Accounting firm acquisitions are built on a single asset: client relationships. Protecting that asset through the transaction requires non-solicitation provisions, a structured transition period, earnout mechanics tied to client retention, and a purchase agreement that reflects how accounting practices actually work. Our Wilmette accounting firm acquisition attorneys represent buyers and sellers in CPA firm and bookkeeping practice transactions across Finance, Professional Services, Healthcare and the professional services market, with Managing Partner Alex Lubyansky personally involved in every engagement.
Share the basics. Alex reviews every inquiry personally.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
Alex Lubyansky handles accounting firm acquisition law work for buyers and sellers in Wilmette and across the country. Here is what that looks like:
We work best with people who know what they want and are ready to move:
Tell us what you are working on. We respond within one business day.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
A structured, methodical approach to accounting firm acquisition law
We review the client roster, revenue concentration, fee structure, recurring versus one-time work, and the seller's planned transition role to understand the true risk profile of the acquisition and structure the deal accordingly.
Managing Partner Alex Lubyansky reviews the practice valuation, advises on goodwill allocation, and structures the purchase price to include seller financing or earnout provisions that align the seller's incentives with client retention after closing.
We draft the asset purchase agreement addressing client list transfer, non-solicitation of clients and staff, seller transition obligations, payment terms including earnout mechanics, and representations specific to an accounting practice.
We structure the client notification process, draft communication templates, and address client consent requirements to protect the relationship transfer through the ownership change.
We manage the closing mechanics, coordinate seller financing documentation including promissory notes and security arrangements, and draft earnout calculation provisions so there is no ambiguity in how retention is measured after closing.
We don't take every matter. Here is what happens when you reach out.
Alex reviews your transaction details personally. No intake coordinators, no junior associates screening your submission.
We evaluate whether your deal aligns with our practice. Not every matter is a fit, and we will tell you directly if it is not.
If there is alignment, Alex schedules a direct call to discuss your transaction, timeline, and objectives.
Before any work begins, you receive a written engagement letter with defined scope, timeline, and fee structure. No surprises.
Alex Lubyansky handles every accounting firm acquisition law engagement personally.
15+ years of M&A experience. Nationwide. One attorney on every deal.
We review every transaction inquiry within one business day.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
Use these before you call any firm, including ours.
At many firms, a partner sells the work and a junior associate does it. Ask for the name of the attorney who will draft and negotiate your documents.
Volume indicates current, active deal experience, not just credentials from years ago.
A $500K SBA acquisition and a $50M PE deal require different skill sets. Make sure the attorney has handled transactions similar to yours.
M&A transactions require a team. Your attorney should work with your other advisors, not in a silo.
Reps, warranties, and indemnification claims surface months after closing. Ask whether the firm handles post-closing litigation or refers it out.
Ask how the engagement is scoped, what is included, and what factors drive cost increases. Defined scope with a retainer gives the clearest cost picture.
Common questions from Wilmette clients
Submit your transaction details for a preliminary assessment by our managing partner
Submit Transaction DetailsSubmit transaction details and Alex will respond directly.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
Chicago is the Midwest's M&A powerhouse, with deep deal activity in manufacturing, food & beverage, financial services, and healthcare. The city's central location and transportation infrastructure make it a hub for logistics and distribution company acquisitions. Chicago's robust private equity community - including firms like GTCR, Madison Dearborn, and Duchossois Capital - drives significant lower middle-market deal flow.
Chicago offers a balanced deal market with strong fundamentals - valuations are more reasonable than coastal markets while target quality remains high. The region's manufacturing base creates consistent opportunities for PE-backed platform builds.
The Chicago metro area's diversified economy and central location make it ideal for platform acquisitions with national expansion potential. The region's deep talent pool in engineering, finance, and operations supports post-acquisition growth.
Illinois enacted strict non-compete reform in 2022 - agreements are unenforceable for employees earning under $75,000 (increasing annually), and employers must advise employees to consult counsel before signing, affecting how buyers retain key personnel post-acquisition.
Local Market Context
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI MSA · MSA population 9.6M
MSA Population (2024)
9.6M
U.S. Census Bureau
Top Industry Concentration
Chicago is the dominant Midwest M&A hub, with particular strength in financial services (CME Group, options and derivatives markets), food and agribusiness, logistics, and industrial manufacturing. The city's position as the primary Midwest rail and logistics hub gives it outsized importance in supply chain and distribution company transactions. Mid-market buyout activity by Chicago-headquartered private equity firms is a consistent feature of the deal landscape.
O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest in the world. Chicago is the largest US rail freight hub. Union Pacific, BNSF, and CSX all converge here, making logistics transactions particularly active.
Recent Wilmette Deal Signal (2024-2025)
Boeing's ongoing restructuring and supply chain rationalization generated significant aerospace supplier M&A interest in the broader Chicago metro in 2024, while Chicago-based PE firms continued active mid-market healthcare and industrial deals.
Source (accessed 2026-04-27)
Illinois has a Business Corporation Act with specific merger notification requirements. Chicago imposes a transaction tax on certain securities trades executed through Chicago exchanges.
Restricted by salary threshold ($75,000+). Mandatory 14-day review period.
Entity mergers and conversions are filed with the Illinois Secretary of State, Business Services Department. Bulk asset purchases require notification to the Department of Revenue and obtaining Form ST-4 clearance. The Illinois Securities Department may need to be notified for certain stock transactions.
Illinois State Bar Association. Voluntary bar. The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission handles mandatory registration separately.
Bar association websiteFederal districts: N.D. Ill., C.D. Ill., S.D. Ill.
Business court: Circuit Court of Cook County Commercial Calendar (established 1993) Chicago-based commercial calendar handles complex business disputes in Cook County. Illinois Freedom to Work Act (820 ILCS 90) governs non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
Chicago is a top-five U.S. M&A market, with particular strength in financial services, food and consumer products, and industrial manufacturing transactions.
Watchpoints
These are the items we see derail accounting firm acquisition law transactions in the Wilmette market. Each one is rooted in current statutory law, recent legislative changes, or recurring patterns from the deals Alex has handled.
Restricted by salary threshold ($75,000+). Mandatory 14-day review period.
"It's legal issues that could have been fixed for thousands of dollars. Instead they cost millions in valuation."
Illinois has a Business Corporation Act with specific merger notification requirements. Chicago imposes a transaction tax on certain securities trades executed through Chicago exchanges.
Securities regulated by Illinois Securities Department within the Office of the Secretary of State (ilsos.gov/securities). Illinois has a robust Blue Sky framework; Reg D notice filings required. Illinois is an active state enforcement jurisdiction.
In-depth guides to help you prepare for your transaction
Full-service M&A counsel from letter of intent through closing.
Read guideA structured approach to legal, financial, and operational due diligence.
Read guideUnderstanding the binding and non-binding elements of each document.
Read guideCommon deal-killers and how experienced counsel helps prevent them.
Read guideAcquisition Stars represents clients across Illinois and nationwide. Alex Lubyansky handles every engagement personally.
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"Your business is unique. Your legal documents should be too."
15+ years of M&A and securities transaction experience Senior counsel on every engagement Admitted in Michigan, practicing nationwide
Reviewed by Alex Lubyansky on . Read full bio
Alex Lubyansky handles every engagement personally. Tell us about your transaction and we will let you know if there is a fit.
Tell us about your deal. We review every submission and respond within one business day.
Your transaction details are under review. If there is alignment, we will be in touch.
Meanwhile, feel free to call us directly at (248) 266-2790
One attorney on every deal. Nationwide. 15+ years of M&A experience.