and legal services to the DC area for almost two decades and has established deep relationships with law firms and corporations.

Tony Lehr, LightSpeed CEO states, “Arbor Ridge Partners’ guidance and counsel was critical in getting this deal done. They have an incredible understanding of the legal services industry and deal making, and they became a deeply trusted and key advisor. Joining forces with XDD further expands our ability to serve the DC market across multiple facets of the EDRM. We look forward to integrating our people, processes and clients into the XDD family.”

David Moran, XDD President and COO states, “Arbor Ridge Partners once again proved their reputation as one of our industry’s leading M&A advisory firms. As we continue to expand business operations nationwide, adding LightSpeed Legal to the XDD family further bolsters our physical presence in the DC market.”

Arbor Ridge Partners served as the exclusive advisor to LightSpeed and arranged this transaction.

About Arbor Ridge Partners

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for Legal Technology and Legal Services companies; including, litigation support, computer forensics, eDiscovery, legal services, and software companies. With over 60+ years of combined industry experience, legal backgrounds, first-hand industry M&A experience, and deep relationships, Arbor Ridge Partners maximizes value in the purchase and sale of Legal Technology and Legal Services Businesses. For additional information, please see www.arborridgepartners.com, email [email protected] or call 800-226-2760.

About Xact Data Discovery

Xact Data Discovery is a leading international provider of eDiscovery, data management and managed review services for law firms and corporations. XDD helps clients optimize their eDiscovery matters by orchestrating precision communication between people, processes, technology and data. XDD services include forensics, eDiscovery processing, Relativity hosting and managed review. XDD has 16 offices throughout the United States and two locations in India. XDD offers exceptional customer service with a commitment to responsive, transparent and timely communication to ensure clients remain informed throughout the entire discovery life cycle.

About LightSpeed

LightSpeed is a full-service legal services company with discovery experts specializing in providing law firms and corporation litigation support services. LightSpeed provides technical expertise in the areas of ECA, e-Discovery, predictive coding, conceptual search technology, web-based review tools, and best practices to ensure proper process and cost containment to law firms and corporations in the Washington, D.C. area and nationally.

Recent Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A Activity

Industry News

COVID-19 Update: The Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A landscape has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. If you are thinking about buying or selling a legal technology or legal services business, or simply interested in learning about the current state of Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A, please email [email protected] or use the following form to schedule a confidential and free consultation with Arbor Ridge Partners.

Recent Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A Activity

January 8, 2020. KLDiscovery Acquires Superior Document Services
KLDiscovery, Inc. (“KLD”), a global provider of electronic discovery, information governance and data recovery services, today announced its acquisition of Superior Document Services, Inc. a Richmond, Virginia-based full-service eDiscovery and litigation support provider. SDS was founded in 1998 by Kriss Wilson and Renee Covington and provides eDiscovery and litigation support services to Fortune 500 companies, law firms and government agencies…
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January 10, 2020. Kroll Acquires RP Digital Security
Kroll, a division of Duff & Phelps, a leader in risk mitigation, investigations, compliance, cyber resilience, security and incident response solutions, today announced that it has expanded its cyber security offerings with the acquisition of RP Digital Security, a Singapore-headquartered provider of computer forensic investigations, digital security and eDiscovery services…
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January 15, 2020. Cellebrite Acquires BlackBag Technologies
Cellebrite, a provider of Digital Intelligence Solutions for law enforcement, government and enterprise agencies, announced today it has concluded a definitive agreement to acquire BlackBag Technologies, a provider of Computer Forensic acquisition and analysis software solutions…
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March 9, 2020. OpenText Buys XMedius
Open Text has acquired XMedius, a provider of secure information exchange and unified communication solutions. XMedius has patented technologies to transform secure and collaborative communication, enabling organizations to move more workloads to the cloud and unlock the information advantage. The purchase price of the acquisition is approximately $75 million in an all-cash transaction…
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About Arbor Ridge Partners, LLC.

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for Legal Technology and Legal Services companies; including, litigation support, computer forensics, eDiscovery, legal services, and software companies. With over 40+ years of combined industry experience, legal backgrounds, first-hand industry M&A experience, and deep relationships, we can help maximize value in the purchase and sale of Legal Technology and Legal Services Businesses. For additional information, please visit www.arborridgepartners.com or call 800-226-2760.

Recent Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A Activity

August 8, 2019. iConect Secures Deal with NewField Capital Partners.
iCONECT, a leader in legal technology / ediscovery and makers of the award winning XERA document review platform, struck a deal with NewField Capital Partners, a strategic partner who will fund continual growth and innovation for the company. NewField Capital Partners saw a strategic fit with iCONECT in a growing industry and are looking to capitalize on ediscovery industry opportunities.
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September 4, 2019. XDD Acquires Beyond IT Forensics.
Xact Data Discovery, an international provider of eDiscovery, data management managed review, and legal services for law firms and corporations, announces the acquisition of Beyond IT forensics. Beyond IT, a cybersecurity and digital forensics company based in Houston, Texas.
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November 11, 2019. OpenText Acquires Carbonite, Inc.
OpenText, a global leader in Enterprise Information Management (EIM), announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Carbonite, Inc., provider of cloud-based subscription data protection, backup, disaster recovery and end-point security to small and medium-sized businesses and consumers.
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January 7, 2020. Legility, Acquires Inventus
Legility, a provider of legal operations services, announced the acquisition of Inventus, an international eDiscovery and Legal Services provider with locations across Europe, Asia and North America. Following the acquisition, the two companies will combine to broaden technology-enabled services for the legal operations market, enabling access to services, expertise and technology in more locations. The companies will combine business operations in early 2020.
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About Arbor Ridge Partners, LLC.

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for Legal Technology and Legal Services companies; including, litigation support, computer forensics, eDiscovery, legal services, and software companies. With over 40+ years of combined industry experience, legal backgrounds, first-hand industry M&A experience, and deep relationships, we can help maximize value in the purchase and sale of Legal Technology and Legal Services Businesses. For additional information, please visit www.arborridgepartners.com or call 800-226-2760.

Chicago, Illinois – August 8, 2019: Arbor Ridge Partners is pleased to announce that our client, iCONECT Worldwide Inc. and iCONECT Development, LLC (“iCONECT”) has entered into a deal with NewField Capital Partners, a strategic partner who will fund iCONECT’s continual growth and innovation. iCONECT is the maker of the award winning XERA document review platform and has been an industry leader in legal technology over the past 20 years.

“Arbor Ridge’s introduction of NewField brings both capital and strategic vision as we continue to grow and add some exciting new developments,” said CEO Ian Campbell. “Arbor Ridge Partners has so much first-hand experience with Legal Technology companies, that they were able to quickly understand our goals and objectives and then generate a perfect result.”

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with iCONECT to create new growth opportunities within the quickly expanding legal technology sector,” states Rob Bush, a Partner with NewField Capital Partners. “Their advanced yet intuitive software coupled with a strong management team will provide those in the e-discovery space a platform to better serve their clients.”

Arbor Ridge Partners served as the exclusive advisor to iCONECT.

About Arbor Ridge Partners, LLC.

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker and M&A advisory service provider that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for legal software, litigation support, computer forensics, and eDiscovery companies. With a unique blend of industry experience, legal backgrounds, and relationships, Arbor Ridge Partners helps maximize value in the purchase and sale of legal technology businesses.For additional information, please see www.arborridgepartners.com, email [email protected] or call 800-226-2760.

About iCONECT

CONECT software has been selected for use in some of the world’s largest high-profile projects such as the ENRON investigation, BP-Oilspill, NASA-Columbia Return to Flight, FDIC-900+ Banking Investigations and most recently the creation of a public access archive for the 30,000 JFK document and audio files released by the CIA. iCONECT was recently named one of the ‘30 Fastest Growing Tech Companies 2019’ by Silicon Review. www.ICONECT.com.

About NewField Capital Partners

Newfield Capital Partners, LLC is a private alternative investment firm that provides debt, equity and operational expertise to middle market companies around the world. Their experienced team has decades of expertise in multiple industries to help Owners, Board of Directors, and Senior Management Teams solve their complex problems and assist them in building great companies. Website: www.newfieldcap.com.

Recent Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A Activity

June 5, 2019. Reveal Data Corporation Acquires Mindseye Solutions
Reveal Data Corporation, a Chicago-based provider of eDiscovery software solutions and services, has acquired Mindseye Solutions, a complimentary software solution. The combination of Mindseye and Reveal enhances Reveals eDiscovery and Litigation Document Review software solution, including eDiscovery data processing, early case assessment, data storage, litigation document review and artificial intelligence. Additionally, Reveal announced that it received a significant investment from Gallant Capital Partners, a Los Angeles based investment firm…
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June 11, 2019. Exterro Acquires Jordan Lawrence
Exterro Inc., a provider of eDiscovery and information governance software designed for corporate legal and IT teams has acquired Jordan Lawrence, a provider of data privacy and information management software and the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Alliance Partner for Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Compliance. Jordan Lawrence provides privacy and information governance solutions that enable customers to manage their information compliantly, defensibly and cost effectively. Exterro is poised to provide clients with a fully integrated software platform for eDiscovery, data privacy, security and compliance…
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July 2, 2019. Xact Data Discovery Acquires QDiscovery
Xact Data Discovery, an international provider of legal technology services, eDiscovery, data management and managed review services for law firms and corporations, announces the acquisition of QDiscovery, a mid-tier eDiscovery and digital forensic services provider. QDiscovery provides eDiscovery, forensics, managed review and consulting services to law firms and corporations. With offices in Chicago, Indianapolis, Boston, DC, Houston, Minneapolis and Phoenix, the newly integrated company and services will operate under the XDD brand…
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July 18, 2019. Thomson Reuters Acquires HighQ
Thomson Reuters acquires HighQ, a collaboration platform for the legal and regulatory market. Based in London with offices in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and India, HighQ offers a secure cloud-based platform for business collaboration, workflow automation and client engagement. HighQ currently serves more than 400 customers, including more than half of the Global 100 largest law firms…
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July 29, 2019. KLDiscovery Acquires Strategic Legal Solutions and Compiled
KLDiscovery, a provider of electronic discovery, legal services, information governance and data recovery services, has acquired New York-based Strategic Legal Solutions (SLS) and Richmond, Virginia-based Compiled…
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August 1, 2019. Legility Acquires eDiscovery Company iControlESI
NASHVILLE – Legility has acquired Dallas-based iControlESI, a leading eDiscovery provider and developer of eDiscovery technology solutions. The acquisition gives Legility – which has had a corporate office and a standalone Managed Services facility in Dallas for eight years – a larger footprint in Texas and access to innovative technology solutions…
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About Arbor Ridge Partners, LLC.

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for Legal Technology and Legal Services companies; including, litigation support, computer forensics, eDiscovery, legal services, and software companies. With over 40+ years of combined industry experience, legal backgrounds, first-hand industry M&A experience, and deep relationships, we can help maximize value in the purchase and sale of Legal Technology and Legal Services Businesses. For additional information, please visit www.arborridgepartners.com or call 800-226-2760.

Arbor Ridge Partners News Alert: Arbor Ridge Partners will be at ILTACON from August 19 – 22, 2019. To schedule a meeting with us in Orlando during the conference, please email us at: [email protected].

Recent Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A Activity

February 12, 2019. Xact Data Discovery Acquires QUiVX

Xact Data Discovery, a leading international provider of eDiscovery, legal technology, litigation support, data management and managed review services for law firms and corporations, announces the acquisition of QUiVX’s forensics, review and eDiscovery services. QUiVX, an agile eDiscovery company based in northern California will continue to operate its paper discovery business under the QUiVX brand…
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March 21, 2019. Veritext Legal Solutions Acquires U.S. Court Reporting Business from Epiq

Veritext Legal Solutions, a deposition and litigation technology support solutions company, and Epiq, a global company in the legal technology and litigation support services industry, announce Epiq has divested its U.S. court reporting business to Veritext…
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April 3, 2019. Epiq Acquires H&A eDiscovery

Epiq, a global leader in the legal technology and legal services industry, has acquired H&A eDiscovery. H&A is a leading Canadian eDiscovery and litigation support firm that provides expertise and consulting across the EDRM from identification, collection, processing, hosting, filtering and project management…
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April 3, 2019. EY Acquires Pangea3 from Thomson Reuters

EY, the entity that encompasses Ernst & Young companies worldwide, has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of the Thomson Reuters Pangea3 Legal Managed Services business by various firms in the EY network. Following the recent acquisition of Riverview Law, EY continues to expand their legal services business…
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May 1, 2019. Lightyear Capital Acquires controlling interest in Lighthouse

Lightyear Capital LLC, a New York-based private equity firm focused on financial services, announced today that investment funds affiliated with Lightyear have acquired a controlling stake in Lighthouse Technologies. Founded in 1995, Lighthouse provides eDiscovery and end-to-end software and services to help compliance and legal teams manage enterprise data and the eDiscovery process…
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May 1, 2019. Morae Global Acquires Phoenix Business Solutions

Morae Global Corporation, a provider of end-to-end legal services and compliance solutions to law departments, compliance teams and law firms acquired Phoenix Business Solutions. Phoenix Business Solutions is an information and litigation data management specialist, providing strategic consultancy, software solutions and system integration for companies across the legal and professional services markets…
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About Arbor Ridge Partners, LLC.

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for legal software, litigation support, computer forensics, and eDiscovery companies. With over 40+ years of combined industry experience, legal backgrounds, first-hand industry M&A experience, and deep relationships, we can help maximize value in the purchase and sale of Legal Technology Businesses. For additional information, please visit www.arborridgepartners.com or call 800-226-2760.

Recent Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A Activity

Arbor Ridge Partners is pleased to announce that George Tziahanas has joined our Leadership Team as an M&A Advisor.

George has extensive experience in the Legal and Compliance Technology industry and has developed a strong network of strategic buyers, investors and private equity firms.

George’s work has centered around legal software, analytics, artificial Intelligence, M&A due diligence. and legal content analysis. George has been retained by several eDiscovery, archiving, and analytics companies, including Luminance, Morae Global, HP/Autonomy, Orchestria, and Intel Corporation, to develop products and market strategies. George’s work also includes complex portfolio realignment, reviewing targets for acquisition and divestiture, and post-aquisition integration.

George holds an M.S. in Biological Sciences, and a J.D. from the DePaul College of Law. He is admitted to Illinois State Bar, and to the Federal District for the Northern District of Illinois.

About Arbor Ridge Partners, LLC.

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for legal software, litigation support, computer forensics, and eDiscovery companies. With over 40+ years of combined industry experience, legal backgrounds, first-hand industry M&A experience, and deep relationships, we can help maximize value in the purchase and sale of Legal Technology Businesses. For additional information, please visit www.arborridgepartners.com or call 800-226-2760.

Recent Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A Activity

Chicago, Illinois – April 9, 2019: Arbor Ridge Partners is pleased to announce that our client, H&A eDiscovery, has been acquired by Epiq. H&A is a leading Canadian eDiscovery and litigation support firm that provides expertise and consulting across the EDRM from identification, collection, processing, hosting, filtering and project management.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our employees and our clients,” stated Oleh Hrycko, H&A eDiscovery President. “Arbor Ridge Partners’ experience and knowledge of the Litigation Support and eDiscovery industry was invaluable. They understood our particular goals and objectives and provided options that were spot on and with exceptional guidance, communication, and counsel.”

Said Kevin Jacobs, Epiq’s Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions, “Arbor Ridge Partners understands the intricacies of M&A in the Legal Services industry.”

Arbor Ridge Partners served as the exclusive M&A advisor to H&A eDiscovery and arranged this transaction.

About Arbor Ridge Partners, LLC.

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker and M&A advisory service provider that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for legal software, litigation support, computer forensics, and eDiscovery companies. With a unique blend of industry experience, legal backgrounds, and relationships, Arbor Ridge Partners helps maximize value in the purchase and sale of legal technology businesses. For additional information, please see www.arborridgepartners.com, email [email protected] or call 800-226-2760.

About H&A eDiscovery

H&A eDiscovery, a leading Canadian litigation support and eDiscovery advisory firm, is a proven, fully-integrated eDiscovery solutions and services firm with unparalleled experience, in-house resources, and vision. They offer a breadth of services including collections, initial data assessments, eDiscovery processing, scanning, and litigation data hosting.

About Epiq

Epiq, a global leader in the legal services industry, takes on large-scale, increasingly complex tasks for corporate counsel, law firms, and business professionals with efficiency, clarity, and confidence. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline the administration of business operations, class action and mass tort, court reporting, eDiscovery, regulatory, compliance, restructuring, and bankruptcy matters. Epiq subject-matter experts and technologies create efficiency through expertise and deliver confidence to high-performing clients around the world. Learn more at www.epiqglobal.com.

Recent Legal Technology & Legal Services M&A Activity

The DAT File Podcast (the Podcast for people that kinda love eDiscovery) goes one-on-one with Rick Weber, Managing Partner of Arbor Ridge Partners. Host Brandon Law has Rick go deep into the “business of eDiscovery,” talking about the world of private equity, venture capital and state of M&A Advisory for Legal Technology and eDiscovery businesses. Listen to the podcast now

Recent Legal Technology
M&A Activity

January 8, 2019. Elevate Acquires Halebury.

Elevate, a global law and legal technology company, providing litigation consulting, legal technology and legal services to law departments and law firms, has acquired Halebury, the UK NewLaw legal resourcing firm. Halebury will operate as an Elevate business, retaining its team. With UK‑regulated Halebury on board, Elevate provides both in-house legal teams and law firms with litigation resources, talent, consulting, legal technology and managed services…
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January 14, 2019. Driven Acquires Omnivere.

Driven, Inc., an eDiscovery and data management solutions provider, announces its acquisition of Omnivere. The newly-combined company offers law firms and corporate counsel one provider for software, services, consulting, and staffing across the entire data lifecycle. This includes dynamic technology and staffing solutions for information governance, eDiscovery, managed services, and managed document review…
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January 14, 2019. Trustpoint.One Acquires Kelly Legal Managed Services.

Trustpoint.One, an eDiscovery and legal solutions provider, today announced the acquisition of Kelly Legal Managed Services, formerly known as “Kelly Law Registry,” making this the third in a series of Trustpoint acquisitions during the fourth quarter of 2018…
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January 14, 2019. EXTEND Resources Acquires Controlling Interest in Nighthawk Global Business Process Services, Inc.

EXTEND Resources, a provider of contract management, information security, eDiscovery, and litigation support services, has acquired a controlling interest in Nighthawk Global Business Process Services, Inc., a provider of outsourced business and legal support services headquartered in Manila, Philippines…
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January 17, 2019. HaystackID Acquires eTERA.

HaystackID, a Litigation Support and eDiscovery services company has acquired eTERA Consulting, an eDiscovery and litigation managed services company. The senior leadership teams of both organizations have reinvested in the combined business alongside additional investment from Knox Capital, ORIX Mezzanine & Private Equity, Maranon Capital, L.P., and Baird Principal Group. With the acquisition, eTERA will fully integrate and operate as HaystackID….
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January 31, 2019. OpenText Acquires Catalyst Repository Systems, Inc.

OpenText, a publicly traded provider of eDiscovery Solutions and Enterprise Information Management for the Legal Industry, acquired Catalyst Repository Systems, Inc. (Catalyst), a leading provider of eDiscovery solutions for corporate legal departments and law firms…
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February 1, 2019. Xact Data Discovery Acquires QUiVX

Xact Data Discovery, a leading international provider of eDiscovery, legal technology, litigation support, data management and managed review services for law firms and corporations, announces the acquisition of QUiVX’s forensics, review and eDiscovery services. QUiVX, an agile eDiscovery company based in northern California will continue to operate its paper discovery business under the QUiVX brand…
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About Arbor Ridge Partners, LLC.

Arbor Ridge Partners is a business broker that focuses on mergers and acquisitions for legal software, litigation support, computer forensics, and eDiscovery companies. With over 40+ years of combined industry experience, legal backgrounds, first-hand industry M&A experience, and deep relationships, we can help maximize value in the purchase and sale of Legal Technology Businesses. For additional information, please visit www.arborridgepartners.com or call 800-226-2760.