Acquisitions in the Court Reporting & Litigation Support Sector

This article provides a summary of mergers and acquisitions transactions in the Legal Services Support Sector between 2018 and 2024.  We try to update this post every month as we close more deals and learn of other deals that have closed in the sector.

An Overview of the Court Reporting and Litigation Support Sector

The Litigation Support Services or Legal Services Support sector includes a wide range of companies that provide specialized services to legal professionals and organizations. Some of the  types of companies in the sector include:

Court Reporting Firms: These companies provide skilled court reporters to create verbatim records of legal proceedings, depositions, and hearings.

Litigation Support Providers: These firms offer a wide range of services to assist with litigation, including eDiscovery, document management, trial preparation, and case management.

Legal Technology Companies: These companies develop and provide software solutions tailored to the needs of legal professionals, such as case management software, document review platforms, and legal research tools.

Legal Research and Publishing Companies: These entities produce and distribute legal research materials, including case law, statutes, regulations, and legal commentary.

Legal Consulting Firms: These firms offer strategic advice and consulting services to law firms, corporate legal departments, and other legal entities on various aspects of legal practice, including practice management, technology adoption, business development, trial preparation, jury selection, etc.

Videography Services: These companies specialize in recording video and audio records of legal proceedings, depositions, and interviews and converting them into written transcripts.

Forensic Accounting and Investigation Firms: These firms provide financial and investigative services to support litigation, including forensic accounting, fraud investigation, asset tracing, and expert witness testimony.

Legal Staffing and Recruitment Agencies: These firms specialize in placing legal professionals, including attorneys, paralegals, legal secretaries, and support staff, with law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.

Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) Companies: These organizations offer outsourced legal services to law firms and corporations, including document review, contract drafting, intellectual property management, and legal research. This subsector is going through rapid change as artificial intelligence solutions become more integrated in their offerings.

Court Technology and Services Providers: These companies develop and implement technology solutions for courtrooms and legal proceedings, such as electronic filing systems, court management software, and audiovisual equipment for trials and hearings.

Mediation and Arbitration Services: These organizations facilitate alternative dispute resolution processes, including mediation and arbitration, to help parties resolve legal disputes outside of traditional litigation.

Legal Education and Training Providers: These entities offer continuing legal education (CLE) programs, professional development courses, and training seminars for legal professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge in various areas of law and practice.

Court Reporting and Litigation Support Services Consolidation

The legal and litigation support sector is experiencing a long-term consolidation by several large national players and about a dozen smaller regional companies.

Here is a summary of the factors driving this long-term consolidation.

1. Professional Shortage: There’s a notable shortage of skilled court reporters, partly due to an aging workforce and fewer new entrants in the field. Larger firms, through consolidation, can better manage this talent crunch by pooling resources and offering more attractive career paths.
2. Technological Advancements: The court reporting industry, like many others, is rapidly evolving due to technology. Advancements in digital recording, real-time transcription, and even AI-powered transcription services are reshaping the landscape. Firms are consolidating to better invest in and leverage these technologies. It’s a bit like the tech trends we see in other sectors, where staying ahead of the curve is crucial.
3. Increasing Demand for Legal Services: There’s a growing demand for legal services, partly due to increased regulatory complexities and a more litigious society. This demand extends to court reporting services, which are essential for legal proceedings. Larger firms, through consolidation, can handle a higher volume of work more efficiently.
4. Economies of Scale: By consolidating, court reporting firms can achieve economies of scale. This means they can offer services at a lower cost while improving quality. It’s a classic business move – think of it like big tech firms merging to streamline their operations and cut down on expenses.
5. Market Fragmentation: The court reporting industry is pretty fragmented, with many small players. This fragmentation makes it ripe for consolidation, as larger firms can acquire smaller ones to expand their market share and client base.
6. Diversification of Services: The large national court reporting firms are diversifying their services to include things like legal videography, translation, litigation consulting, eDiscovery, and document management services. By consolidating, firms can offer a broader range of services to their clients, making them a one-stop shop for legal support services.
7. Client Expectations: Clients are increasingly expecting more comprehensive and sophisticated services. Larger, consolidated firms are often better equipped to meet these expectations with their broader range of services and technological capabilities.

Due to these long-term factors, we anticipate this consolidation to continue for the foreseeable future.

Mergers and Acquisitions in the Court Reporting and Litigation Support Industry

The following section outlines a comprehensive summary of mergers and acquisitions transactions within the legal and litigation support services sector spanning the period from 2018 to 2024. This curated list is updated on a monthly basis to reflect the latest developments and transitions within the industry.

In addition to the publicly announced transactions mentioned above, we estimated that several dozen additional transactions take place each year involving smaller court reporting, eDiscovery, and legal support service companies. These smaller transactions are often not formally announced through press releases, but contribute greatly to the dynamic landscape of industry consolidation.

Other Relevant Articles Related to Court Reporting:

Readers may also benefit from exploring our related articles regarding the court reporting and litigation support services sector, including:

Court Reporting & Litigation Support Industry is Ripe for Consolidation

What’s My Court Reporting Firm Worth? – Simple Rules of Thumb updated for 2023

White Paper – The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Court Reporting Firm for Top Dollar

Jackim Woods’ Court Reporting Practice Group

About the Author and Jackim Woods & Co.

Rich Jackim is an attorney, investment banker, and entrepreneur. For the last 25 years, Rich has been providing boutique investment banking services to small and middle-market companies in the court reporting and litigation support sector.

In addition to running a successful M&A advisory firm, Rich founded a successful training and certification company called the Exit Planning Institute, which he sold to a private family office in 2012.

Rich is also the author of the critically acclaimed book, The $10 Trillion Dollar Opportunity: Designing Successful Exit Strategies for Middle Market Businesses.  It became an Amazon best-seller in the business consulting category the year it was published.

Jackim Woods & Co offers skilled mergers and acquisitions advisory services to court reporting firms, digital reporting and videography firms, court reporting schools, eDiscovery companies, and legal contract staffing companies in both sell-side and buy-side transactions. Jackim Woods & Co has arranged over 100 successful transactions, ranging in value from less than one million to more than eighty million dollars.

If you own an court reporting firm, legal support services business,  or litigation support company and are interested in exploring your options, I would welcome an opportunity to speak with you. There is no cost or obligation to you and all discussions are completely confidential.

Feel free to contact me at 224-513-5142 or rjackim@jackimwoods.com.

How To Guide to Selling Your Court Reporting Firm for Top Dollar

I’m pleased to announce that I just published a free 17-page guide to Selling your Court Reporting Firm for Top Dollar.  This comprehensive guide provides a lot of useful information as you begin to think about selling your court reporting firm, so I thought it would be helpful to provide an outline of the topics covered.

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Court Reporting Firm for Top Dollar

Introduction

• Overview of the complexities and rewards of selling a court reporting firm.
• Importance of understanding the sale process and strategizing your exit for a profitable transition.

Understanding the Value of Your Court Reporting Firm

• Critical first step: Determine your firm’s fair market value.
• Unique and valuable aspects of your business in the marketplace.
• Importance of working with an experienced business broker in the court reporting sector.

Key Non-Financial Factors Affecting Firm Value

1. Client Base:
   • A diverse and loyal client base as a primary asset and value driver.
2. Contractors/Reporters:
   • The significance of the experience and tenure of court reporters or contractors.
3. Technology:
   • Adoption of cutting-edge technologies as a value enhancer.
4. Administrative Staff:
   • The expertise and experience of administrative staff in maintaining service quality.

Valuation Rules of Thumb

• The role of EBITDA and SDE in business valuation.
• Importance of accounting for unique value drivers and detractors for accurate valuation.

The Sales Process

• Steps and timeline for selling a court reporting firm.
• Importance of preparation for a smooth and successful sale.

Preparing Your Firm for Sale

• Financial statement organization and operational process documentation.
• Emphasizing the necessity of up-to-date accounting and efficient operational processes.

Marketing Your Court Reporting Firm

• The need for creating a compelling offering package and contacting potential buyers.
• Utilizing digital marketing and leveraging the expertise of business brokers.

The Role of Professional Advisors

• Advantages of working with a business broker specialized in court reporting firms.
• Mitigating risks such as low-ball offers, due diligence failures, and distractions during the sales process.

Navigating Negotiations

• Understanding buyer motivations and maintaining flexibility.
• The importance of negotiating with multiple buyers simultaneously to secure the best deal.

Choosing the Right Buyer

• Balancing financial offers with cultural and operational fit.
• Evaluating different types of buyers: big box firms, regional firms, and individual entrepreneurs.

The Closing Process

• Steps involved in closing the sale, including due diligence and finalizing financial terms.
• The significance of definitive legal documents at closing.

Embracing the Future Post-Sale

• The emotional and practical aspects of life after selling your business.
• Opportunities for new ventures and personal growth.

Conclusion

• Summarizing the journey of selling a court reporting firm.
• Encouragement to contact a professional advisor for guidance and valuation.

Download Your Copy Here

Download your free copy of this useful white paper here.

About the Author and Jackim Woods & Co.

Rich Jackim is an attorney, investment banker, and entrepreneur. For the last 25 years, Rich has been providing boutique investment banking services to small and middle-market companies in the court reporting and litigation support sector.

In addition to running a successful M&A advisory firm, Rich founded a successful training and certification company called the Exit Planning Institute, which he sold to a private family office in 2012.

Rich is also the author of the critically acclaimed book, The $10 Trillion Dollar Opportunity: Designing Successful Exit Strategies for Middle Market Businesses.  It became an Amazon best-seller in the business consulting category the year it was published.

Jackim Woods & Co offers skilled mergers and acquisitions advisory services to court reporting firms, digital reporting and videography firms, court reporting schools, eDiscovery companies, and legal contract staffing companies in both sell-side and buy-side transactions. Jackim Woods & Co has arranged over 100 successful transactions, ranging in value from less than one million to more than eighty million dollars.

If you own an court reporting firm or litigation support company and are interested in exploring your options, I would welcome an opportunity to speak with you. There is no cost or obligation to you and all discussions are completely confidential.

Feel free to contact me at 224-513-5142 or rjackim@jackimwoods.com.

Court Reporting Acquisitions in 2023

This article provides a summary of mergers and acquisitions transactions in the court reporting sector in 2023.  We try to update this post every month as we close more deals and learn of other deals that have closed in the sector.

Court Reporting Consolidation

The court reporting and litigation support sector is experiencing a long-term consolidation by several large national players and about a dozen smaller regional companies.

Here is a summary of the factors driving this long-term consolidation.

1. Professional Shortage: There’s a notable shortage of skilled court reporters, partly due to an aging workforce and fewer new entrants in the field. Larger firms, through consolidation, can better manage this talent crunch by pooling resources and offering more attractive career paths.
2. Technological Advancements: The court reporting industry, like many others, is rapidly evolving due to technology. Advancements in digital recording, real-time transcription, and even AI-powered transcription services are reshaping the landscape. Firms are consolidating to better invest in and leverage these technologies. It’s a bit like the tech trends we see in other sectors, where staying ahead of the curve is crucial.
3. Increasing Demand for Legal Services: There’s a growing demand for legal services, partly due to increased regulatory complexities and a more litigious society. This demand extends to court reporting services, which are essential for legal proceedings. Larger firms, through consolidation, can handle a higher volume of work more efficiently.
4. Economies of Scale: By consolidating, court reporting firms can achieve economies of scale. This means they can offer services at a lower cost while improving quality. It’s a classic business move – think of it like big tech firms merging to streamline their operations and cut down on expenses.
5. Market Fragmentation: The court reporting industry is pretty fragmented, with many small players. This fragmentation makes it ripe for consolidation, as larger firms can acquire smaller ones to expand their market share and client base.
6. Diversification of Services: The large national court reporting firms are diversifying their services to include things like legal videography, translation, litigation consulting, eDiscovery, and document management services. By consolidating, firms can offer a broader range of services to their clients, making them a one-stop shop for legal support services.
7. Client Expectations: Clients are increasingly expecting more comprehensive and sophisticated services. Larger, consolidated firms are often better equipped to meet these expectations with their broader range of services and technological capabilities.

Due to these long-term factors, we anticipate this consolidation to continue for the foreseeable future.

The volume of mergers and acquisitions in the court reporting and litigation support sector has seen a marked slowdown in activity in 2023.  Despite the decrease in transaction volume and a significant increase in interest rates, valuations for court reporting firms and litigation support companies have remained strong in 2023.

Transactions in the Court Reporting Sector in 2023

Below is a summary of the mergers and acquisition transactions in the court reporting and litigation support in 2023.  This list is updated every month.

In addition to these publicly announced transactions we estimate there are an another dozen or so transactions involving smaller court reporting firms that were acquired by local competitors or individual investors.  These small transactions are typically not announced in formal press releases.

Other Articles You May Find Helpful

You may also find our other articles related to court reporting helpful.

Court Reporting & Litigation Support Industry is Ripe for Consolidation

What’s My Court Reporting Firm Worth? – Simple Rules of Thumb updated for 2023

Jackim Woods’ Court Reporting Practice Group

About the Author and Jackim Woods & Co.

Rich Jackim is an attorney, investment banker, and entrepreneur. For the last 25 years, Rich has been providing boutique investment banking services to small and middle-market companies in the court reporting and litigation support sector.

In addition to running a successful M&A advisory firm, Rich founded a successful training and certification company called the Exit Planning Institute, which he sold to a private family office in 2012.

Rich is also the author of the critically acclaimed book, The $10 Trillion Dollar Opportunity: Designing Successful Exit Strategies for Middle Market Businesses.  It became an Amazon best-seller in the business consulting category the year it was published.

Jackim Woods & Co offers skilled mergers and acquisitions advisory services to court reporting firms, digital reporting and videography firms, court reporting schools, eDiscovery companies, and legal contract staffing companies in both sell-side and buy-side transactions. Jackim Woods & Co has arranged over 100 successful transactions, ranging in value from less than one million to more than eighty million dollars.

If you own an court reporting firm or litigation support company and are interested in exploring your options, I would welcome an opportunity to speak with you. There is no cost or obligation to you and all discussions are completely confidential.

Feel free to contact me at 224-513-5142 or rjackim@jackimwoods.com.

What’s My Court Reporting Firm Worth? – Simple Rules of Thumb

This post from 2018 has been updated with 2023 market data.

Thinking of selling your court reporting or litigation support firm?  The first question most business owners ask is, “What’s my business worth?”

Most businesses, including court reporting agencies and litigation support firms, are valued based on a multiple of the cash flow they generate.  This cash flow is often referred to as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization or “EBITDA.”

The following multiples are used by business brokers, buyers, and lenders to get a ballpark idea of the value of a business.

EBITDA                                  SELLING PRICE MULTIPLES
$0 – $50,000                           1.0 times EBITDA
$50,000 – $150,000              1.0-1.5 times EBITDA
$150,000 – $250,000            1.5-3.0 times EBITDA
$250,000 – $500,000           2.5-3.0 times EBITDA
$500,000 – $1,000,000        3.0-5.0 times EBITDA
Over $1,000,000                    4.0-6.0 times EBITDA

The multiple can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the size of your business, historic trends in revenues and profits, the ranges of services you offer, trends in client and reporter retention, client concentration, or other factors that might impact the future cash flow of your business.

How to Calculate the EBITDA of Your Court Reporting Firm

To calculate your court reporting company’s EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, start with the profit shown on your P&L statement or tax return, then add back interest, depreciation, and amortization.  EBITDA is the starting point for any business valuation so it’s a good number to track on an annual basis.

In addition, it is important to calculate your EBITDA correctly.  EBITDA should reflect a market-based salary for the firm’s owner.  However, if you own your own firm you can pay yourself an above market salary and offer yourself perks that a buyer will not incur.  These “excess” expenses can often be added back to your EBITDA resulting in a higher valuation.  As a result, it is important to work with an objective third party to evaluate what adjustments can be made to your EBITDA to truly reflect the operating cash flow of your business.

Don’t Leave Money on the Table When Selling Your Court Reporting Firm

While rules of thumb and valuation multiples are easy to use, they are notoriously inaccurate because they don’t consider the unique value drivers or value detractors of your business.  Using valuation rules of thumb will give you a rough idea of what your business is worth, but to get a more accurate idea, the valuation should account for things like your agency’s past trends in performance, type of clients, recurring revenue, use of technology, management depth, projected growth, and other things.

To get an accurate valuation talk with a business broker or M&A advisor who specializes in representing professional services companies, including court reporting and litigation support firms. They will work with you to make the appropriate adjustments to your EBITDA, evaluate your business and client base, and value your firm properly so you don’t leave any money on the table when you sell.

At Jackim Woods & Co. we use the discounted cash flow and comparable transactions valuation methods to provide clients with an accurate, market based, idea of what their court reporting and litigation support firms are worth.

Interested in Learning More?

While understanding the value of your court reporting firm is a good place to start, there are many other issues and factors that can affect the overall outcome of a sale.  To learn more, download our free 17-page white paper “How to Sell Your Court Reporting Firm for Top Dollar“.

Get a Free, No Obligation Market Assessment of your Court Reporting Firm

If you’d like to begin exploring your options, contact Rich Jackim, Managing Partner at Jackim Woods & Co. (847-682-4997 or rjackim@jackimwoods.com) to get a FREE Valuation and Market Assessment.  There is no cost or obligation and all conversations are strictly confidential.