Professional Overview
Basha Rubin serves as the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Priori, a pioneering legal technology company specializing in an online marketplace that connects corporate legal departments and high-growth startups with a network of highly vetted lawyers. Founded in 2013 alongside her Yale Law School classmate Mirra Levitt, Rubin has led Priori from inception to a rapidly growing legal tech enterprise that has reshaped how in-house legal teams source, hire, and manage outside counsel.
Rubin graduated from Yale Law School in 2010, and her legal education has extensively informed her strategic vision for Priori, a platform designed to optimize outside counsel engagement using data-driven matchmaking algorithms. The company provides two core products: Marketplace, facilitating the search and engagement of external legal expertise, and Scout (currently in beta), which assists legal departments in managing and optimizing their existing outside counsel relationships.
Company Performance and Market Position
Under Rubin’s leadership, Priori has experienced significant growth and validation in the legal tech space:
- In 2022, Priori raised $15 million in an A-1 funding round led by Eagle Proprietary Investments Limited, with participation from notable investors such as Thomson Reuters Ventures, Thirty Five Ventures, Peak6 Strategic Capital, and existing backers like Bridge Investments and HearstLab.
- Priori reported a revenue increase exceeding 250% year-over-year, signaling strong market adoption during a period of accelerated demand for legal technology solutions.
- The company employs approximately 33 people, with ambitious plans to double headcount, expanding sales, product, operations, and engineering teams.
- Priori’s clientele includes Fortune 500 enterprises and leading technology companies such as Dreamhost, Via, Artsy, Brex, and notably the Hearst Corporation, which awarded Priori recognition as a Financial Times Intelligent Business in 2018 and 2019 for reducing legal spend.
- Collaborations have extended to prominent law firms like Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe to develop specialized databases aligning corporate legal needs with law firm expertise.
Strategic and Industry Insight
Basha Rubin is a recognized thought leader in the intersection of legal services and technology. She actively participates in industry discourse through frequent speaking engagements and published writings in platforms like Forbes and TechCrunch. Rubin advocates for leveraging technology not to displace legal professionals but to enhance the precision and efficiency of legal service procurement, emphasizing tailored solutions over one-size-fits-all approaches.
Her co-leadership with Mirra Levitt, who serves as Chief Product Officer and General Counsel, reflects a strategic synergy combining legal expertise with technological innovation. Both founders are vocal about their mission to modernize legal operations by applying marketplace dynamics and data analytics — a model inspired by consumer platforms such as Uber and Airbnb.
Relevant Background and Professional Traits
- Education: Yale Law School (J.D., 2010)
- Previous Experience: Transitioned from legal academia directly into entrepreneurship, co-founding Priori shortly after graduation, demonstrating an early recognition of inefficiencies in the legal services market.
- Leadership: Has successfully navigated fundraising challenges, including negotiating her Series A funding while managing personal commitments, indicative of resilience and operational focus.
- Industry Recognition: Featured in legal and technology media; involved in Yale Law School leadership discussions emphasizing innovation and disruption in the legal sector.
Contact Information
- Email: basha.rubin@priorilegal.com
This detailed profile elucidates Basha Rubin’s strategic role and leadership within Priori, a high-growth legal technology company positioned at the forefront of innovation in legal services marketplaces. Her combination of elite legal training, technological entrepreneurship, and demonstrated success in scaling a legal tech startup provides critical insights into the company's trajectory and priorities.
