NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Continuing its evolution as a comprehensive advisor to businesses in the legal industry, Baretz+Brunelle announced today the hiring of Chris Ford as its chief marketing and business development officer. Ford is a highly regarded leader in the legal marketplace, especially in legal technology.
Ford brings a history of success growing world-class, global legal brands, including LexisNexis (where he spent more than 10 years in senior leadership roles in the United States, Australia and Canada) and Axiom, a leading ALSP where he led demand generation. Most recently, Ford served as chief marketing officer for ZERO, the productivity automation company, where he helped guide the company through its recent $12 million Series A financing.
“Chris doesn’t just have an intimate understanding of how the legal industry is evolving, he has been an active participant in driving that evolution,” said Baretz+Brunelle co-founder Spencer Baretz. “Chris has proven himself invaluable in helping the industry’s most established players, as well as emerging companies, get to the next level, and he knows firsthand the ways that law firms are using modern tools to improve their businesses.”
Ford’s respect in the legal tech industry can also be attributed to his role at LegalTech Hub, the global directory of legal technology solutions, tools and services where buyers of legal technology can research the legal tech they need to manage a 21st century law firm or in-house department, which he co-founded with Nikki Shaver and Jeroen Plink. Shaver, who served as the global director of innovation and knowledge at Paul Hastings, is an internationally recognized leader in legal innovation, the 2020 ILTA Innovative Leader of the Year and member of the 2021 Fastcase 50 class. Plink serves on the boards of Kira, Inc., Casetext and Leopard Solutions and was the owner and co-founder of the predecessor of Practical Law Company, now owned by Thomson Reuters. Both Shaver and Plink are fellows of the College of Law Practice Management.
“I’m thrilled to be working with people who are helping clients create and adapt to change in the delivery of legal services,” said Ford. “Baretz+Brunelle is an exciting place to be. It has earned its reputation as a leader in communications and business advisory services for the legal industry, and I look forward to continuing to lead clients through the evolution of the legal ecosystem in my new role.”
Ford received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska.
About Baretz+Brunelle
Baretz+Brunelle is a leading advisory firm to sophisticated businesses in the legal industry – ones that operate in the new legal economy. We help law firms, alternative legal services providers, legal technology companies and corporate law departments tackle their biggest challenges and capture their greatest opportunities through communications and marketing support, strategic consulting, NewLaw services and talent intelligence & analytics. For more information, visit www.baretzbrunelle.com.
Contacts
Cari Brunelle
Baretz+Brunelle
302.540.5060 (office)
cbrunelle@baretzbrunelle.com