Two firms that are members of the Ascend platform completed acquisitions, effective as of June 1, growing their footprints in their respective states.
San Diego-based LevitZacks expanded in California with the addition of Leinenweber & Associates, while Atlanta-based Wilson Lewis expanded in Georgia with the addition of Santi & Associates
Leinenweber & Associates, located in La Jolla, California, specializes in high-net-worth individuals, trust and estate matters, tax compliance and proactive tax strategy. The combination adds three partners and one staff member to LevitZacks.
"As a small five-person firm, we sought a transaction that would successfully transition clients, give us access to improved technology and services, and provide a structure to take on new clients," Mark Leinenweber, founder of Leinenweber & Associates, said in a statement. "After researching and exploring several options, combining with LevitZacks through Ascend seemed best positioned to meet all of those goals. We're a few weeks into the transition and all outcomes are exceeding expectations."
Santi & Associates, based in Alpharetta, Georgia, services closely held businesses and individuals, with a specialty in business and tax services. The deal adds one partner and 10 staff members to the Wilson Lewis team, which already has offices in Atlanta and Duluth.
"Starting and growing a business is a very personal experience, and my company and the clients we serve have always been a top priority," Roger Santi, founder of Santi & Associates, said in a statement. "Ascend affords the benefits of additional resources, systems, talent and efficiencies of a large firm while never losing the personal touch and agility that clients appreciate in a smaller firm. It truly is the best of all worlds, and it provides me great comfort in knowing that our clients are the big beneficiaries of that."
Wilson Lewis CEO commented, "By coming together, we're enhancing the depth of expertise and resources available to our clients while also creating new opportunities for our people to develop and grow. Most importantly, this partnership strengthens our ability to continue delivering a high-touch, relationship-driven experience to the clients and communities we serve."
Ascend is a platform for regional accounting firms, founded and backed by private-equity firm Alpine Investors in January 2023. The firm ranked No. 24 on Accounting Today's 2026
Earlier this year, it added
