BrazilConsulting firm AbstoneLalley opens office in Buenos Aires
AbstoneLalley, a US corporate consulting firm to the legal industry, has expanded into Latin America with the launch of an office in Buenos Aires. The office in Argentina becomes the fifth hub of the Chicago headquartered advisory firm.
Founded by Rodney Abstone-Carabajal and Robert Lalley in 2012, AbstoneLalley helps clients – mainly tier-one and mid-sized law firms – across the United States with a range of management consulting, legal and financial advisory services. Among the offerings the firm provides are strategic planning, management restructuring, legal support, diversity recruiting and retention, mergers & acquisitions, legal due diligence, project and financial management, marketing, branding, and performance evaluation.
Six years after launching, the fast growing, minority-owned firm – AbstoneLalley has grown its footprint to four offices in the US; Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco – has completed its first international expansion. Commenting on the decision to enter Argentina, Chief Executive Officer Abstone-Carabajal said: “For law and corporate consulting firm firms looking to meet their clients’ growing needs and compete for business on a global scale, Latin America is an extremely attractive market.”
Elaborating on his statement, the CEO added, “The economic climate throughout Latin America has improved significantly in recent years and has continued to develop and grow at a steady pace. This consistent economic growth has piqued interest in the region from the international business community.”
To kick-start its Buenos Aires office, Abstone-Carabajal recently relocated to South America to lead the company’s local endeavor and to build a team of consultants. Following his new focus area, Abstone-Carabajal has transferred his responsibility of CEO of the US operations to Sara DeNio, a Chicago-based partner at the firm.
“Over the past six years, AbstoneLalley has grown from a small, start-up to a nationally-recognized consultancy,” said DeNio. “We have developed strong relationships with some of the nation’s leading law firms, and we remain focused on growing our presence in the United States,” remarked DeNio.
From the base in Buenos Aires, the Argentina office will aim to establish and grow a local firm that is capable of working with many of the globe’s top law firms. “Several of our clients such as Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper, Dentons, Skadden and White & Case have had thriving offices in South America for many years,” explained Abstone-Carabajal. Meanwhile, the consulting firm will also build M&A capabilities locally, as AbstoneLalley intends to nestle its way in the M&A space for law firms. “We will also focus on bringing large US and European firms to the Latin America market by identifying merger and acquisition opportunities with already existing, Latin America-based law firms.”
Late last year another US-headquartered firm, Andersen Global, also touched down in Argentina with the addition of Buenos Aires-based Goldemberg Saladino Hermida Rolando & Asociados to its member network.
