Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (“LLCP”), a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced that it has partnered with management to acquire Legal Education Holdings, Inc. (“West Academic” or the “Company”). West Academic is the leading provider of legal education content in the United States, offering a wide variety of digital and printed casebooks, supplements, study aids and discretionary products used in law schools, undergraduate law classes and commercial settings. With roots dating back nearly 150 years, the Company’s library now consists of over 1,600 titles authored by 1,900 of the most influential voices in the legal world. West Academic is headquartered in St. Paul, MN.
The investment in West Academic will be the fifth from LLCP Lower Middle Market Fund, L.P. According to Mike Weinberg, Partner at LLCP, “We are excited to partner with Chris Parton and the rest of the management team, who have successfully led West Academic over many years. We look forward to working with Chris and his team as they continue to develop their esteemed author base to deliver best-in-class content to the next generation of legal professionals.”
Parton, who leads the Company’s management team, commented, “My team and I are delighted to partner with LLCP as West Academic seeks to enhance its market-leading position. LLCP’s resources and its global network will be critical to our continued development and I look forward to leveraging this experience.”
LLCP was advised by Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP. Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. served as financial advisor to West Academic.