Venerable legal research provider LexisNexis has acquired data analytics company Lex Machina in a move to add technologies to allow users to better understand the legal landscape and their challenges, the company announced on Nov. 23.

Previously focused on IP law, the acquisition will provide Lex Machina with the resources necessary to expand its analytics algorithm to other practice areas. The acquisition also paves the way for LexisNexis to make those tools available to its base of research users, company officials said.

While the financials of the deal were not disclosed, Lex Machina CEO Josh Becker told Legaltech News that the Silicon Valley-based company will continue to exist as a subsidiary of LexisNexis, allowing it to maintain its culture and continue to develop the product with the support of the larger organization. Becker said that through the deal Lex Machina will gain access to Lexis' massive data library allowing it to expand its analytics footprint past intellectual property and into a number of new practice areas.