American Lawyer Media to Launch Small Firm Business

Posted on March 19, 2004

American Lawyer Media, Inc. (ALM), a legal journalism and information company, will launch a new quarterly magazine, Small Firm Business, focused on management, financial and operations issues faced by law firms with 40 or fewer lawyers. The first issue of Small Firm Business will be published this spring and will be distributed to law firms in the U.S. with 40 or fewer lawyers. Initial projected distribution for the first issue will be 70,000.

The magazine will include news, information and advice from industry experts and practitioners to help legal professionals manage the business side of running a smaller law firm -- including real estate, finance, technology, marketing, accounting/billing, risk management, client development, human resources, legal research and disaster preparation. It will offer tips, case studies, and innovative insights, designed to help these firms compete in today's challenging legal environment.

"Smaller firms face unique issues in managing and growing their practices and bottom lines. Now, for the first time, there will be a publication devoted exclusively to addressing the needs of this growing sector of the legal economy," said Kevin Vermeulen, group publisher of Small Firm Business. "And, business to business marketers looking for total coverage of this important segment of the American small and medium business market now have a cost-effective media vehicle for their campaigns."

The four-color, standard magazine-sized publication will be distributed through controlled circulation to U.S. law firms and law offices with up to 40 lawyers. Bonus distribution is planned for major industry meetings, including the Law Firm Inc. Conference & Exposition, LegalTech New York and Los Angeles and the ABA TechShow.

Headquartered in New York City, ALM is an integrated media company, focused on the legal industry. ALM currently owns and publishes 27 national and regional legal magazines and newspapers, including The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal. ALM's other businesses include Web, book, custom and newsletter publishing, court verdict and settlement reporting, production of legal trade shows and conferences, educational seminars and distribution of content related to the legal industry. ALM was formed by U.S. Equity Partners, L.P., a private equity fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP.