Chambers’ Revenue Model Tests Law Firms’ Appetite for Exposure

Once a modest directory in London, Chambers & Partners sits atop a vast, and increasingly lucrative, legal rankings industry.

Just how lucrative became clear in November, when Chambers sold for five times the price it fetched in 2018. Abry Partners, a mid-market private equity firm based in Boston, bought Chambers from London’s Inflexion Partners in a deal valuing the legal directory at £400 million ($492.4 million US).

A Chambers badge today is widely viewed in the industry as a legitimate proxy for a lawyer’s bona fides. Now, CEO Tim Noble’s challenge is to deliver revenue growth while maintaining the brand. ...