# Lionbridge

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American translation and localisation company

Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. Type Private Traded as Nasdaq: LIOX Industry Language localization Software testing E-learning Founded 1996; 30 years ago (1996) in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States Founder Rory Cowan Area served Worldwide Key people John Fennelly (CEO) Number of employees 6,000 Website www.lionbridge.com Footnotes [1]

**Lionbridge Technologies, Inc.** is an American multinational company that provides [translation](/source/Translation) and [localization](/source/Internationalization_and_localization) services. Based in [Waltham, Massachusetts](/source/Waltham%2C_Massachusetts), the company has operations in 26 countries.

## History

Lionbridge was founded in 1996.[2] In 2005, they acquired Bowne Global Solutions, then the largest [localization](/source/Internationalization_and_localization) provider.[3] In 2014 they acquired Darwin Zone, a digital marketing services agency based in [Costa Rica](/source/Costa_Rica),[4] and Clay Tablet Technologies, a content connectivity software firm.[5]

In 2015, they acquired [Zurich](/source/Zurich)-based [CLS Communication](/source/CLS_Communication), a translation services provider, and Geotext, a legal translation company.[6][7][8][9] In December 2016, it was announced that Lionbridge entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by [H.I.G. Capital](/source/H.I.G._Capital). The deal was announced closed in May, 2017[10] and, subsequently, the company was delisted from [Nasdaq](/source/Nasdaq). Lionbridge is now a privately held company and part of the portfolio of H.I.G. companies.

In July 2017, John Fennelly was named chief executive officer.[11] The founder of the company, Rory Cowan, is chairman of the board of directors.[12]

In December 2018, Lionbridge fully acquired Tokyo-based [Gengo](/source/Gengo), a [crowdsourced](/source/Crowdsourcing) translation and [artificial intelligence](/source/Artificial_intelligence) training data provider.

In November 2020, Lionbridge agreed with [Telus International](/source/Telus_International) to sell its artificial intelligence division.[13]

In September 2022, Lionbridge acquired Game Tester, a community-based game testing platform based out of [Melbourne, Australia](/source/Melbourne%2C_Australia). [14]

In August 2024, Lionbridge launched Aurora Studio, a community-based AI testing platform based out of [Waltham, Massachusetts](/source/Waltham%2C_Massachusetts), [United States](/source/United_States). [15]

## Operations

Lionbridge provides translation and localization in many languages, with offices in 26 countries. It serves clients such as the [U.S. Department of Homeland Security](/source/U.S._Department_of_Homeland_Security) and [Government of Canada](/source/Government_of_Canada).[16][17][18]

## Controversies and court cases

A securities class action lawsuit involving the company was filed in July 2001 under "Samet v. Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. et al." in the [United States District Court for the Southern District of New York](/source/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Southern_District_of_New_York).[19]

In 2006, a Lionbridge employee was awarded non economic damages of US$366,250 and economic damages of US$221,433 due to failure by the company to fulfill its obligation to help the employee obtain a green card.[20]

A 2008 court case involved an unfair dismissal claim by a former Lionbridge employee fired for union recruitment activities at the company's Warsaw office to protect employment conditions. Protests in support were held in Denmark, Spain, Poland, and Ireland.[21][22]

Main article: [Microsoft and unions § United States](/source/Microsoft_and_unions#United_States)

In 2014, 38 [software testers](/source/Software_testing) contracting for Microsoft in the [Bellevue, Washington](/source/Bellevue%2C_Washington) office formed Temporary Workers Alliance, a trade union. A year later, [Microsoft](/source/Microsoft) required Lionbridge to provide at least 3 weeks of vacation.[23] In 2016, Lionbridge announced layoffs, two months after the union had ratified their first [collective agreement](/source/Collective_agreement). As part of the negotiations, the union had agreed to drop a [joint employer](/source/Joint_employment_(US_Law)) case against Lionbridge and Microsoft.[24]

In June 2024, an [unfair labor practice](/source/Unfair_labor_practice) was filed against the Lionbridge by the [Communications Workers of America](/source/Communications_Workers_of_America), alleging that the company illegally terminated the employment of 160 workers in [Boise, Idaho](/source/Boise%2C_Idaho) who worked as software testers for [Activision](/source/Activision), in retaliation for exercising their right to participate in concerted union activities. As part of the layoff, CWA also alleges that workers were required to sign an overly broad [confidentiality agreement](/source/Non-disclosure_agreement) and an illegal waiver of certain rights protected by the [National Labor Relations Act](/source/National_Labor_Relations_Act_of_1935).[25]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["FORM 10-K"](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1058299/000105829916000047/0001058299-16-000047.txt).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["TAUS Members"](https://www.taus.net/members/331). Taus.net.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Bert Esselink (2003). [*The Evolution of Localization*](https://web.archive.org/web/20120907235057/http://isg.urv.es/library/papers/Esselink_Evolution.pdf) (PDF). Guide to Localization. Multilingual Computing and Technology. Archived from [the original](http://isg.urv.es/library/papers/Esselink_Evolution.pdf) (PDF) on September 7, 2012. In a nutshell, localization revolves around combining language and technology to produce a product that can cross cultural and language barriers. No more, no less.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ammachchi, Narayan (May 20, 2014). ["Lionbridge Acquires Costa Rica's Darwin Zone"](http://www.nearshoreamericas.com/lionbridge-acquires-costa-ricas-darwin-zone/). nearshoreamericas.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** DePalma, Donald A (October 14, 2014). ["Lionbridge Protects Its Connectivity Strategy with Purchase of Middleware Provider"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160406235543/http://www.commonsenseadvisory.com/Blogs.aspx?1=1&moduleID=390&Contenttype=ArticleDetAD&AId=21577). Common Sense Advisory. Archived from [the original](http://www.commonsenseadvisory.com/Blogs.aspx?1=1&moduleID=390&Contenttype=ArticleDetAD&AId=21577) on April 6, 2016. Clay Tablet currently supports connections between leading CMSes and Lionbridge's own Freeway, SDL's TMS and WorldServer, SAJAN's Transplicity, Smartling, Welocalize's GlobalSight, Wordbee, and XTM.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Lionbridge Technologies (LIOX) Completes CLS Communication Acquisition"](http://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Lionbridge+Technologies+%28LIOX%29+Completes+CLS+Communication+Acquisition/10148358.html). streetinsider.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Lionbridge to Buy CLS Communication as Market Consolidation Continues"](http://www.commonsenseadvisory.com/Blogs.aspx?1=1&moduleID=390&Contenttype=ArticleDetAD&AId=21600). Common Sense Advisory.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["CLS Communication"](https://www.aihitdata.com/company/0239541A/CLS-COMMUNICATION/overview). aihitdata.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Lionbridge acquires Geotext Translations for $11M"](https://www.owler.com/iaApp/reports/5641907fe4b0df1045f04bea/lionbridge-acquires-geotext-translations-for--11m.htm). owler.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["H.I.G. Capital closes Lionbridge Tech buy - PE Hub"](https://www.pehub.com/2017/05/h-i-g-capital-closes-lionbridge-tech-buy/#). *PE Hub*. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Lionbridge Will Be a 'Very Different Company', Says CEO John Fennelly"](https://slator.com/ma-and-funding/lionbridge-will-different-company-says-ceo-john-fennelly/). Slator. January 23, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Rory Cowan: Getting the Pace Right"](http://blog.taus.net/rory-cowan-getting-the-pace-right). TAUS blog. August 16, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Lionbridge Announces Agreement to Sell Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division"](https://www.lionbridge.com/press-release/lionbridge-announces-agreement-to-sell-artificial-ai-division/). *lionbridge*. Retrieved January 22, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Lionbridge to add Game Tester to its recent list of acquired companies"](https://games.lionbridge.com/press-release/lionbridge-games-signs-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-game-tester/). *lionbridge*. Retrieved June 15, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Lionbridge Leverages AI Expertise to Deliver High-Quality Data Sets to Power LLMs and AI Solutions"](https://www.lionbridge.com/press-release/lionbridge-leverages-ai-expertise-to-deliver-high-quality-data-sets-to-power-llms-and-ai-solutions/). *lionbridge*. Retrieved December 21, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Lionbridge Locations | Office Directory"](https://www.lionbridge.com/en-gb/about/locations). *www.lionbridge.com*. Retrieved July 3, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Lionbridge Awarded Contract by Department of Homeland Security"](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lionbridge-awarded-contract-by-department-of-homeland-security-for-over-the-phone-interpretation-services-expects-contract-to-generate-approximately-7-million-86852227.html). *prnewswire.com*. Retrieved March 8, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Lionbridge Wins USD 1.1m in Canada Government Contracts for Patent Translation"](https://slator.com/lionbridge-wins-usd-1-1m-in-canada-government-contracts-for-patent-translation/). *slator.com*. Retrieved March 8, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Lionbridge Technologies, Inc"](http://securities.stanford.edu/filings-case.html?id=101948). *Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse*. Stanford Law School. Retrieved March 29, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** John Rotterman, Esq. (2007). ["DerKevorkian v. Lionbridge Techs, Inc"](http://www.ilw.com/articles/2007,1115-rotterman.shtm). *Immigration Daily*. Retrieved June 19, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Interpretation service picketed by trade unions, activists"](http://oldweb.metroeireann.com/article/interpretation-service-picketed,1187). *Metro Eireann*. July 10, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["ITIA Bulletin February 2008"](http://translatorsassociation.ie/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,64/Itemid,16). Irish Translators and Interpreters Association Bulletin. Retrieved March 29, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Eidelson, Josh; Kanu, Hassan (August 23, 2018). ["Microsoft Bug Testers Unionized. Then They Were Dismissed"](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-23/microsoft-bug-testers-unionized-then-they-were-dismissed). *[Bloomberg News](/source/Bloomberg_News)*. Retrieved June 26, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Levy, Nat (September 28, 2016). ["Microsoft supplier Lionbridge laying off all its unionized workers"](https://www.geekwire.com/2016/unionized-microsoft-supplier-to-close-lab-one-month-after-completing-first-contract). *[GeekWire](/source/GeekWire)*. Retrieved June 23, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Reuben, Nic (June 12, 2024). ["Activision QA supplier Lionbridge accused of retaliatory layoffs in "union busting" move"](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/activision-qa-supplier-lionbridge-accused-of-retaliatory-layoffs-in-union-busting-move). *[Rock, Paper, Shotgun](/source/Rock%2C_Paper%2C_Shotgun)*. Retrieved June 26, 2024.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.lionbridge.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lionbridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionbridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionbridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.