Focus Financial Partners, a financial services firm providing wealth management, family office, and business management services, has acquired ML Management Partners (MLM), a New York City-based business management firm specializing in serving entertainment industry professionals and high-net-worth individuals. The transaction closed on November 1, 2026, and strengthens Focus’s business management platform with additional expertise serving clients in television, film, and related creative industries.
Founded in 1988 by Mark Landesman, ML Management Partners provides business management and family office services to entertainment professionals, including actors, comedians, directors, producers, writers, industry executives, and other creative professionals.
The firm maintains offices in New York City and Los Angeles.
The acquisition expands Focus’s portfolio of specialized business management firms and provides MLM with access to additional resources and infrastructure.
Focus reported more than $550 billion in collectively advised assets as of June 30, 2026.
Expanding Focus’s Entertainment Industry Capabilities
The acquisition strengthens Focus Financial Partners’ presence in a specialized segment of the financial services industry.
Business management firms serving entertainment professionals often provide services tailored to clients with complex financial affairs and careers involving multiple income sources.
These clients may include performers, producers, directors, writers, and executives working across television, film, and other entertainment businesses.
ML Management Partners has developed its business around these relationships over nearly four decades.
The firm’s experience extends beyond traditional entertainment industry clients to include family office services for high-net-worth individuals.
Focus believes the acquisition supports its broader strategy of building a platform that combines specialized financial expertise with extensive operational resources.
The company has continued investing in businesses that complement its wealth management and family office services.
MLM adds an established client base and experienced leadership team to that platform.
ML Management Partners’ Nearly Four-Decade History
ML Management Partners was founded in 1988 by Mark Landesman.
The business initially focused primarily on serving comedians before expanding its services across the broader entertainment industry.
Today, MLM works with professionals both in front of and behind the camera, including talent, executives, producers, directors, and writers.
Its client base also includes individuals and businesses with specialized financial management requirements.
The firm operates from New York City with a second office in Los Angeles, providing a presence in two important centers of the U.S. entertainment industry.
Landesman has emphasized the importance of maintaining long-term relationships and personalized services for the firm’s clients.
He described the acquisition as an opportunity to preserve MLM’s established approach while accessing the broader resources of Focus.
The partnership is intended to allow MLM to continue serving its existing clients while developing additional capabilities.
Focus Builds Its Business Management Platform
Focus Financial Partners operates a financial services platform combining wealth management, business management, and family office capabilities.
Its strategy emphasizes providing specialized services through experienced professionals supported by broader institutional resources.
The acquisition of ML Management Partners reflects Focus’s continued investment in the business management industry.
Travis Danysh, Chief Strategy Officer at Focus, highlighted the quality and growth of the company’s existing business management portfolio.
He described the addition of MLM as an important step in the evolution of Focus’s business management strategy.
The transaction also reflects the company’s emphasis on investing in specialized talent and service offerings.
Focus expects to work with MLM’s team to expand the business and serve additional clients.
Access To Broader Resources And Infrastructure
Joining Focus provides ML Management Partners with access to resources associated with a larger financial services organization.
These capabilities are intended to support continued business development and service delivery.
For MLM, the transaction provides a way to pursue growth while maintaining its focus on clients with specialized financial needs.
The firm’s leadership sees opportunities to enhance its existing services through Focus’s broader platform.
For Focus, the acquisition adds a business with established relationships in the entertainment industry and experience serving high-net-worth clients.
The combination brings together MLM’s specialized knowledge with Focus’s financial services infrastructure.
Supporting Long-Term Business Management Growth
Focus Financial Partners serves individuals, families, and institutions through integrated financial services.
The firm combines wealth management, family office capabilities, and business management services to address complex client requirements.
Its collective advised assets exceeded $550 billion as of June 30, 2026.
The acquisition of MLM expands Focus’s presence in the entertainment industry while strengthening its specialized business management portfolio.
MLM will benefit from additional institutional resources as it continues serving clients from its New York and Los Angeles offices.
The transaction represents another step in Focus’s strategy of expanding through partnerships with established financial services businesses.
KEY QUOTES
“Focus is a leading investor in the business management industry, and the scale, quality and growth of our business management portfolio is exceptional. This transaction is an important step in the evolution of our business management strategy, and a direct reflection of our continued commitment to investing in the talent, resources and specialized solutions that have made us a leading player in the industry.”
“MLM is a premier firm and we look forward to working with the team to grow the business, serve more clients and raise the standard for what defines best-in-class business management. We are excited to welcome MLM to the Focus team and are excited to see what we can accomplish together.”
Travis Danysh, Chief Strategy Officer At Focus Financial Partners
“Over the past three decades, MLM has built a reputation as being a trusted advisor to some of the entertainment industry’s most successful professionals. We know that Focus shares our commitment to clients. This acquisition is a natural next step to allow us to continue providing the same level of service that our clients deserve and have come to expect from us, but now with access to the even greater resources and infrastructure of Focus to further enhance our services to our clients.”
Mark Landesman, Founder And CEO Of ML Management Partners