Massumi + Consoli, a California-based boutique that handles complex mid-market private equity and M&A work, has launched an office in Dallas led by firm co-founder Anthony “Tony” Consoli, who has moved to Dallas, as the firm eyes opportunity in financial centers across the country.
“We always view private equity and M&A as our core practice area, and outside of Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and maybe Chicago, Dallas was the next logical step. The private equity scene in Dallas has really exploded over the last couple years,” Consoli said.
Consoli and Peter Massumi, both former Kirkland & Ellis lawyers, formed their firm in 2015 initially focused on mid-market private equity funds, but the firm has expanded its reach to provide services in M&A, growth equity and debt finance, and in areas such as intellectual property, data privacy and labor and employment.
The Dallas office opened softly over several months. Consoli said he relocated to Dallas in April to oversee the Texas expansion, but the firm announced it this week because its physical office opened earlier this month. Other lawyers in Dallas include partner Matthew Berde, a Weil, Gotshal & Manges counsel who joined Massumi + Consoli in January and had been working remotely, and associates Jackson Long from Sidley Austin, and Trevor Borg from Baker Botts.
Massumi said he continues to work from the firm’s Los Angeles office, “more or less covering everything west of Texas.”
Dallas is not only a “really exciting” opportunity to expand the firm’s business, Consoli said, but the recruiting market is good. Dallas was “always on the blueprint” for the firm, but the timing of the office opening is related in part to a client’s move to Dallas, and growth in the region’s private equity business, he said.
He declined to identify clients in Texas.
The office should grow to about 10 lawyers over the next year, Consoli said, as the firm continues to expand firmwide. Massumi + Consoli, with more than 40 lawyers, has other offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
The firm has been “steadily busy” over the last two years, Consoli said.
“Where we sit in the market, there’s still a lot of activity,” he said.
