North Carolina firm acquires New Orleans-based accounting firm

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Cherry Bekaert of Raleigh, North Carolina has acquired New Orleans-based Legier & Company, a forensic accounting firm.

Legier is a boutique firm that specializes in business interruption services, expert witness testimony and dispute advisory services by deploying enhanced technology and specialized data analytics capabilities.

The addition expands the firm’s geographic footprint in the southern United States by adding a location in New Orleans, according to a news release.

According to a spokesperson, Cherry Bekaert cannot disclose the financial terms of the acquisition. Cherry Bekaert had 12 employees join from Legier & Company (one partner, three managing directors, and eight at other levels). Cherry Bekaert has 1,500+ employees across the U.S., and there were no layoffs due to the deal, the spokesperson said.

“Legier, one of the most experienced firms in Louisiana, will help solidify our forensic accounting and dispute resolution practice area,” Michelle Thompson, CEO of Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC, said in a news release. “We look forward to working with the Legier team. Their specialized expertise in forensic accounting across many industries adds to our growing capabilities.”

Founded in 1984, Legier offers management consulting and advisory services to clients across Louisiana and Texas. Legier has delivered services to law firms and large multinational, publicly traded corporations.

Legier’s founder, William R. Legier, views the consolidation with Cherry Bekaert as a model way to supplement their current service offerings. He said the integration of Legier into Cherry Bekaert will provide Legier’s current clientele access to an array of services previously unavailable to them.

“Our leading forensic and dispute advisory offerings—combined with Cherry Bekaert’s broad portfolio of transaction advisory services—allows us to now provide end-to-end support to our clients. We help them by building and proving stronger cases and utilizing complex data to resolve business issues. It’s an exciting new chapter for us,” Legier said in a news release. “Our people—many of whom have been with us for more than 20 years—are excited to move forward with Cherry Bekaert. The acquisition will expose our team to new skills and clients and provide a strong foundation for additional development and growth.”

The news release states the acquisition will aid law firms, insurance companies, financial institutions, and other entities in performing lost profits analysis, damages, disputes and expert witness testimony. Clients of Cherry Bekaert will now have access to Legier’s suite of specialized services.

“The acquisition of Legier is a strategic step that provides the foundation to build our forensic accounting and dispute advisory offerings in the U.S. and meet the escalating demand in the market,” Scott Moss, Cherry Bekaert’s private equity industry leader and transaction advisory practice leader, said in a news release. “Businesses are navigating disruptive challenges, and we’re dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value. Together, we meet this need.”

Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group who advised both sides on the merger, said Legier is recognized as one of the preeminent forensic boutiques in the country and was sought after by many suiters.

“Ultimately, they chose Cherry Bekaert because they felt it was a great cultural and strategic fit for their people and their clients,” Koltin said in the news release. “The ability to scale the practice over a broader geography was another factor in their decision.”

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