Four Firms Help Pave Way for Consilio, XDD E-Discovery Tie-Up

Kirkland & Ellis, Debevoise & Plimpton, and Willkie, Farr & Gallagher and Jones Day are all playing roles in advancing the merger of two e-discovery companies, Consilio and Xact Data Discovery, or XDD.

The merger is planned after private equity firm GI Partners sells Consilio to investment funds managed by Stone Point Capital LLC. That transaction is expected to close in May, according to a statement.

Meanwhile, Aquiline Capital Partners LLC has entered into an agreement to acquire XDD from JLL Partners. That transaction is also expected to close in May, according to a separate statement.

Ultimately, Stone Point and Aquiline plan to merge their newly acquired companies, Consilio and XDD. Upon closing, the combined company will operate under the Consilio name, with 4,000 employees and review professionals operating in 11 countries.

Kirkland is advising GI Partners and Consilio. Debevoise is working with the Stone Point funds. Willkie is providing counsel to Aquiline, and Jones Day is advising JLL.

Consilio, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., said it provides e-discovery, document review, risk management and legal consulting services to multinational law firms and corporations.

XDD, based in Mission, Kan., provides e-discovery, data management, and managed review services for law firms and corporations.

The merger is a “significant step,” Consilio CEO Andy Macdonald, who will also lead the combined company, said in a statement. It will “bring together our respective strengths to deliver a more complete experience to the whole spectrum of client needs.”

“Both organizations have diverse strengths and fared well throughout the pandemic, leaving room for enhanced growth as a combined organization,” said Bob Polus, founder and CEO at XDD. He will serve as the corporate development officer of the combined company.