Legal Commentary

Darwin Watch: Wolters Kluwer's CT Summation and AccessData have just announced that they have signed the paperwork to merge into a single company: AccessData Group.

The new company will offer a cradle-to-grave electronic data discovery offering, they report. Currently, AccessData's namesake e-discovery software helps users address litigation holds, automated collection, processing, and analysis prior to attorney review. CT Summation's roster includes litigation workflow and e-discovery products: iBlaze, CaseVault, and Discovery Cracker.

AccessData CEO Tim Leehealey told Law Technology News that he will remain on as CEO, with his current management team, which includes Brian Karney (COO) and Erick Thompson (founder/CTO), among others. Whether CT Summation leaders will participate on the management team is unsettled at this time, he said.

The deal is expected to close in 3Q, said Leehealey, who declined to discuss financials details, but the companies report that Wolters Kluwer will remain as an investor with a minority stake in the new company.

Once merged, AccessData Group expects its primary competitors to include Autonomy, Guidance Software, Clearwell, EMC Kazeon products, and LexisNexis Concordance, among others, he said.

The biggest challenge? "It's always execution," says Leehealey. "If anybody answers the question with anything other than execution, they are confused."

Assist: LTN news editor Dan Howley.