Donny LukerOne of Chattanooga's largest accounting firms is merging with Mauldin & Jenkins LLC in Atlanta.
Hazlett, Lewis & Bieter, LLC, a 70-year-old Chattanooga accounting firm with 65 partners and employees, announced today that is in joining Mauldin & Jenkins on June 1. The agreement inked today calls for the admission to M&J all of the members of the Chattanooga-based firm.
Donny Luker, general manager for M&J, said Hazlett, Lewis, & Bieter "is a proven successful firm that provides quality service to their clients" and will help the combined firm grow to $46 million in net fees and employ 280 workers.
"Together, we have a stronger and broader resource base from which to draw in order to provide services to our clients, and through the market expansion to offer more opportunities for our people and partners," Luker said in a statement.
As a result of the combinations, M&J will have approximately $46,000,000 in net fees, 45 partners, and approximately 280 people. The Firm's client base will stretch across the Southeast and will include a core of entrepreneurial services clients as well as niche practices in not for profit, governmental, healthcare, and financial institutions. Luker further stated that, "The services we offer include a strong focus on traditional areas of audit and tax as well as many specialty areas like litigation support, healthcare reimbursement consulting, and business valuation services."
All partners of Hazlett, Lewis, & Bieter, PLLC will join M&J. Warren McEwen, the incoming managing partner of Hazlett, Lewis, & Bieter, PLLC will remain as Partner in Charge of M&J's Chattanooga operations.
Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC will relocate several partners and staff to the Chattanooga area to enhance services capabilities. These partners and staff specialize in the governmental and banking areas.
"The combination of our two Firms is a cultural, financial, and strategic fit," Luker said.