Two Ascend platform firms, PP&Co and LMC, expanded in California and New York, respectively.
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San Jose, California-based PP&Co acquired Ami Shah, effective as of Aug. 1. Meanwhile, Mid-Atlantic Regional Leader LMC opened a new office with the addition of Ricky Spike and his team from Ives, Sultan & Spike CPAs, effective as of July 1. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Ascend, based in Arlington, Virginia, is a platform launched in January 2023 by private equity firm Alpine Partners. It acquires accounting firms with between $15 million and $50 million in revenue. It ranked No. 24 on Accounting Today‘s 2026
Ami Shah, also in San Jose, provides tax planning for high-net-worth individuals and families. Founder and principal Ami Shah joins the PP&Co team along with twelve employees, including four, based in India.
“Ami Shah and her team have built something special: a firm that knows exactly who they serve and how best to serve them,” PP&Co CEO Phuong Mayer said in a statement. “Ami’s team also brings a culture that mirrors our own. It is collaborative, high-performing and genuinely committed to client service and to each other. Together, we’ll continue delivering thoughtful, integrated solutions tailored to our clients’ evolving needs.”
“When a boutique practice like ours hits the glass ceiling, the path forward usually presents an uncomfortable choice: sell out to a massive corporate consolidator and risk losing the heart and soul of what makes you, you,” Shah said in a statement. “Ascend and PP&Co offered us a beautifully different path, one that perfectly aligns with our vision of serving with abundance. They handle the capital, the technology and the back-office heavy lifting behind the scenes. This creates massive time savings for us, ensuring that our local leadership, deep client relationships and the genuine care we’ve built for the last two decades stay exactly where they belong: front and center.”
Additionally, New York City-based LMC opened its first Long Island office, from which Spike and his eight team members will provide services such as tax preparation, tax planning, financial planning, estate planning and bookkeeping.
“Ricky Spike and his outstanding team bring decades of experience and deep technical expertise that will further strengthen our ability to serve clients,” LMC CEO Lee Cohen said in a statement. “The opening of our first Long Island office and the addition of Ricky and his team represent an important milestone in our growth and our commitment to delivering the expertise and personalized service our clients rely on.”
LMC joined Ascend in 2023 with $19 million in revenue. It now has $55 million in revenue,, with at least 10 partners and over 130 employees.
“LMC has built an exceptional reputation for client service, technical excellence and professional development,” Spike said in a statement. “As an Ascend partner firm, they provide access to advanced technology, collaborative resources, expanded opportunities and professional advancement for our team. These resources will benefit both our team and our clients while allowing us to continue providing the personalized service our clients have come to expect.”
Ascend has made numerous investments since its launch. Last month, it added
Other additions in the past year include
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