Citrin Cooperman Establishes Midwest Footprint Through Acquisition of Shepard Schwartz & Harris

New York (July 18, 2022) – Citrin Cooperman has announced the establishment of their first Midwest office through the acquisition of Shepard Schwartz & Harris (“SSH”), a Chicago based firm focused primarily on privately held businesses and their owners with specialties in the real estate, construction, and manufacturing and distribution industries. Shephard Schwartz & Harris joins Citrin Cooperman with ten partners and over 50 staff members.

“To be the first Citrin Cooperman office in Chicago is really a unique experience,” Office Managing Partners Mary Fuller and Stan Lazar shared in a joint statement. “We are excited to introduce the Chicago and Midwest markets to the Citrin Cooperman resources and services and continue to help our clients with their personal and business needs.”

“Expanding our services in the Midwest, and especially in Chicago, is an incredible opportunity,” shared Citrin Cooperman CEO Alan Badey. “And to be able to do so with the top-notch professionals at Shephard Schwartz & Harris, a team that is so deeply entrenched in the market, it’s amazing.”

Similar sentiments were shared by Citrin Cooperman Executive Chairman Joel Cooperman, “I’ve known Mary and Stan for eight years and have enjoyed every conversation we’ve had, including the negotiations. I am so happy that we are finally together, and we look forward to bringing our vast array of services to their clients and to the Midwest.”

Founded by Irving Shepard and Morris Schwartz and later joined by Jerome Harris, SSH has been an integral part of the Chicago business community since 1935. A highly talented tax, accounting, and business advisory firm designed for the needs of privately held companies, SSH helped to shape the Chicago skyline as we see it today through their involvement as a key player in the real estate and construction industries throughout Chicago and the Midwest. Mary Fuller and Stan Lazar will be co-managing partners of the newly established Citrin Cooperman office in the prior SSH downtown Chicago location.

Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the deal, commented, “Citrin Cooperman is entering the market with all the support and resources of a national firm combined with the personal and local knowledge of a Chicago-based enterprise. SS&H was sought after by every national and regional firm in Chicago for a merger. They fit the description of ‘Chicago’s Best’ in terms of talent, entrepreneurism, and leadership and are blessed to have a roster of some of Chicago’s most successful businesses and high net worth individuals.”

The non-attest assets of SSH will be joining Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC. Concurrent with this transaction, the attest assets will join Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP.

About Citrin Cooperman: Citrin Cooperman is one of the nation’s largest professional services firms. Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services and Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC, which provides business advisory and non-attest services, operate as an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations and professional standards. Clients are in all business sectors and leverage a complete menu of service offerings. The entities include more than 200 partners and over 1500 employees across the U.S. For more information, please visit citrincooperman.com, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.