Martindale-Hubbell Connected. 
Recently, I have found myself praising Lexis-Nexis. I know, the legal behemoth is like a Borg ship moving through the galaxy, assimilating everything it comes across. It has purchased several legal applications and Internet web applications that I came to love, and still use. It has now entered the legal networking arena, with the acquisition of Martindale-Hubbell, and immediately faced a flap over its intentions regarding the attorney rating system. Over 2,000 lawyers have joined the Connected network, and the site shows a lot of promise. The most annoying part of the sign up process was caused by the requirement that the editors confirm that the prospective member be an actual member of the Bar. When I was finally approved, I commented that I wasn't sure I wanted to be in a network that would have me as a member; now, however, it is the best part of the Connected system. You know you are talking to a colleague when you connect, and the security keeps phishers and scammers out. I must say that I really appreciate that Lexis-Nexis is not substantially changing the companies it is acquiring, and seems, for the most part, to be keeping the innovative thinkers that created the companies in the first place. Am I being assimilated? Perhaps; but, I will still be an independent voice. I may be Borg, but I am not an automaton.
Note: An anonymous user points out that the Martindale-Hubbell acquisition is several years old; but, my intention was to highlight the recent venture of Lexis-Nexis into the online network field with Connected.
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