Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), a global professional services firm specializing in business transformation, financial advisory, and turnaround management, has launched a dedicated U.S. Corporate Finance practice focused on middle-market mergers and acquisitions. The firm has appointed Jeff Porphy as Managing Director and Head of U.S. Corporate Finance, with experienced investment bankers Dean Asofsky and Gene Kabakov joining as Managing Directors.
The new practice will provide comprehensive transaction advisory services, including sell-side and buy-side M&A, corporate carve-outs, cross-border transactions, and capital raises.
The expansion represents an important development in A&M’s U.S. advisory business, extending its corporate finance capabilities beyond the distressed and special situations work for which the firm has historically been known.
By establishing a broader M&A advisory platform, A&M aims to support clients throughout the transaction lifecycle, from strategic planning and valuation to deal execution and post-transaction operational improvement.
The practice will draw on A&M’s existing expertise in financial due diligence, tax advisory, operational performance, and business transformation.
Jeff Porphy Named Head Of U.S. Corporate Finance
Jeff Porphy joins Alvarez & Marsal with more than 30 years of investment banking and M&A advisory experience.
Before joining A&M, Porphy led the M&A and Corporate Finance business at Capital One Securities.
His previous leadership positions include Head of Middle Market M&A and Financial Sponsors M&A at Credit Suisse.
He also held a leadership role within the Middle Market M&A business at Bank of America.
Throughout his career, Porphy has worked with corporate clients, private equity sponsors, and business owners on strategic transactions.
His experience includes advising companies on acquisitions, divestitures, and other corporate finance activities.
At A&M, Porphy will lead development of the new U.S. practice and its relationships with middle-market clients.
He will also oversee efforts to build a team of senior investment bankers capable of providing comprehensive M&A advisory services.
Porphy believes A&M’s established relationships across the corporate and private equity sectors provide a foundation for expanding its transaction advisory business.
The firm’s operational and financial advisory capabilities are expected to differentiate the practice from traditional investment banking offerings.
Gene Kabakov Joins With Enterprise Software M&A Experience
Gene Kabakov joins A&M as Managing Director with 16 years of investment banking experience.
Most recently, he served as a Managing Director at Capital One Securities, where he focused on enterprise software transactions.
His previous experience includes positions at Société Générale and Oppenheimer & Co.
Kabakov brings expertise advising technology businesses on mergers, acquisitions, and corporate finance transactions.
His background in enterprise software strengthens A&M’s ability to support clients operating in technology markets.
Software companies frequently pursue acquisitions, strategic sales, and financing transactions as they expand product capabilities and enter new markets.
Kabakov’s experience will contribute to the new practice’s ability to serve companies and investors evaluating transactions in this sector.
Dean Asofsky Adds 30 Years Of M&A Advisory Experience
Dean Asofsky joins the practice as Managing Director with approximately 30 years of M&A experience.
Before joining Alvarez & Marsal, he held senior investment banking positions at Rabobank.
His responsibilities included serving as Head of M&A for North America.
Asofsky brings experience advising businesses on corporate transactions and strategic financial decisions.
His background complements the firm’s existing capabilities in transaction advisory and corporate restructuring.
Together, Porphy, Asofsky, and Kabakov form the initial senior leadership team for A&M’s U.S. Corporate Finance practice.
The appointments provide the firm with executives experienced in advising corporate clients and financial sponsors across different industries.
Expanding Beyond Distressed Transactions
Alvarez & Marsal has historically provided corporate finance services in connection with restructuring, distressed businesses, and special situations.
The new U.S. practice expands its offerings to include a broader range of transactions involving financially healthy businesses and companies pursuing strategic growth.
Its services will cover sell-side engagements in which business owners seek buyers, as well as buy-side advisory assignments supporting acquisitions.
The practice will also advise on corporate carve-outs, which involve separating business units or assets from larger organizations.
Cross-border M&A and capital raising will form additional components of the offering.
A&M intends to combine transaction execution with its existing capabilities in financial diligence, tax analysis, operational assessment, and performance improvement.
This integrated approach is designed to help clients evaluate not only the financial terms of a transaction but also its operational implications.
The firm believes this model can support better-informed strategic decisions and help businesses identify opportunities to improve performance before and after transactions.
Supporting A&M’s Global Corporate Finance Strategy
The U.S. launch also supports Alvarez & Marsal’s broader ambitions to expand its corporate finance capabilities globally.
The new practice will operate under the oversight of Paul Aversano, Managing Director and Global Practice Leader of A&M’s Global Transaction Advisory Group.
Aversano highlighted increasing demand for M&A advisors that can provide transaction expertise alongside financial, tax, and operational capabilities.
The firm intends to use its established global advisory platform to support middle-market companies navigating increasingly complex transactions.
Founded in 1983, Alvarez & Marsal provides services to corporate clients, boards of directors, private equity firms, law firms, and government agencies.
Its business includes turnaround management, performance improvement, risk advisory, and transaction support.
The new Corporate Finance practice extends that platform by adding dedicated M&A execution capabilities.
With Porphy leading the practice and Asofsky and Kabakov joining as Managing Directors, Alvarez & Marsal is positioning itself to compete for a broader range of middle-market advisory engagements while strengthening its global transaction services business.
KEY QUOTES
“There is increasing demand for an advisor with M&A pedigree who also brings the integrated financial, tax and operational expertise needed to understand the full implications and opportunities of a transaction. A&M’s history dictates that when we see a need, we build a solution – and in an increasingly complex deal landscape, that need is clear. In establishing this dedicated U.S. Corporate Finance practice, we’re meeting it with a senior-led offering backed by our globally integrated platform. This is a natural extension of our firm’s global transactions capabilities, and it strengthens our ability to support clients through their most critical deals.”
Paul Aversano, Managing Director And Global Practice Leader Of Alvarez & Marsal’s Global Transaction Advisory Group
“We see a significant opportunity to build a corporate finance platform that approaches M&A transactions with a broader perspective. A&M has a unique position in the market, with deep relationships across the corporate and private equity communities and a long history of helping clients navigate complex situations. That creates an exciting foundation from which to build. I’m looking forward to bringing together a team of experienced M&A professionals and establishing a business that can become a trusted advisor to clients as they evaluate important strategic and financial decisions.”
Jeff Porphy, Managing Director And Head Of U.S. Corporate Finance At Alvarez & Marsal