Merger Strategy & Search

Merger plays a central role in the achievement of some firms’ strategic objectives. Ongoing consolidation and client requirements in many markets means that organic growth is sometimes insufficient to bridge the gap between the firm’s current and aspired positions. Merger may offer a viable means of increasing a firm’s competitiveness and accomplishing its strategy.

Having identified a strategic need for merger, a firm faces substantial challenges in identifying the potential partners with the required capabilities and characteristics. Preparation is vital and both firms’ partners must be presented from the very start with a positive and compelling rationale for a combination.

Our clients benefit from our broad industry knowledge and depth of experience with mergers and acquisitions. We assist our clients at the strategic level in defining their ideal merger partner, identifying appropriate prospective partners, developing an appropriate approach to candidate firms (or response to such an approach), and making the initial contacts. If the discussions advance beyond the initial phase, we are involved in all phases of evaluating and structuring the combination (see Merger negotiation and structure).

Our work is focused on firm-to-firm mergers. We do not place or conduct searches for individual partners, practice groups, or offices.