- New Company Launch: HBR Consulting, LAC Group, and Wilson Allen have unveiled their new company, "Harbor," positioning it as a distinct entity rather than a rebranding effort. Harbor's CEO, Matt Sunderman, emphasized the company's focus on supporting law firms and corporations in areas such as strategy, legal technology, operations, and intelligence.
- Mergers and Acquisitions: The formation of Harbor began in July 2022 with the merger of Wilson Allen and LAC Group, backed by private equity firm Renovus Capital. In November 2022, Renovus Capital acquired HBR Consulting, and the three entities officially combined in May. Harbor also acquired several other companies in 2023, expanding its portfolio.
- Unique Position in the Industry: With a collective workforce of over 650 experts, Harbor asserts its ability to serve 80% of the top 200 global law firms and 50% of the Fortune 500. Sunderman highlighted their unique positioning within the industry, emphasizing capabilities and focus areas that set them apart from other large-scale operators.
- AI Readiness Consultation: As part of their consulting services, Harbor will offer guidance on artificial intelligence (AI) readiness. They believe that both corporate law departments and law firms need to prepare for AI by organizing data, establishing modern infrastructure to support AI applications, and identifying relevant business processes and tasks.
- Integration Process: Prior to the relaunch as Harbor, the company spent several months integrating the three previously separate entities. This involved restructuring practice groups and revising their go-to-market strategy.
- Name Change Significance: The name "Harbor" was chosen to symbolize the company's new journey and to reflect its role as a place for businesses to exchange services. The name also incorporates elements from the legacy brands of HBR, LAC Group, and Wilson Allen, underlining the philosophical connection between the legal industry's voyage and a harbor's function. The company hired third-party providers to facilitate the brand transition.
- Future Outlook: Harbor intends to continue pursuing acquisitions and anticipates further industry consolidations due to market fragmentation.
This article was originally published on Law360.
- Mergers