Attenex

Attenex was a software company rooted in the legal technology sector, specifically focusing on the e-discovery market. The company's genesis can be traced to the law firm Preston, Gates and Ellis, LLP, which was seeking a more efficient way to handle document discovery in the Exxon Valdez case. This need led to the development of the initial technology. Officially founded in Seattle, Washington, in 2000, Attenex spun out as an independent entity to commercialize its software. The public story of its creation credits Marty Smith, a partner at the law firm, who saw the potential of visual analytics technology being developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for analyzing large volumes of documents for litigation.

The company's core offering was the Attenex Patterns eDiscovery Platform, a software suite designed to automate data processing and provide powerful visualization tools for analyzing massive amounts of electronically stored information (ESI). This platform enabled corporations and law firms to standardize their e-discovery processes, thereby managing the risk, complexity, and cost associated with litigation, regulatory requests, and internal investigations. The software utilized concept analysis and visual clustering to group similar documents, allowing legal reviewers to quickly identify relevant information beyond simple keyword searches. Attenex's business model included offering its software either as an on-premise installation or as a hosted service through a large network of global service partners, providing flexibility for its clients.

A significant milestone in the company's journey was securing a $5 million Series B funding round in May 2005, led by Voyager Capital, to fuel its expansion. Attenex's growth and established position in the market culminated in its acquisition by FTI Consulting, a global business advisory firm, on July 2, 2008. The all-cash transaction was valued at approximately $88 million. Following the acquisition, Attenex was integrated into FTI's Technology segment. Its technology was merged with FTI's existing Ringtail Discovery Software Suite to create a more comprehensive e-discovery solution, combining Attenex's visual analysis with Ringtail's case management features.

Keywords: e-discovery, legal technology, electronic discovery, litigation support, data processing, document review, information governance, regulatory compliance, internal investigations, Attenex Patterns, FTI Consulting, ESI analysis, concept analysis, visual analytics, legal software, corporate litigation, ediscovery software, document management, data visualization, legal tech acquisition