Description
LegalZoom is an online legal technology company that helps its customers create legal documents without necessarily having to hire a lawyer. Available documents include wills and living trusts, business formation documents, copyright registrations, and trademark applications. The company also offers attorney referrals and registered agent services.
LegalZoom is a disruptive innovator in the market for legal services. Its efforts to utilize computer technology to provide affordable and accessible legal services have been noted by both the American Bar Association and in the business press. LegalZoom claims the use of computer technology often results in lower prices for the specific services it renders than those charged by traditional lawyers. The company asserts that this disruption benefits people who otherwise could not hire a lawyer by expanding their access to legal services.
History
LegalZoom was founded by Brian P. Y. Liu, Brian S. Lee, Edward R. Hartman, and Robert Shapiro. Since Lee, Hartman, and Liu were not well known, they discussed a number of prominent individuals who could lend credibility to their proposed enterprise; they decided on the Los Angeles litigator Robert Shapiro. Lee managed to contact Shapiro, and after some discussion Shapiro agreed to help the company get off the ground.
The company began offering legal service products to the public on March 12, 2001.
LegalZoom has been recognized a number of times over the years for its entrepreneurial acumen. In 2011, Business Insider ranked LegalZoom 27th on its list of the world's most valuable startups, and in 2012, Fast Company ranked LegalZoom 26th on its list of the most innovative companies.
In September 2012, LegalZoom formed a partnership with the United Kingdom-based legal services provider QualitySolicitors, as part of which the companies jointly offer online legal services in the United Kingdom including company formations and divorce documents.
On January 6, 2014, European private capital firm Permira announced its intent to acquire $200 million in the outstanding equity of LegalZoom and become its largest shareholder pending regulatory approval. On February 14, 2014 Permira announced that the deal was complete.
In 2015, LegalZoom announced they were to make their first UK acquisition. The acquired firm was Beaumont Legal, a 200-year-old firm in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England which describes itself as one of the largest conveyancers in the country.
In 2021, LegalZoom acquired Earth Class Mail.
