Professional Services Acquisitions in New York

New York Professional Services Deal Themes

Acquisitions in New York across professional services (2018–2026) show a recurring focus on adding specialized capabilities—ranging from tax and accounting to legal technology, design, and industry-focused consulting—often by bringing an established team into a broader platform.

Recent New York transactions also reflect sector breadth within professional services. Buyers such as PKF O'Connor Davies, Prosperity Partners, Harbor, and Capgemini S.E. have pursued deals that expand service lines (private client tax and wealth advisory, audit and international tax, Legal Technology + Operations, and intelligent operations/managed services), while keeping recognizable brands and leadership in place where the deal terms allow.

In design and consulting, the emphasis frequently lands on geographic presence in the Northeast plus capability expansion—for example, Elevate combining luxury and experiential design offerings, and Corgan adding a New York–based team to deepen its reach in higher education, civic, and cultural design markets.

What Stands Out

  • Capability add-ons are a consistent theme: legal tech training, audit/international tax, private client wealth advisory, loss/damage measurement & valuation, and immersive/experiential design.
  • Platform building through teams: multiple buyers highlight integrating professional teams and expanding national or global reach (e.g., design across North America/Europe/Asia; training across the U.S. and Europe).
  • New York anchors recurring: several deals keep target operations headquartered in New York (e.g., International Gemological Institute (IGI) and American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)) or use New York as a flagship location (Prosperity Partners and Farkouh, Furman & Faccio).
  • Enterprise and scaled services appear alongside boutiques: large-scale transformations are represented (e.g., Capgemini S.E. acquiring WNS (Holdings) Limited) while smaller advisory and niche specialty firms (e.g., HBMJ Consulting LLC, Encoretech, Furey) are also acquired.
  • Buyer
    Ryan
    Target
    Hucke and Associates
    Seller
    Peter Hucke, Stephen Hucke, Devon Shapiro
    Type
    Buyout

    Ryan, a global tax services and software provider, has acquired Hucke and Associates, a property tax consulting firm based in New York City. The acquisition strengthens Ryan’s property tax appeals and valuation advocacy capabilities, particularly in complex markets such as New York City.

  • Buyer
    International Gemological Institute (IGI)
    Target
    American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)
    Type
    Buyout

    The International Gemological Institute (IGI) has acquired American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), a specialist in colored gemstone analysis and provenance reporting. AGL will remain headquartered in New York and continue operating under its brand with Chris Smith staying as President and Chief Gemologist; IGI said the acquisition—supported by Blackstone—will broaden its colored-gemstone capabilities and help expand AGL’s services beyond the U.S.

  • Buyer
    DBI Consultants
    Target
    Minogue Associates, Inc.
    Type
    Addon

    DBI Consultants announced it has acquired Minogue Associates, a national building and construction consulting firm based on Long Island, New York. The deal is intended to expand DBI’s national platform and enhance its loss/damage measurement, project-management, valuation, and technical advisory capabilities for clients across the United States.

  • Buyer
    The Leaders of Design
    Target
    Decorative Furnishings Association
    Type
    Buyout

    The Leaders of Design has acquired the Decorative Furnishings Association (DFA). Financial terms were not disclosed; Leaders of Design plans to revitalize the nearly century-old nonprofit by introducing tiered membership fees, new programming, and sharing aggregated industry data from its Studio Designer platform, while appointing Rachel York as DFA executive director.

  • Buyer
    Hogan Lovells, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
    Target
    Hogan Lovells, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
    Type
    Buyout

    Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft announced their intention to combine to form a new unified firm, Hogan Lovells Cadwalader. The proposed combination is expected to enhance the firms’ cross-border finance and regulated-sector capabilities across major G20 markets, particularly the New York–London corridor.

  • Buyer
    Elevate
    Target
    Downstream, GA
    Type
    Buyout

    Elevate has acquired experiential design studio Downstream and luxury hospitality design studio GA, combining the firms into an expanded Elevate Creative with more than 250 designers, technologists, and strategists across North America, Europe, and Asia. The deal broadens Elevate's capabilities in immersive digital experiences and luxury hospitality design and appoints Chris Allphin as President of Elevate Creative.

  • Buyer
    Prosperity Partners, Unity Partners LP
    Target
    Farkouh, Furman & Faccio
    Type
    Addon

    Prosperity Partners, a Chicago-based tax and accounting platform backed by Unity Partners LP, has completed the addition of New York-based Farkouh, Furman & Faccio (FF&F). The deal brings FF&F's seven partners and 38 employees into Prosperity, establishing a New York City flagship office and adding audit and international tax capabilities to Prosperity's platform.

  • Buyer
    Japan Educational Foundation (JEF)
    Target
    LIM College
    Type
    Buyout

    Japan Educational Foundation (JEF) completed its acquisition of LIM College. The deal was originally announced on May 29, 2025, and JEF secured all required regulatory approvals for the transfer of ownership, after which LIM joined JEF’s global portfolio of higher education institutions.

  • Buyer
    Harbor
    Target
    Encoretech
    Type
    Buyout

    Harbor, the Chicago-based legal technology and consulting firm, has acquired Encoretech, a U.S.-based training and user adoption services provider for law firms and corporate legal departments. The deal — Harbor's first since a majority investment from BayPine LP — adds Encoretech's Training-as-a-Service capabilities (about 80 professionals across the U.S. and Europe) to Harbor's Legal Technology + Operations practice to accelerate technology adoption and AI enablement for clients.

  • Buyer
    Corgan
    Target
    Cooper Robertson
    Type
    Buyout

    Dallas-based architecture and design firm Corgan has acquired New York–based Cooper Robertson. Terms were not disclosed; Cooper Robertson’s team and client relationships will integrate into Corgan to deepen its presence in the Northeast and expand capabilities across higher education, civic, and cultural design markets.

  • Buyer
    Goldman Sachs Alternatives
    Target
    Excel Sports Management
    Seller
    Shamrock Capital

    Goldman Sachs Alternatives agreed to acquire a stake in Excel Sports Management, a New York-based sports agency, to support its next phase of international growth. The partnership will back expansion of Excel’s global presence across sports, media, and sponsorship, including investments in technology and data-driven capabilities. Shamrock Capital, which previously held a minority stake since 2020, will exit as part of the transaction; terms were not disclosed and the deal is subject to regulatory approvals.

  • Buyer
    F2 Strategy
    Target
    HBMJ Consulting LLC
    Type
    Addon

    F2 Strategy, a Chicago-based wealth and asset management consulting and technology services firm, has acquired HBMJ Consulting LLC, a boutique New York‑area advisory firm specializing in operations, data intelligence and technology transformation for hedge funds and alternative investment managers. The 18‑member HBMJ team will join F2 as the company expands its asset management capabilities and builds a unified alternative investments vertical; F2 is a portfolio company of Renovus Capital Partners.

  • Buyer
    Frontenac
    Target
    Beckway Consulting, LLC

    Frontenac has recapitalized Beckway, a New York-based professional services firm that provides operational, performance improvement and financial solutions to private equity-backed and corporate clients. The transaction, completed in partnership with Beckway’s co-founders and management and with Shvetank Shah joining as Chairman, will fund team investment, organic growth and the firm’s M&A ambitions; Monroe Capital provided the senior financing and Clearsight Advisors advised Beckway.

  • Buyer
    Graphite Financial
    Target
    Furey
    Type
    Buyout

    Graphite Financial, a finance, tax and accounting provider for venture-backed startups, has acquired Furey, a scalable accounting, finance and payroll services firm built for startups. The acquisition expands Graphite's service capabilities, client base and geographic presence and is supported by Graphite's investor Red Iron Group.

  • Buyer
    The Riverside Company
    Target
    Accurate Fire Equipment
    Type
    Addon

    The Riverside Company has acquired Accurate Fire Equipment, a Franklin Square, New York provider of fire and life safety (FLS) services, as an add-on to its Relay Fire and Safety platform. The deal expands Relay's presence in the New York City metropolitan area and aims to drive growth through cross-selling, investments in sales and marketing, and enhanced technician training.

  • Buyer
    McDermott Will & Emery
    Target
    Schulte Roth & Zabel
    Type
    Buyout

    Leading international law firms McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel completed a merger effective August 1, launching the combined firm McDermott Will & Schulte. The combination creates a global legal platform with roughly 1,750+ attorneys across 20+ offices and expanded capabilities across healthcare, private capital, tax, litigation and regulatory services, with reported annual revenue of roughly $3 billion.

  • Buyer
    Egon Zehnder
    Target
    The Prince Houston Group
    Type
    Buyout

    Egon Zehnder has acquired The Prince Houston Group, a boutique New York executive search firm specializing in asset and wealth management. The deal integrates The Prince Houston Group’s specialized team into Egon Zehnder’s global leadership advisory platform to strengthen its U.S. financial services practice and expand capabilities in asset and wealth management recruitment.

  • Buyer
    Allied Universal
    Target
    Mulligan Security, MG Security Services
    Seller
    Security Services Holdings LLC (Protos), Southfield Capital

    Allied Universal has acquired Mulligan Security (including MG Security Services) from Security Services Holdings LLC (Protos) and Southfield Capital; the transaction closed on July 3, 2025. The divestiture enables Protos to refocus investment and resources on its tech-enabled managed services platform.

  • June 11, 2025
    Buyer
    Tern
    Target
    Lucia
    Type
    Buyout

    Tern has acquired Lucia, a workforce platform that provides vetted CoPilots and support services for travel advisors. Lucia’s team will join Tern and founder Grace Van Hollebeke will become Head of Marketing and Services as Tern integrates Lucia’s hands-on support into its advisor platform to improve onboarding, automation, and ongoing advisor services.

  • Buyer
    Slingshot Insights
    Target
    Noble Insights
    Type
    Buyout

    Slingshot Insights has acquired Noble Insights to broaden its expert network and expand sector coverage beyond its healthcare roots. The deal combines Noble's curated global expert roster and Slingshot's cost-sharing transcript library and platform capabilities, with Noble founder Michael Wolin joining Slingshot as President of Business Development.

  • Buyer
    PSST, PennSpring Capital
    Target
    Paragon Compliance
    Type
    Addon

    PSST, a PennSpring Capital-backed provider of integration and compliance solutions for K‑12 and other organizations, has acquired Paragon Compliance, a provider of ACA compliance and consulting services that serves schools, municipalities and private employers with emphasis in New York, Ohio and Connecticut. The deal establishes PSST as a platform for complementary add-on acquisitions to consolidate ACA compliance capabilities and expand service reach.

  • Buyer
    First Legal
    Target
    Inter County Judicial Services (IJS)
    Type
    Buyout

    First Legal has acquired Inter County Judicial Services (IJS), a New York–based process-serving and litigation support provider, expanding First Legal's court & process services footprint in the New York market. The deal strengthens First Legal's ability to deliver end-to-end litigation support — including service of process, court filing, court reporting, eDiscovery and records retrieval — to leading law firms and corporate legal departments.

  • Buyer
    Law Business Research (LBR), Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP), EagleTree Capital
    Target
    ALM, Law Business Research (LBR)
    Type
    Buyout

    Law Business Research (LBR) and ALM have merged to form a combined global legal intelligence and information services group, bringing together LBR's UK/global presence and ALM's deep US market penetration. The combined business will continue existing products and services, employ more than 900 people across offices in New York, London, Washington DC, Erlanger, Philadelphia, Austin and Hong Kong, and will be led by Nick Brailey as Group CEO.

  • Buyer
    Apax Funds (advised by Apax Partners LLP)
    Target
    CohnReznick LLP

    Funds advised by Apax Partners LLP have made the first institutional, strategic growth investment in CohnReznick LLP. The capital will support CohnReznick’s growth plan—expanding service lines, advancing its technology platform, pursuing targeted acquisitions, and accelerating geographic and talent investments.

  • January 31, 2025
    Buyer
    R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (RRD)
    Target
    Williams Lea
    Type
    Buyout

    R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (RRD) has completed the acquisition of Williams Lea, a global provider of tech-enabled business services for financial, legal and professional services firms. Williams Lea will join RRD's Digital, Creative and Business Services segment to strengthen RRD's digital marketing, full‑funnel media and business services capabilities; Williams Lea serves clients across ~20 countries and has roughly 7,000 employees worldwide.

  • Buyer
    Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
    Target
    Troutman Pepper, Locke Lord
    Type
    Buyout

    Troutman Pepper and Locke Lord have agreed to merge effective January 1, 2025, creating Troutman Pepper Locke LLP. The combined law firm will have more than 1,600 attorneys across 33 offices in the United States and two in Europe, expanding its footprint and deepening capabilities across key industries.

  • Buyer
    Signal Hill Equity Partners
    Target
    CSArch
    Type
    Buyout

    Signal Hill Equity Partners has invested in CSArch, a New York-based architecture, engineering and design firm, to establish a national architecture and engineering platform as the first investment from Signal Hill Fund IV. CSArch’s leadership will remain in place and Signal Hill plans to support geographic expansion and platform diversification through future add-on acquisitions.

  • Buyer
    Marshall & Stevens, Incorporated
    Target
    Equitable Value, LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    Marshall & Stevens, an independent valuation advisory and litigation support firm based in Los Angeles, has acquired Equitable Value, LLC, a Clifton Park, New York valuation and expert witness practice. The deal expands Marshall & Stevens' New York presence and adds Equitable Value’s matrimonial accounting, litigation support, and expert witness capabilities to the firm's service offering.

  • Buyer
    HomeSquare, LLC (dba HomeSquarePro)
    Target
    Palace Guards
    Type
    Addon

    HomeSquare, LLC (dba HomeSquarePro) has acquired Palace Guards, a residential concierge services provider based in Eastchester, New York. The add-on strengthens HomeSquarePro's presence in the NY Tri-State region (Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT) and expands its high-end residential service offerings.

  • Buyer
    Rago Wright
    Target
    Poster Auctions International
    Type
    Buyout

    Rago Wright has acquired Poster Auctions International (PAI), adding the leading independent vintage poster auction house to its network of auction businesses. Jack Rennert, PAI's founder and president, will join Rago Wright as a partner to ensure continuity, and future PAI auctions will run on Rago Wright's auction platform as the combined organization expands its offerings to consignors and buyers.

  • Buyer
    ZRG Partners
    Target
    Jamesbeck
    Type
    Buyout

    ZRG Partners, a global talent advisory firm and portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, has acquired Jamesbeck, a New York City-based executive recruitment firm specializing in senior-level talent for the investment management community. The deal expands ZRG's asset management capabilities and complements its private markets work; Jamesbeck co-founders Melissa Norris and Beth Rustin will become co-heads of asset management search at ZRG.

  • Buyer
    Everlane Equity Partners
    Target
    Carey & Co.

    Everlane Equity Partners has made a platform investment in Carey & Co., a New York–based professional services firm that provides outsourced financial leadership, HR, and interim executive management to nonprofit organizations. The capital will be used to expand Carey & Co.'s service offerings and scale operations while partnering with the existing management team to grow the business nationally.

  • Buyer
    Trivest Partners
    Target
    Dubin Research & Consulting

    Miami-based private equity firm Trivest Partners has made a non-control growth investment in Dubin Research & Consulting (DRC), a New York–based trial consulting and litigation advisory firm. The capital from Trivest's Trivest Growth Investment Fund II will support DRC's organic and inorganic growth while allowing the founder-led management team to retain control.

  • Buyer
    InteleTravel
    Target
    MGME (McVeigh Global Meetings & Events)
    Type
    Buyout

    InteleTravel, an integrated travel distribution group, has acquired MGME (McVeigh Global Meetings & Events). MGME will remain an independent brand as a wholly owned unit of InteleTravel and will collaborate with InteleTravel and Hickory Global Partners to expand event offerings, consolidate supplier contracts, and leverage booking technology and cruise charter capabilities to develop event-at-sea and other combined services.

  • Buyer
    Hilton Global Associates Inc.
    Target
    Investigative Due Diligence Group LLC (IDD Group)
    Type
    Buyout

    Hilton Global Associates Inc. has acquired Investigative Due Diligence Group LLC (IDD Group), a New York City–based investigative due diligence firm that serves private equity groups and law firms. The founders of IDD Group join Hilton Global as partners, strengthening Hilton Global's investigative due diligence capabilities and expanding its client-facing team and sector expertise.

  • Buyer
    Kaltroco
    Target
    The Dave Cantin Group
    Seller
    DCG senior executive team (existing shareholders)

    Kaltroco, a private investment company backed by the family of Steve Koltes, has made a minority growth investment in The Dave Cantin Group (DCG), a New York–based M&A advisory firm focused on automotive retail and related sectors. The capital will support DCG's expansion into adjacent verticals (motorcycle, RV, powersports, heavy truck), broader geographic coverage, and new advisory service offerings; financial terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    Red Iron Group
    Target
    hiline Services

    Red Iron Group, a Menlo Park-based private investment firm, made a significant growth investment in hiline Services, a Syracuse-based provider of financial operations-as-a-service. The capital will support hiline's organic growth, expand its hilineOS technology and enable strategic acquisitions while the company's co-founder and management team remain shareholders.

  • Buyer
    Michael Baker International, DC Capital Partners
    Target
    Tidal Basin Group (Tidal Basin)
    Type
    Buyout

    Michael Baker International has acquired Tidal Basin, a leading emergency and disaster management consulting firm. The acquisition will allow Michael Baker to expand its preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery and program management capabilities and strengthen its service offering to federal, state and local clients on resiliency and post-disaster recovery projects.

  • Buyer
    Doyle Security Systems
    Target
    AMS Security Plus
    Type
    Buyout

    Doyle Security Systems, a Rochester, New York–based provider of residential and commercial security and monitoring services, has acquired AMS Security Plus, a privately held Albany, New York security company. AMS’ accounts will be migrated to Doyle’s on-site Emergency Response Center; AMS CEO Don Simpson will remain with the business for at least one year as Doyle expands its Upstate New York presence.

  • Buyer
    Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
    Target
    Buck
    Seller
    H.I.G. Capital
    Type
    Buyout

    Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Gallagher) has completed the acquisition of Buck, a New York–headquartered provider of retirement plan consulting, health & welfare consulting, employee communications, and technology-enabled benefits administration services. The transaction represents H.I.G. Capital's exit after acquiring Buck in 2018 and supporting growth through strategic initiatives and add-on acquisitions.

  • Buyer
    Cor Partners, BW Forsyth Partners
    Target
    DBI Construction Consultants
    Type
    Addon

    Cor Partners, the Atlanta-based parent company of insurance and forensic services businesses (backed by BW Forsyth Partners), has acquired DBI Construction Consultants, a New York–based provider of building and construction consulting and loss/damage measurement services. The acquisition will form a new division within the Cor Partners family and combines DBI with existing Envista Forensics building consulting resources to expand capabilities, coverage and service offerings to insurance and legal clients.

  • Buyer
    BWG Strategy, Infinedi Partners, LP
    Target
    OTR Global
    Type
    Addon

    BWG Strategy, a subscription-based primary research platform backed by Infinedi Partners, has acquired OTR Global, a long-standing provider of interview-based channel and primary research for institutional investors. The deal expands BWG's research product breadth, global reach and subscription content offerings for asset managers, hedge funds and other institutional clients.

  • Buyer
    S2Verify
    Target
    Yale Background Screening (Yale Associates, Inc.)
    Type
    Buyout

    S2Verify, a U.S. background-screening firm based in the Atlanta area, has acquired New York-based Yale Background Screening (Yale Associates, Inc.), bringing Yale's clients and team into S2Verify and materially increasing the combined firm's scale. The acquisition expands S2Verify's market position and capabilities—adding hundreds of clients across pharmaceutical, healthcare, automotive, and financial services—and is described as effectively doubling the firm's size overnight.

  • Buyer
    Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC
    Target
    Berdon LLP
    Seller
    Berdon LLP
    Type
    Buyout

    Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC has acquired the nonattest business of New York-based Berdon LLP, adding approximately $110 million in revenue and ~450 partners and associates. The combined firm will have annual revenue exceeding $600 million and a team of over 2,400 professionals, expanding Citrin Cooperman's capabilities across real estate, construction, family office, and manufacturing & distribution clients.

  • January 24, 2023
    Buyer
    InnovateMR
    Target
    Ivy Exec
    Type
    Addon

    InnovateMR, a Calabasas-based market research technology and sampling firm, has acquired Ivy Exec, a New York–based qualitative B2B expert network, for an undisclosed amount. The deal expands InnovateMR's qualitative research capabilities and access to a curated global expert network while Ivy Exec founder Elena Bajic will remain and become President of Ivy Exec; CIVC Partners, InnovateMR's PE backer, said the acquisition bolsters the platform's combined qualitative and quantitative offering.

  • Buyer
    Boathouse Capital
    Target
    Glamsquad
    Seller
    JMB Capital

    Boathouse Capital completed a growth investment in Glamsquad, the on-demand digital platform connecting customers with vetted beauty professionals. The capital—provided alongside current owner JMB Capital—will be used to accelerate nationwide expansion, expand marketing and channel partnerships, and explore additional service offerings.

  • Buyer
    Velocity Print
    Target
    The Bajan Group, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    Velocity Print, a northeast-based print-on-demand and direct mail services provider, announced it has acquired The Bajan Group, Inc., a New York-based print distributor and print management company. The deal brings Bajan's team and client relationships into Velocity to expand product offerings, strengthen fulfillment and mailing capabilities, and grow Velocity's client base across multiple states.

  • September 26, 2022
    Buyer
    Streetsense
    Target
    Pure Grey
    Type
    Buyout

    Streetsense has acquired Pure Grey, a boutique restaurant and bar consultancy known for food & beverage operations and concept development. The deal brings Pure Grey’s hospitality expertise and leadership (including Ed Viita as Managing Director of Hospitality) into Streetsense’s Eat & Drink studio to expand the firm’s hospitality and operations capabilities globally.

  • Buyer
    Keypoint Intelligence
    Target
    Karstedt Partners, LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    Keypoint Intelligence has acquired Karstedt Partners, LLC, a packaging supply-chain and digital package printing consultancy based in Eden, New York. The acquisition will accelerate Keypoint Intelligence's product development and expand its research, consulting and market-insight capabilities across the packaging, labels and digital printing markets.

  • Buyer
    Protos Security (Security Services Holdings LLC), Southfield Capital
    Target
    MG Security Services
    Type
    Addon

    Protos Security (a portfolio company of Southfield Capital) has acquired MG Security Services, a New York City–based provider of armed and unarmed security guard services, crisis management, fraud prevention and private investigations. The add-on expands Protos' East Coast footprint, scales its direct guard operations (MG employs over 1,200 guards) and furthers growth in end markets such as healthcare and commercial real estate.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What types of professional services acquisitions show up in New York?

Common categories include tax and accounting (audit, international tax, payroll), legal technology and adoption/training services, design (architecture/creative and hospitality design), and specialized consulting (construction consulting, operations/data/technology transformation).

Do buyers typically keep targets headquartered in New York after acquisition?

Some deals explicitly keep headquarters/branding in New York—for example, International Gemological Institute (IGI) said American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) will remain headquartered in New York and continue operating under its brand.

Which recurring buyer names are active in this New York professional services space?

Recurring names in the page include Allied Universal, Southfield Capital, Foreside Financial Group, LLC, ZRG Partners, Cor Partners, F2 Strategy, InnovateMR, and First Legal.

What does “platform expansion” usually mean in these transactions?

Across the deals described, platform expansion typically involves adding teams and capabilities (e.g., training services, audit/international tax, private client advisory, or immersive design) to broaden service offerings and extend reach beyond the immediate New York footprint.

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