In the not too dim distant past Martindale wouldn't have even acknowledged the existence of a boutique London publisher.. Times have changed....
A press release turned up in our inbox this morning detailing yet another partnership forged by Martindale to try and keep their product something that people might want to use.
Lexis say
LexisNexis, Chambers & Partners Announce Agreement to Feature Chambers Rankings on martindale.com(R)
Addition of Chambers Rankings Gives martindale.com Visitors More Comprehensive View of Lawyers and Firms
LexisNexis and Chambers & Partners have agreed to make Chambers' lawyer rankings and commentary accessible via martindale.com(R). The addition of Chambers rankings is part of a broader LexisNexis effort to transform martindale.com through the introduction of new tools and new sources of data, rankings and commentary.
Chambers & Partners is a highly respected, independent, London-based research and publishing company providing rankings of business lawyers and law firms throughout the world. LexisNexis(R) Martindale-Hubbell(R) operates martindale.com, the premier information and networking resource for sophisticated buyers and sellers of legal services.
The addition of the influential and widely recognized rankings by Chambers complements trusted Martindale-Hubbell(R) Peer Review RatingsSM and the recently launched Client Review feature on martindale.com as part of a larger effort by Martindale-Hubbell to enhance its website with third-party insights and intelligence. This combination of resources will give users a complete 360 degree view of more than a million lawyers worldwide and will help legal buyers to find, evaluate and select counsel.
"The relationship with Chambers & Partners is an important milestone in the transformation of martindale.com into the most comprehensive and credible source of data, ratings and commentary about law firms and lawyers worldwide," said Ralph Calistri, CEO of Martindale-Hubbell and senior vice president of Global Client Development at LexisNexis.
"Putting indications of our rankings on the Martindale-Hubbell website will increase its usefulness for those seeking a business lawyer," said Michael Chambers, CEO of Chambers & Partners. "The link to our own website will increase access to all our rankings and commentaries, and this will benefit those leading lawyers we have ranked in our publications."
Beginning in February 2009, a Chambers & Partners icon will appear next to those profiles of lawyers and law firms on martindale.com that have been recognized with a ranking from Chambers. Clicking on this icon will open a window linked to the Chambers website showing rankings and editorial commentary.
We imagine that Chambers & Partners also see the advantage in being tied to Martindale and Lexis. The day of the legal directory is waning and if law firm revenues begin to drop substantially next year marketing departments at law firms may well start looking at their multiple directory entries and decide which ones to trim. Two recognizable brand names in legal directories rolled up into one may well encourage law firm marketers to stick with them.. for another year at least.
