Inside the Middle Market: How Law Firms Are Navigating a New Deal Environment

In this episode of Conversations with Anthony, we sit down with Anthony Consoli and Peter Massumi — founding partners of the Chambers- and Legal 500-ranked Massumi + Consoli LLP — to discuss the fast-changing dynamics of today’s middle-market deal environment. Drawing on deep experience advising sponsors and strategic buyers, they share how their firm was built for complex transactions, the expansion of their specialty practices, and the trends shaping M&A in 2025.

Whether you’re operating, investing, or executing in the middle market, this conversation offers a clear view into the mechanics, pressure points, and opportunities defining transactions in the year ahead.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Conversations With Anthony
• (00:00:50) - Peter Misumi and Tony Console Discussing the New Firm's Private
• (00:03:05) - Private Equity M&A Practice Expands
• (00:05:17) - Jefferies: Private Equity Deal Activity
• (00:08:17) - Have We Seen Enough Add Ons in the Market?
• (00:11:08) - Continuation Vehicles
• (00:12:16) - What is the CVs market?
• (00:14:29) - Middle Market Deals, Secondary and CV
• (00:15:53) - Pre-Closing Negotiations: How to Avoid
• (00:21:52) - How AI Is Affecting the Deal Market
• (00:25:53) - What is it like to Be at the Closing Table?
• (00:30:24) - CapEx Executives: On the Market in 2026
• (00:32:20) - Private Equity: 2021