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licensing early in the process to ensure your firm remains fully compliant, operational, and set for long-term success. Ensure your ownership transition advisory team includes professionals who understand both the corporate and regulatory implications of ownership changes. Don’t rely solely on transaction advisors or your corporate lawyer to navigate this minefield of regulations – consult those familiar with architecture and engineering firm professional licensing. NEXT STEPS. Don’t let firm licensing be the weak link in your ownership transition strategy. Ensuring compliance isn’t just a legal necessity; it’s a business imperative that safeguards your firm’s ability to grow, operate across state lines, and preserve client trust. Join Stambaugh Ness for our upcoming webinar, AE Ownership Transition & Professional Licensing Challenges , where we’ll break down state licensing requirements and share proactive strategies to help you navigate leadership and ownership changes without putting your licensure or your business at risk. Karen Poist, CPA, is managing director of State Advisory at Stambaugh Ness. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Brad Wilson, CMA, MBA, is director of Strategic Growth Advisory at Stambaugh Ness. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
KAREN POIST & BRAD WILSON , from page 3
HOW OWNERSHIP TRANSITIONS CAN DISRUPT FIRM LICENSING. As ownership transitions become more common, whether due to retirements, increased M&A activity, employee-led buyouts, or expansion of the firm, it’s important that firm leaders integrate licensing compliance into every stage of the transition process. The popularity of ESOPs in the AEC industry has soared for many reasons. Still, ESOPs bring with them unique challenges regarding licensure that could impact the structure of the ESOP or even the decision to become an ESOP firm. “Don’t let firm licensing be the weak link in your strategy. Ensuring compliance isn’t just a legal necessity; it’s a business imperative that safeguards your firm’s ability to grow, operate across state lines, and preserve client trust.” Ownership transitions are turning points in a firm’s growth story. They must be handled with more than financial and legal accuracy – they require regulatory awareness. Don’t wait for a state board to flag the problem. Proactively address
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THE ZWEIG LETTER JUNE 2, 2025, ISSUE 1588
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