Friedman LLP plans to combine with Bagell, Josephs, Levine & Co., as of Jan. 1, building the New York-based firm’s presence in New Jersey.

Bruce Madnick

The combined firm will have a staff of approximately 325, including 46 partners. The addition of a fourth location in Marlton, N.J., and integration of audit, accounting and tax services allows the firm to increase its client base and provide a broader range of services to a larger client population. Friedman already has offices in New York City; Uniondale, N.Y.; and East Hanover, N.J.

The firms complement each other’s practice areas. BJL & Co., in addition to its individual and corporate practice, has a significant number of publicly held clients, an area that Friedman has been building for the past several years. In addition, Friedman’s independent member firm status in the DFK International association of accounting firms will be beneficial to BJL, which recently opened an office in Beijing.

“The combination of our firms will give us all an opportunity to service a broader geographic area,” said Friedman managing partner Bruce Madnick in a statement. The firm ranked 45th on Accounting Today’s 2009 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $59 million in revenue.

With the merger, Friedman will also gain a strategic alliance with Holmes & Company, LLC, an independently owned and operated company that specializes in working with government entities and projects set aside for minority-owned businesses. Holmes & Company, LLC will maintain its own clients and billing structure.