When geopolitical tensions spike and regulators start circling, companies want advisors who've been in the room where it happens. That's the bet financial advisory firm Province is making with its acquisition of StoneTurn, a disputes and investigations specialist that brings Washington insiders into Province's expanding practice.
The deal, announced this week, reflects what Province sees as a fundamental shift in how companies think about geopolitical exposure. It's not just about managing risk anymore—it's about getting ahead of it before it becomes a crisis.
"The StoneTurn acquisition allows us to service folks in much different and broader geographies than we have before. From a geopolitical standpoint, that has certainly introduced some risk both domestically and abroad so having folks from the government that have experience from the regulatory standpoint or the White House allows us to [offer] much better capabilities in addressing clients that are facing geopolitical risk or geopolitical issues," David Dunn, partner at Province, said in an exclusive interview with MarketDash.
Building a Full-Service Risk Platform
Client needs have evolved, according to Dunn, and Province wanted a partner that could expand its disputes, investigations and risk advisory work across borders. Rising geopolitical uncertainty has changed the game—companies now want advisors who can step in earlier, before problems metastasize into full-blown crises.
"We will be able to get involved in situations much earlier. The way that risk is viewed by companies, sponsors and other investors has shifted and so there is certainly a need. From a diversification standpoint it makes us more of a multi-varied platform through which we can provide client services throughout an entire lifecycle of a company or matter," Dunn explained.
The acquisition does more than expand Province's geographic footprint. It brings StoneTurn's regulatory and investigative expertise into the fold, along with a new client base. Dunn called the opportunity "attractive," pointing to cultural alignment around client management and retention, plus the chance to diversify Province's business lines even further.
Integration, Not Reduction
This isn't a cost-cutting exercise. Dunn was clear that no layoffs or personnel changes are planned. Instead, Province intends to focus on integration—melding operations and finding synergies between front- and back-office functions at both firms.
From the client's perspective, Dunn stressed, nothing changes except what Province can now deliver.
"I don't think this changes anything from a client perspective. I think it only enhances what we can offer clients on existing and potential matters. We're very excited about what's in store for our combined businesses," Dunn said.
For the rest of the year, expect "business as usual" as the firm consolidates platforms and fine-tunes its joint operating model. The priority is cross-selling services to deliver more efficient client support—and early signs look promising.
"We are figuring out how from a cross selling standpoint, we can bring more efficient client services to each matter and that's ultimately what we think will be the value driver. We've already seen some positive early feedback in matters that we've looked at and are chasing together. We will continue to refine that joint model as the year goes on," Dunn said.
