Category: Corporate News and Notes

Magna Legal Services Acquires JD Legal Support, Expanding Presence in Utah

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PHILADELPHIA, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Magna Legal Services, a nationwide leader in court reporting, medical record retrieval and litigation consulting, has completed the acquisition of JD Legal Support, a Salt Lake City, Utah, court reporting and litigation support firm. The acquisition closed on April 15, 2026.

JD Legal Support has a strong reputation in the Utah market, with long-standing client relationships and a proven track record supporting complex litigation matters. The acquisition strengthens Magna’s presence in Salt Lake City and expands its ability to support clients throughout Utah. It also increases the company’s national footprint to 32 office locations nationwide, supporting Magna’s continued growth and expansion in key regional markets.

“By integrating JD Legal Support’s court reporting capabilities with our broader litigation support offering, we are enhancing the value we deliver to clients and our ability to support complex matters nationwide.”
– Mark Williams, CEO, Magna Legal Services.

The acquisition was led by John Brownschidle, head of M&A at Magna Legal Services.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to build on JD Legal Support’s reputation,” said Brownschidle. “This acquisition reflects our continued commitment to partnering with high-quality court reporting firms that share our focus on service, reliability and innovation. We look forward to supporting their clients with expanded resources and capabilities.”

Julie Bloxham and Daren Bloxham, founders of JD Legal Support, will support Magna in their current roles, bringing more than 20 years of experience and deep expertise in the court reporting and deposition services landscape.

Clients of JD Legal Support will now have access to Magna’s full suite of services, including document translation, interpreting, medical record retrieval, social media surveillance, visual communications, jury consulting, investigative and nationwide court reporting services.

“For many years, we have enjoyed our working relationship with Magna Legal Services,” said Daren Bloxham, founder of JD Legal Support. “Mark Williams and the entire leadership team at Magna have created an amazing company that we are proud to represent, both to our clients and reporters. Their service lines and commitment to quality and innovation will be of great benefit to the Utah legal community. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Magna and look forward to the growth and experiences ahead.”

Mark Williams, CEO of Magna Legal Services, said, “This acquisition builds on an established foundation in Utah and reflects our continued focus on expanding Magna’s presence in key markets. By integrating JD Legal Support’s court reporting capabilities with our broader litigation support offering, we are enhancing the value we deliver to clients and our ability to support complex matters nationwide.”

For more information on the full range of litigation services available through Magna Legal Services, or to schedule a deposition, click below!

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Magna Legal Services Joins Forces with Pipkins Investigations

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PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Magna Legal Services (Magna LS), an ALM award-winning leader in litigation support and consulting services, has merged with Pipkins Investigations, a prominent private investigations agency based in Houston, TX. With over 25 years of investigative experience, Pipkins has established itself as a key player in the South-Central market. The merger, effective September 5, was facilitated by Kaelan Moore, M&A Manager at Magna Legal Services.

“By joining forces, we can offer the same trusted investigative work our clients rely on, while giving them access to Magna’s vast resources and nationwide support.”
 – Kevin Pipkins, founder of Pipkins Investigations

Pipkins’ founder, Kevin Pipkins, will continue to lead the Pipkins team, ensuring a seamless transition and maintaining the agency’s strong reputation. This merger unites two industry leaders, further strengthening one of the largest litigation support and consulting firms in the country. Together, the companies bring together a workforce of over 900 employees, 50 investigators, 4,000 court reporters, 2,000 interpreters and 100 litigation consultants across 30 locations nationwide. Clients of Pipkins will now have access to Magna’s full suite of services, including court reporting, document translation, interpreting, medical record retrieval, social media surveillance, visual communications, jury consulting, and nationwide investigative services.

“We are super excited to welcome Pipkins Investigations into the Magna family,” said Peter Hecht, Founding Partner and Executive Vice President of Sales at Magna Legal Services. “This merger builds on the momentum of our recent acquisition of Bosco Legal Services in California and further expands our investigative services division nationwide. With Pipkins’ strong track record and regional expertise, we are well-positioned to deliver even greater value to our clients.”

“Our partnership with Magna opens the door to incredible opportunities for both our clients and our team,” said Kevin Pipkins, founder of Pipkins Investigations. “By joining forces, we can offer the same trusted investigative work our clients rely on, while giving them access to Magna’s vast resources and nationwide support.”

Mark Williams, CEO of Magna Legal Services, expressed his enthusiasm for the merger, stating, “We look forward to taking the best practices of both of our organizations to create a better and stronger future together. We are confident this is another acquisition and partnership that will continue to create more opportunities for our clients and employees.”

To learn more about the investigative services provided by Magna Legal Services, click below:

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Magna Legal Services Merges with EveryWord to Expand National Footprint in Court Reporting and Litigation Support

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PHILADELPHIA, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Magna Legal Services (Magna LS), an ALM award-winning leader in court reporting, medical record retrieval and litigation consulting, is proud to announce its merger with EveryWord, a prominent court reporting firm based in Columbia, SC. The merger, effective April 25, was facilitated by Chase Culbertson, Head of M&A at Magna Legal Services.

“After more than 15 years of building EveryWord into a trusted name in the Carolinas, this merger represents an exciting new chapter for our team and our clients.”
 – David First, EveryWord Co-Founder

Founded over fifteen years ago, EveryWord has built a strong reputation as one of the leading independent court reporting firms in the Carolinas. EveryWord’s founders, David First and Cindy First, will be staying on to lead the EveryWord team that has joined Magna. Together, the companies boast a workforce of over 800 employees, 4,000 court reporters, 2,000 interpreters and 100 litigation consultants across more than 30 locations nationwide, forming one of the largest litigation support and consulting firms in the country.

“After more than 15 years of building EveryWord into a trusted name in the Carolinas, this merger represents an exciting new chapter for our team and our clients,” said David First, co-founder of EveryWord. “Magna’s national scale and cutting-edge resources will allow us to deliver even greater value—without compromising the local service and relationships our clients rely on.”

Clients of EveryWord will now have access to Magna’s full suite of services, including document translation, interpreting, medical record retrieval, social media surveillance, visual communications, jury consulting, investigative services, service of process, and nationwide court reporting services.

Peter Hecht, Founding Partner & Executive Vice President of Sales of Magna Legal Services, added, “When you find another firm that aligns with your values, work ethic, and obsession with client service, the decision to join forces is easy. EveryWord has built something special in the Carolinas, and we’re excited to combine our strengths to deliver even more firepower, flexibility, and responsiveness to clients nationwide.”

Mark Williams, CEO of Magna Legal Services, expressed his enthusiasm for the merger, stating, “The combination of EveryWord with Magna Legal Services will continue to strengthen our presence nationally, particularly in North Carolina and South Carolina. We are so enthusiastic to be joining forces with EveryWord and to further our national and global leadership together.”

To learn more about the end-to-end litigation services provided by Magna Legal Services, click below:

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Magna Legal Services Expands National Footprint with Merger of Basye Santiago Reporting

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Magna Legal Services (Magna LS), an ALM award-winning leader in court reporting, medical record retrieval and litigation consulting, is proud to announce its merger with Basye Santiago Reporting (BSR), a prominent court reporting firm based in Delaware.

PHILADELPHIA, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Magna Legal Services (Magna LS), an ALM award-winning leader in court reporting, medical record retrieval and litigation consulting, is proud to announce its merger with Basye Santiago Reporting (BSR), a prominent court reporting firm based in Delaware. Founded over fifteen years ago, BSR has earned a reputation as a trusted leader in the Delaware market. The merger, effective March 17, 2025, was facilitated by Chase Culbertson, Head of M&A at Magna Legal Services.

“Having known Shenna and Yvonne for over 30 years, I am confident that this merger will be a seamless integration. We look forward to the combined strength of both companies as we continue to lead the industry forward.”
– Robert Ackerman, Magna Legal Services

The merger positions both companies for even greater success, as the union forms one of the largest and most comprehensive litigation support and consulting firms in the country. With a combined workforce of over 800 employees, 4,000 court reporters, 2,000 interpreters and 100 litigation consultants across 30 locations nationwide.

BSR’s founders, Yvonne Santiago and Shenna Basye-Cara, will continue to lead the BSR team, ensuring a seamless transition and upholding the firm’s excellent reputation. Clients of BSR will now have access to Magna’s full suite of services, including document translation, interpreting, medical record retrieval, social media surveillance, visual communications, jury consulting, investigative, and nationwide court reporting services.

“We’re thrilled to unite with Magna Legal Services,” said Yvonne Santiago, Co-founder of BSR. “This merger allows us to provide even greater value to our clients by offering a wider range of services and delivering cost savings through bundled solutions, such as medical record retrieval, investigative services, and jury research. We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Magna’s founders and are excited to reconnect and work together on this new chapter.”

Co-founder Shenna Basye-Cara echoed her sentiments, saying, “Our shared history with Magna’s leadership makes this partnership particularly exciting. With the merger, we’re positioning ourselves to serve clients not only in Delaware, but across the nation, with enhanced capabilities and efficiency.”

Robert Ackerman, Chairman of the Board of Directors Emeritus of Magna LS, shared his enthusiasm, noting, “Having known Shenna and Yvonne for over 30 years, I am confident that this merger will be a seamless integration. We look forward to the combined strength of both companies as we continue to lead the industry forward.”

Mark Williams, CEO of Magna Legal Services, expressed his enthusiasm for the merger, stating, “The combination of BSR with Magna LS will continue to strengthen our presence nationally, and particularly in Delaware and Pennsylvania. We are so enthusiastic to be joining forces with BSR and to further our national and global leadership together.”

To schedule a deposition or learn more about the end-to-end litigation services provided by Magna Legal Services, click below!

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Magna Legal Services Partners with Zanaras Reporting & Video

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Magna Legal Services aquires Zanaras Reporting & Video. Both based in Philadelphia, the united company is one of the largest litigation support and consulting entities in the U.S.

Magna Legal Services (Magna LS), an ALM award-winning court reporting, medical record retrieval and litigation consulting industry leader, and Zanaras Reporting & Video announced today the combination of their firms. Both companies, headquartered in Philadelphia, were founded in 2007, reflecting a shared commitment to excellence and longevity in the industry. The two companies combined operations on November 13, 2023.

With a workforce of 658 employees and over 4,000 court reporters, 2,000 interpreters and 100 litigation consultants in 28 locations across the U.S., the union of Magna LS and Zanaras positions the united company as one of the largest litigation support and consulting firms, both in terms of scale and the range of services offered. Clients of Zanaras will now have easy access to Magna’s full suite of services, including document translation, interpreting, medical record retrieval, social media surveillance, visual communications, jury consulting, and nationwide court reporting services.

“I am thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with Magna Legal Services. The shared commitment to excellence and innovation aligns seamlessly with the values that have defined Zanaras Reporting & Video since its inception,” said Zanaras’ founder, Julie Zanaras. “Our team looks forward to contributing our expertise within the Magna family, ensuring an even more robust and comprehensive suite of services for our valued clients.”

Peter Hecht, Co-Founding Partner and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Magna Legal Services, added, “Welcoming Zanaras into the Magna Legal Services family marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing unparalleled legal support services. The union of our strengths enhances our ability to meet and exceed client expectations and provides clients of Zanaras additional service offerings to support their cases.”

Mark Williams, CEO of Magna Legal Services, extended his excitement about the merger, stating, “We look forward to taking the best practices of both of our organizations to create a better and stronger future together.  We are confident this is another partnership that will continue to create more opportunity for our clients, employees, and court reporters.”  

About Magna Legal Services

Magna is a leading provider of litigation support services to law firms, insurance companies, and corporations, offering a broad array of services that support clients through each phase of the litigation process, including court reporting, graphics design, jury consulting, record retrieval, and translation services.

Magna Legal Services Acquires City Record Services, Strengthening Record Retrieval Capabilities in California

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Magna Legal Services Acquires City Record Services, Strengthening Record Retrieval Capabilities in California

Magna Legal Services solidifies its position as a nationwide leader in record retrieval and litigation support with the acquisition of City Record Services

Magna Legal Services, LLC, a prominent player in the litigation support and consulting services industry, proudly announces the acquisition of City Record Services (CRS), headquartered in San Diego, CA. The acquisition was successfully concluded on October 18, 2023. This development underscores Magna’s commitment to enhancing its support for the rapidly expanding service line, Record Retrieval, particularly in California and the West Coast.

CRS, boasting over two decades of experience, has grown into one of the leading record retrieval firms, serving the legal community in San Diego and in all of California. City Record Services particularly strengthens our Los Angeles law firm office. The company has earned a solid reputation for fast and reliable collection of medical and other records for attorneys, adjusters, and self-insured municipalities and corporations, particularly in workers compensation defense.

CRS’s founders, Aaron and Marcene Drysdale, will continue to lead the CRS team in collaboration with Jonathan Ackerman, Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of the Record Retrieval division at Magna LS, overseeing the day-to-day operations. “We look forward to leveraging this collaboration to continue our mission of delivering exceptional record retrieval services to our valued clients and to pioneer new standards of excellence in the field,” Marcene Drysdale commented. Jonathan Ackerman added, “Magna and CRS clients are the big winners in this merger. Both firms were founded upon a culture that the client comes first. The increased bandwidth, expertise and innovation will quickly lead to an unrivaled client experience.”

With a workforce of 653 employees and over 4,000 court reporters, 2,000 interpreters and 100 litigation consultants in 24 locations across the U.S., the union of Magna LS and CRS positions them as one of the largest litigation support and consulting firms, both in terms of scale and the range of services offered. Clients of CRS will now have easy access to Magna’s full suite of services, including court reporting, document translation, interpreting, social media surveillance, visual communications, jury consulting, and medical record retrieval services.

“We are delighted to welcome the CRS team to the Magna family,” Magna Legal Services CEO, Mark Williams, said. “We look forward to taking the best practices of both of our organizations to create a better and stronger future together.”

Click below to review our Record Retrieval services or to request a record!

Record Retrieval Services

Magna Legal Services Acquires TrialGraphix

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Magna Legal Services Doubles the Size of their Litigation Consulting Team with the Acquisition of TrialGraphix

PHILADELPHIA, March 16, 2023 — Magna Legal Services (Magna LS), an ALM award-winning litigation consulting and support provider of jury consulting, visual communications, court reporting, medical record retrieval, and language services, and TrialGraphix, a visual communications company, announced the combination of their firms.

The two companies will combine operations on March 16, 2023, with partners Guy Joubert, Tony Canzanella, Dave Johnson, Scott Carlin, and Adam Brucks all joining Magna.

With more than 700 employees, 100 litigation consultants, 3,500 court reporters, and 2,000 interpreters in 22 locations across the U.S., together, Magna LS and TrialGraphix will be one of the largest litigation support and consulting firms both in size and services offered.

TrialGraphix clients will now have easy access to Magna’s full-suite of services, including jury consulting, court reporting, document translation, interpreting, social media surveillance, visual communications, and medical record retrieval services.

Founded in 2006, “TrialGraphix became the industry leader by focusing on powerful visuals and the technology to present evidence in court,” said TrialGraphix Managing Partner Guy Joubert. “Partnering with Magna allows us to support our clients with new strategic resources to enhance their case outcomes. We are thrilled about the next chapter for our clients and team.”

“I have been impressed by TrialGraphix for many years and I am delighted to have them join my team at Magna LS,” added Founding Partner and Executive Vice President of Litigation Consulting at Magna LS, Mark Calzaretta, “Our combined forces cement Magna’s position as the nationwide leader in providing trial lawyers with jury, graphics, and trial technology consulting services. Together, we have the deepest bench of experienced professionals available.”

“We are overjoyed to welcome the TrialGraphix team to the Magna family. TrialGraphix built one of the most respected brands in litigation consulting. I am delighted that the entire management team and partners will continue with us at Magna LS,” added Magna Legal Services CEO Mark Williams.

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Magna Legal Services Acquires Barkley Court Reporters, Inc.

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Magna Legal Services Acquires Barkley Court Reporters

Magna Legal Services expands deeper into the west coast court reporting market with the acquisition of Barkley Court Reporters, Inc..

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Magna Legal Services is pleased to announce the acquisition of Barkley Court Reporters, Inc..

Barkley is a leading provider of court reporting and deposition technology services for law firms and corporations. Barkley was founded in 1972 with the mission of giving attorneys ready access to like-minded court reporters whenever and wherever needed. Over the last decade, Barkley has expanded its service offerings and established itself as a key player in court reporting and deposition technology services.

Barkley represents a highly complementary acquisition for Magna that enhances Magna’s existing capabilities in court reporting. “Barkley is a fantastic fit with Magna,” said Mark Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Magna. “We have a shared emphasis on providing our clients with best-in-class service quality and assistance. We look forward to our collaboration with Barkley.” Peter Hecht, Founding Partner and Magna’s Executive Vice President of Sales, said, “Barkley is a great addition to Magna and adds significant coverage for our west coast clients. We are excited to work together with the Barkley team to continue to deliver exceptional service while providing the convenience of one-stop shop advantages with the introduction of our medical record retrieval and litigation consulting services.”

“Magna is the perfect next chapter for Barkley,” said Mason Farmani, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Barkley. “We are highly enthusiastic about joining forces and being a part of a scaled, industry leader like Magna, and believe it will allow us to provide even better services to our clients while accelerating growth in our business. I am excited about what this partnership will bring for our clients, court reporters and team.”

Existing Barkley operations will continue business as usual, and Barkley clients will receive the same level of high-quality customer support as prior to the acquisition.

About Magna Legal Services

Magna is a leading provider of litigation support services to law firms, insurance companies, and corporations, offering a broad array of services that support clients through each phase of the litigation process, including court reporting, graphics design, jury consulting, record retrieval, and translation services.

Modern Jury Research Technology: Online Solutions for Increased Reliability & Convenience

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Both modern and traditional jury consulting practices can help attorneys gain insight into how jurors are likely to respond to case facts before entering the courtroom. However, powerful advances in technology make jury research more statistically reliable, easier to conduct and more cost-effective than ever before.

In this article, we’ll break down how modern jury consulting services work and how they may benefit you ahead of your next big trial date. 

Benefits of Using Modern Jury Consulting Technology

Advanced technology in jury research increases the reliability and understanding associated with potential juror decisions. 

These solutions offer huge benefits when dealing with complex, high-value cases, so it is imperative attorneys understand every tool at their disposal. 

Benefits include:

  • Larger data pools
  • Increased statistical reliability
  • Robust findings
  • Convenient & time-efficient sessions
  • Quick turnaround of analysis
  • Cost-effective
  • Real-time polling
  • & more

Advanced Data Analysis with Modern Jury Research Solutions

With modern jury research, attorneys are able to access larger pools of data for analysis with increased convenience and efficiency.

This benefits legal teams looking to:

  • Gauge a reliable range of potential damages if the case went to a jury trial
  • Test themes, storylines & venue climate in order to prepare the most effective trial strategy
  • Use jurors’ social media & online activity backgrounds to discover potential biases & past experiences during jury selection and throughout the trial

A standard trial jury comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds and views, most without legal expertise. As such, they can be unpredictable. Technical consulting solutions provide a wide range of insights at every stage of the trial process. 

Online Tools for Reliable Jury Research

There are several solutions that offer powerful insight into potential jury outcomes ahead of an important trial date:

Online Focus Groups & Mock Trials with JuryConfirm

Featuring Evidence Analyzer Powered by AI

JuryConfirm is a highly comprehensive virtual jury research platform. Attorneys present their cases to jurors in their trial venue. Jurors then deliberate at length in the virtual courtroom, displaying their video feeds to preserve the ability to read emotions & body language. The Evidence Analyzer uses AI technology to assess juror reactions and provide related insights on your case presentation. 

Evidence Analyzer Powered by AI
Automatically takes notes & monitors jurors reactions & feedback to the presentations

Live Attorney Presentations with Limitless Capabilities
Display & annotate exhibits, videos & other visual aids in real-time

Simulated Courtroom Environment
Interactive juror profiles & live video feed of juror deliberations and attorney presentations

Real-Time Results
Fully customized questionnaires, polling & presentation feedback

Detailed Reporting
Featuring strategic recommendations and key take-aways

This comprehensive, technologically advanced framework provides all the benefits of both remote and in-person mock trials. 

Damages Assessment with JuryEvaluator

Magna’s patent-pending case valuation tool, JuryEvaluator®, offers a scientific and statistically significant damages assessment for your actual case from your actual jury pool.

This research considers the effect of current media climate to provide insight into your case risk, exposure & value.

  • Research conducted in your case venue using your actual case facts
  • Research captures present-day surrogate juror attitudes and biases
  • Statistical analyses provide a reliable range of potential damages if the case went to a jury trial (economic, non-economic & punitive)

Damages Assessment Report includes:

  • Methodology & Respondent Demographics
  • Juror Questionnaire Responses
  • Jury Simulation Data Analyses: Traditional & Pro-Plaintiff
  • Case Script
  • Juror Open-Ended Responses & Analysis with Key Takeaways
  • Damages Analysis & Allocation of Fault

Social Media Surveillance for Jurors with JuryScout

Interpret a juror’s or potential juror’s online activity to discover any past experiences or biases which can affect their perception of your case with JuryScout.

JuryScout uses include:

  • Jury Selection:
    As courts are limiting access to jurors during jury selection, online activity reports can provide additional information to show past experiences, political and religious affiliations & more.
  • Predicting Juror Behavior:
    By creating a personalized matrix of information for each potential juror, JuryScout provides insight into whether a juror has attributes that lead to bias.
  • Post-Verdict:
    Here’s an example: Following an unfavorable verdict on a high-profile case, JuryScout found cached information which located four jurors who violated the court’s instructions. Counsel was able to use this information as part of the appeal.

Which Jury Consulting Method is Right for Your Case?

Be confident in knowing how a jury is likely to approach your case.

Magna Legal Services offers a full array
of litigation consulting services, including risk assessment & strategic recommendations.

Our experienced jury consultants use a multi-phase jury research methodology to ensure the statistical reliability and robustness of our findings

Request a free case consultation with Magna today to see how we can assist you in providing the best possible representation for your clients.

Request a Complimentary Case Consultation

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Go to Newsletter: October 2022

Chopped for CHOP 2022 Conference Photos

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Chopped for CHOP Fundraiser
for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Conference RECAP

This annual Magna LS “Edutainment CLE” was held at the Borgata in Atlantic City on June 22nd & 23rd, 2022.
Moderated by Peter Hecht, Richard Fabian and Rachel York Colangelo.

The Fundraiser Mock Trial Challenge featured four of the best trial attorneys in the USA and raised over $30,000.00 for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Conference Photos

Read October 2022 MagnaFYI Newsletter
View Upcoming Conferences by Magna LS