LexisNexis has announced its intention to purchase electronic filing and court record vendor CourtLink.com. The deal is contingent on approval of CourtLink shareholders, among other considerations.

“We firmly believe the online services and emerging markets CourtLink has pioneered will bring tremendous value to the legal profession at large,” said Lou Andreozzi, president and chief executive officer for LexisNexis' North American Legal Markets in a press release.

Lexis announced that CourtLink will continue to operate as a separate business unit of LexisNexis and will remain headquartered in Bellevue, WA. However, CourtLink's chairman, president and chief executive officer Henry Givray will remain with the company only until March 2002 - through the end of a transition period - when he will leave "to explore other CEO opportunities," according to the press release.

Givray will be replaced as chief operating officer by LexisNexis' Ann Fullenkamp, who as senior vice president of emerging markets at LexisNexis was reportedly instrumental in bringing the two companies together.