July 1, 2026 (Arlington, VA) – Two firms within the Ascend platform have expanded through recent acquisitions. Both transactions reflect a growing trend of independent firms choosing to combine with Ascend partner firms to access national-scale resources while preserving the personal client relationships and local identity they built their businesses on.
LevitZacks in San Diego, California, has acquired Leinenweber & Associates of La Jolla, California, and Wilson Lewis of Atlanta, Georgia, has integrated Santi & Associates of Alpharetta, Georgia. Both transactions were effective June 1, 2026 and firms will operate under the LevitZacks and Wilson Lewis brands going forward. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Leinenweber & Associates is a La Jolla-based firm specializing in high-net-worth individuals, trust and estate matters, tax compliance, and proactive tax strategy. The firm is adding three partners and one staff member to LevitZacks.
“As a small five-person firm, we sought a transaction that would successfully transition clients, give us access to improved technology and services, and provide a structure to take on new clients,” said Mark Leinenweber, founder of Leinenweber & Associates. “After researching and exploring several options, combining with LevitZacks through Ascend seemed best positioned to meet all of those goals. We’re a few weeks into the transition and all outcomes are exceeding expectations.”
LevitZacks shares the excitement in welcoming Leinenweber into the family. On their new partnership, CEO Victor Ramsauer said, “Not only does this firm have deep roots in our community, but Mark and his team have been kindred spirits, and we’re excited to share ideas and continue providing the best service to our longstanding clients. I can’t wait to work with them.”
Santi & Associates is an Alpharetta, Georgia-based firm with more than 35 years of trusted client service and technical expertise. The firm has built a strong reputation for delivering personalized guidance to closely held businesses and individuals across a wide range of industries, with a focus on business and tax services. The acquisition adds one partner and ten staff members to the Wilson Lewis team, which already operates offices in Atlanta and Duluth, Georgia.
“Starting and growing a business is a very personal experience, and my company and the clients we serve have always been a top priority,” said Roger Santi, founder of Santi & Associates. “Ascend affords the benefits of additional resources, systems, talent, and efficiencies of a large firm while never losing the personal touch and agility that clients appreciate in a smaller firm. It truly is the best of all worlds, and it provides me great comfort in knowing that our clients are the big beneficiaries of that.”
Wilson Lewis CEO, Josh Crisp remarked on how the two firms were a natural fit from the start due to their shared value of personal client service. “From our earliest conversations, it was clear that our firms share a common philosophy centered around client relationships, team culture, and long-term growth. Santi’s reputation for trusted service and deep connections within the Alpharetta community make them an outstanding addition to our firm. By coming together, we’re enhancing the depth of expertise and resources available to our clients while also creating new opportunities for our people to develop and grow. Most importantly, this partnership strengthens our ability to continue delivering a high-touch, relationship-driven experience to the clients and communities we serve."
About Ascend
Ascend is a private equity-backed platform for regional accounting firms, funded by Alpine Investors, that has been steadily expanding its network of partner firms since its founding in January 2023. The platform ranked No. 24 on Accounting Today's 2026 Top 100 Firms list, reporting $590.5 million in revenue at the time and nearly 3,000 employees. Earlier this year, Ascend added Jackson Thornton in Montgomery, Alabama, and William Vaughan Company of Toledo, Ohio to its partner firm network. For more information, visit www.ascendtogether.com.
Contact:
Kate Perko
kate.perko@ascendtogether.com
910-273-3350