M&A Law Firm for Rochester

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Law Firm for Rochester and Monroe County

Rochester and Monroe County are home to optics, photonics, imaging and laser companies, advanced manufacturers, software and IT companies, semiconductor companies, life sciences companies, energy technology companies, food and beverage manufacturers, healthcare facilities, professional services firms and cannabis businesses, reflecting the depth of mergers and acquisitions activity in Rochester.

As owners evaluate growth, succession, investment or exit strategies, mergers and acquisitions in Rochester frequently become part of broader business planning, including selling a business or buying a company to expand operations.

As a mergers and acquisitions law firm serving Rochester and Monroe County, Kaufman McGowan PLLC advises buyers, sellers, founders, investors and management teams throughout Rochester and Monroe County on mergers, acquisitions, business sales and related corporate transactions. We focus on practical deal structures, risk management and aligning terms with long-term business objectives for clients navigating M&A in Rochester.

According to Greater Rochester Enterprise, the Rochester area is home to more than 150 businesses focused on optics, photonics, imaging and lasers, alongside advanced manufacturing, software and IT, and life sciences companies.

If you are preparing to navigate mergers and acquisitions in Rochester, whether you’re looking to sell a business or acquire a business, we help clarify options and structure deals strategically.

See our Mergers & Acquisitions practice page for more information about our work, and Mergers & Acquisitions: How to Buy or Sell a Business from our blog for more information about M&A deals in Monroe County and beyond.

Kaufman McGowan PLLC also advises clients on mergers and acquisitions throughout Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton, Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Albany, Columbia County, Orange County, Putnam County, Rensselaer County, Rockland County, Saratoga County, Schenectady County, Staten Island, Ulster County, and Westchester County . To see examples of our completed transactions, visit our Deal Tombstones page, or browse our full practice areas to see how we support Rochester businesses beyond M&A.

M&A Legal Services for Rochester and Monroe County

Kaufman McGowan PLLC’s M&A legal services include, among other things:

• Selling a business
• Buying a business
• Business purchase and sale agreements or merger agreements
• Structuring asset vs. stock vs. merger transactions
• Letters of intent and deal negotiations
• Legal due diligence
• Escrows, holdbacks and earn-outs
• Founder, partner and shareholder transitions
• Investor and private equity participation
• Executive compensation and restrictive covenants
• Governance approvals and board process
• Closing logistics and post-closing support

Each transaction is approached with sensitivity to timing, leverage and commercial realities.

We regularly advise:

• owners approached by strategic or financial buyers
• businesses acquiring competitors, product lines or complementary businesses
• family-owned companies planning succession
• investors evaluating Rochester-based opportunities
• management teams reviewing proposed LOIs and deal terms

We also concentrate in:

• corporate & securities law
• private placements
• public offerings
• SEC regulation
• lending transactions
• licensing
• real estate
• executive compensation
• corporate governance
• business formation
• cannabis regulation
• cannabis license applications
• commercial contracts
• corporate structure and reorganizations
• investment funds & firms

Our Attorneys

Our mergers and acquisitions practice is led by corporate and securities attorneys with decades of deal experience. Learn more here: About our Attorneys.

For Rochester and other Finger Lakes matters, representation is generally led by:

• Neil M. Kaufman
• Sean J. McGowan

Their experience helps ensure deals are structured clearly, negotiated effectively and aligned with business objectives.

Rochester businesses regularly transact with buyers, sellers and investors across New York State, and Kaufman McGowan PLLC advises clients throughout that market. We represent buyers and sellers in Buffalo and Erie County, Syracuse and Onondaga County and Binghamton and Broome County, as well as in Manhattan and on Long Island. See our Mergers & Acquisitions practice page for more information about M&A deals.

If you are planning a business sale, a business acquisition or an investor or private equity transaction in Rochester / Monroe County, we are available to assist.

Contact us to schedule a consultation. We are available by phone at (631) 972-0042 or by contacting us here.

Frequently Asked Questions About M&A in Rochester

Does Kaufman McGowan handle mergers and acquisitions for Rochester businesses?

Yes. Kaufman McGowan PLLC advises buyers, sellers, founders, investors and management teams in Rochester and Monroe County on business sales, acquisitions, mergers and related corporate transactions. Our New York-based M&A attorneys perform due diligence, structure, negotiate and close deals, working from beginning to end on every aspect of the transaction.

How should I prepare my Rochester business for a sale?

Sellers should fill key positions in the management team, lock in recurring revenue and prepare pro forma financial statements and cash flow projections. On the legal side, sellers should review key contracts for change of control and assignability provisions, make sure corporate records have been properly maintained, review liens on business assets and review intellectual property rights and non-compete or non-solicitation agreements for key employees.

What types of buyers acquire Rochester businesses?

Buyers generally fall into three groups: financial buyers, such as private equity firms and roll-up investors that combine multiple businesses in the same industry; industry buyers, such as competitors, suppliers and customers; and working executives, such as management buyouts, family members and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Each type of buyer raises different considerations around price, deal structure, confidentiality and the seller’s future role.

Why do buyers ask for an escrow in an M&A transaction?

A buyer may want a portion of the purchase price held in escrow so there will be assets readily available if the seller breaches a representation or warranty. Buyers are more likely to ask for an escrow when the seller or its principals will not have the assets to satisfy a claim after closing. Representations and warranties insurance is also available to insure against these breaches.

Who leads M&A matters for Rochester clients?

Representation for Rochester and other Finger Lakes matters is generally led by Neil M. Kaufman, our managing partner and an approved Vistage speaker on mergers & acquisitions, and Sean J. McGowan. Both represent emerging growth, middle market and public companies and investment firms in merger and acquisition matters.