M&A Advisory for Law Firms & Ancillary Legal Services

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.

The FOCUS team has advised AM Law 100 & 200 firms in the acquisition of practice groups in a broad range of practice areas, as well as full firm mergers on both sell side and buy side transactions. We provide comprehensive buy-side M&A advisory tailored to the unique needs of law firms. Our process begins with identifying and sourcing merger candidates that align with your specific criteria—whether by geography, practice area focus, profitability per equity partner, or average partner compensation.

Because cultural alignment is often the key to a successful merger, our AI-driven research platform goes beyond financial metrics. It evaluates firm-to-firm compatibility through shared characteristics such as common law school affiliations, prior work experience, diversity and minority hiring practices, and more.

In essence, we act as your outsourced corporate development partner—guiding and managing the entire process from sourcing through to closing—so you can focus on your practice while we deliver results.

The market for alternative and ancillary legal services providers has grown to an estimated $28.5 billion, achieving an 18% compound annual growth rate from 2021 to 2023, but the industry appears to be reaching a critical juncture, with a bifurcation emerging between forward-looking and traditional law firms in their adoption of alternative delivery models, according to a report released today.

The report, Alternative Legal Services Providers 2025, published by Thomson Reuters in collaboration with the Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession at Georgetown Law and the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, suggests that while the ALSP market continues its robust growth, the legal industry is dividing between those embracing alternative delivery models and those adhering to traditional practices.

The report warns of potential consequences for firms that resist innovation, as corporate law departments indicate they anticipate reducing their spend with firms that do not adapt to alternative delivery models.

Our team is committed to assisting law firms grow via strategic mergers and acquire or finance the expansion of ALPS, as we anticipate robust growth in both sectors for the foreseeable future.