Uplift Investors (“Uplift”), a middle-market private equity firm with a business model-centric focus on services investing, announced the acquisition of IMS Legal Strategies (“IMS”), a trusted partner to law firms and corporations worldwide providing expertise solutions for dispute-related challenges across the entire litigation lifecycle, such as specialized expert witness services, advisory and analytical support and data-driven jury consulting. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

As the largest network-based expert witness provider in the U.S., IMS aligns with Uplift’s investment strategy, which targets scaled services businesses across multiple end markets, including legal services. Uplift’s strategy is underpinned by a distinct “5-5-5 Framework,” focusing on companies operating at the intersection of five business models: dual-sided networks, functional outsourcing, professional services, route-based services and information services; with five services sectors: knowledge and talent solutions, legal services, technical trades, financial services and industrial services; seeking to capitalize on five scalable value creation initiatives: organizational design and team development, go-to-market excellence, talent acquisition and optimization, technology, data and AI enablement and M&A and integration.

IMS was founded by Mike and Bill Wein in the early 1990s as an executive search firm and has since evolved into a full-service provider of consulting and expert services focused on high-complexity litigation.

Will Hausberg, Managing Partner at Uplift, said, “IMS’s scale, reputation and embedded role in providing expertise for high-stakes legal workflows creates a powerful network effect and a durable competitive advantage at the center of a large, growing and non-cyclical market.”

Doug Rosenstein, Managing Partner at Uplift, added, “Drawing on our experience investing in and scaling dual-sided networks, we see a clear opportunity to accelerate growth through targeted investments in technology and data enablement, enhanced go-to-market execution and continued strategic M&A to further strengthen the platform.”

James Crane, Chief Executive Officer of IMS, said, “We are proud of the platform we’ve built and the critical role we play for both our clients and expert partners, and we’re excited to partner with Uplift for our next phase of growth. Uplift brings a deep understanding of dual-sided network businesses and a value creation approach that aligns closely with our long-term vision. Their focus on investing in people, technology and scalable infrastructure positions us to expand our reach, deepen client relationships and continue delivering best-in-class outcomes in the most complex and consequential matters.”

Robert W. Baird & Co. and Piper Sandler served as financial advisors to Uplift, and Kirkland & Ellis acted as its legal counsel. Deloitte Corporate Finance, LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to IMS, and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP acted as its legal counsel.