Wausau, WI-Wipfli LLP and Williams Young LLC will join forces in a merger effective November 1, 2003. The move brings together two of the top names in public accounting and management consulting in the region, and places the combined firm among the top 20 such firms nationally and second within the state of Wisconsin.

"Our clients will only benefit from our strengthened capabilities," said Greg Barber, managing partner for Wipfli, which now has 17 office locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota. "With this merger, we will be able to bring additional expertise to our clients through our expanded service area."

Adding Williams Young's 80-person staff brings Wipfli's total employee roster to nearly 600. Combined revenue for the merged firms for 2003 is projected to be $80 million.

Bill Young, Williams Young’s managing director, will continue to serve as head of the Madison office and will hold a seat on Wipfli’s executive committee. Young observed, "From our very early discussions with Wipfli, it was clear that we were trying to achieve the same thing, namely to deliver a level of expertise and service to our clients that sets us apart from our competitors. As a combined entity, we will be able to do this with greater efficiency, and frankly, we'll be able to achieve greater penetration in the markets in which we do business."

Wipfli will continue to provide assurance, tax, controllership, information technology, and consulting services to its more than 20,000 clients throughout the Midwest.