Legal Services

M&A Advisory for Law Firms & Ancillary Legal Services

Legal page header image The FOCUS Investment Banking Legal Services M&A team is comprised of professionals with a long history of relevant industry experience advising law firms, strategic investors and private equity firms on acquisitions, sales and transaction financing solutions.

Our team is focused on both buy side and sell side transactions related to Law Firm Mergers & Acquisitions In the U.S. & UK including Alternative Business Structures (ABS).

We provide comprehensive M&A advisory services tailored to the needs of law firms. Our process begins with identifying and sourcing merger candidates that align with your specific criteria whether by geography, practice area, profits per equity partner, or revenue per lawyer.

Because cultural alignment is critical component to a successful merger, our AI driven research platform evaluates firm-to-firm compatibility through shared characteristics such as common law school affiliations, prior work history, diversity and minority hiring practices, and more.

Our team members have advised AM Law 100 & 200 firms on firm mergers, the acquisition of practice groups, and the recruitment of high profile partners for such firms as Baker & McKenzie, Dorsey & Whitney, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, King & Spalding, Clifford Chance, among others.

Additionally, as the legal industry has evolved over the past few years, law firms have organically grown or invested in alternative legal service providers, (ALSPs). ALSPs now comprise a $28 billion segment of the legal market, according to the Alternative Legal Services Providers 2023 Report, published by the Thomson Reuters Institute, the Center on Ethics, and the Legal Profession at Georgetown Law, and the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. Overall, it reveals an evolving legal market in which the boundaries between alternative legal service providers, law firms, corporate law departments, and even technology and software firms are rapidly blurring.

The FOCUS legal industry M&A team has committed substantial resources to assisting law firms and investors acquire or finance the expansion of ALPS, as we anticipate robust growth to continue in the ALSP sector.

Why FOCUS for Legal Services M&A

  • Sector-Specific Knowledge and Transaction Experience: Our bankers bring real-world experience in all aspects of the legal services industry. We understand the operational complexities, contract structures, and value drivers that influence successful M&A outcomes.

  • Access to Top Strategic and Financial Buyers: We maintain deep relationships with private equity firms, infrastructure funds, and industry consolidators actively investing in law firm and other legal services firms. We know who’s buying and what they’re looking for.

  • Tailored Strategy, Senior Level Attention: Every transaction is unique. We work closely with ownership and leadership teams to design custom strategies aligned with your goals whether it’s a full exit, recapitalization, or targeted growth.

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If you own, operate, or invest in an infrastructure services company and are exploring your strategic options, FOCUS is ready to help. Whether you’re preparing for sale, seeking a growth partner, or evaluating your position in a changing market, our team will guide you through every step of the M&A process.