Uplift Investors

What Uplift Investors does

Uplift Investors is a middle-market private equity firm founded in 2025 by Managing Partners Will Hausberg, Doug Rosenstein, and Brad Skaf, headquartered in Darien, Connecticut. The firm invests in services companies with $10-$40M EBITDA at the intersection of a proprietary 5-5-5 framework: five business models (dual-sided networks, functional outsourcing, professional services, route-based services, and information services) crossed with five services sectors (knowledge and talent solutions, legal services, financial services, technical trades, and industrial services). It targets North American companies and structures investments through controlling or significant stakes, with value creation delivered via five dedicated Value Creation Centers covering organizational design, go-to-market excellence, talent acquisition, technology/data/AI enablement, and M&A and integration.

The firm holds two platform investments. Orion Legal MSO (launched January 2026 with founding partner Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers) is a managed service organization providing non-legal operational support to plaintiff law firms while preserving attorney ownership and control under U.S. legal ethics rules. As of June 2026, Orion has three partner firms (Dudley DeBosier in Louisiana, Hughes & Coleman in Kentucky/Tennessee, and John Foy & Associates in Georgia) plus Ron Bell Injury Lawyers in New Mexico supported through Hughes & Coleman. IMS Legal Strategies (acquired April 2026 from Trinity Hunt Partners) is a dual-sided network platform serving as the largest network-based expert witness provider in the U.S., with more than 21,500 clients including 182 Am Law 200 firms and 366 Fortune 500 companies, and operating across the full litigation lifecycle.

Uplift generates returns through standard private equity mechanics: management fees on committed or invested capital plus carried interest on portfolio company profits. Revenue is concentrated at the firm level around fund management rather than operating revenue. Deal sourcing is relationship-driven and direct, executed by Managing Partners with support from a Chicago-based CSO leading M&A and integration, and the firm augments portfolio companies through dedicated functional resources rather than building standalone technology products.

Name

Uplift Investors

Legal name

Uplift Investors, LP

Website

https://www.upliftinvestors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Uplift Investors is a 2025-founded, Connecticut-based middle-market private equity firm that invests in services companies with $10-$40M EBITDA at the intersection of five business models and five services sectors, deploying capital through two legal services platforms: Orion Legal MSO and IMS Legal Strategies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity / Investment Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)

Keywords

• Middle-market private equity
• Services sector investing
• Portfolio value creation
• Business model acquisitions
• Fund management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Darien

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Fund Management: Uplift Investors generates returns through private equity investing — specifically, acquiring controlling or significant stakes in middle-market services businesses. Revenue is derived from management fees charged on committed or invested capital, and from carried interest (performance fees) on portfolio profits. The firm also drives value through its five Value Creation Centers (organizational design, go-to-market excellence, talent acquisition, technology/data/AI enablement, and M&A/integration), which are applied to accelerate growth in portfolio companies, thereby increasing the firm's carried interest upside.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Uplift Investors is a middle-market private equity firm that acquires controlling or significant stakes in services businesses with $10-$40M EBITDA at the intersection of five business models (dual-sided networks, functional outsourcing, professional services, route-based services, information services) and five services sectors. The firm invests capital and deploys five Value Creation Centers (organizational design, go-to-market excellence, talent acquisition, technology/data/AI enablement, and M&A/integration) to accelerate growth and operational performance in portfolio companies, generating returns through management fees and carried interest.

Product overview

Uplift Investors operates two primary portfolio platforms within legal services: Orion Legal MSO (Professional Services model) provides non-legal operational support including marketing, finance, technology, talent, and administrative infrastructure to plaintiff law firms while maintaining attorney ownership and control; and IMS Legal Strategies (Dual-Sided Networks model) provides comprehensive litigation support services including expert witness placement, advisory and analytical consulting, data-driven jury consulting, trial graphics, and presentation technology for the full litigation lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orion Legal MSO Managed service organization (MSO) providing non-legal operational support functions including marketing, finance, technology, talent, and administrative infrastructure to plaintiff law firms, enabling attorneys to focus on client advocacy while maintaining 100% ownership and control of their firms.
• IMS Legal Strategies Dual-sided network platform providing expert witness placement, advisory and analytical support, data-driven jury consulting, trial graphics, and presentation technology for the full litigation lifecycle, serving law firms and corporations including 182 Am Law 200 firms and 366 Fortune 500 companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Orion partner firms have recovered over $3 billion combined for clients
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• John Foy & AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026John Foy & Associates became a co-founding partner of Orion Legal MSO in June 2026, marking the third law firm to join Orion's platform. Founder and CEO John Foy joined Orion's National Advisory Board. The firm is Atlanta's market leader in personal injury with over 20 years of service and over $1 billion secured for clients. John Foy retains 100% ownership of the firm.
• Law Firm GCminorOthers · 16 June 2026Law Firm GC served as legal counsel to John Foy & Associates for the Orion Legal MSO partnership.
• Hughes & Coleman Injury LawyerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers became a partner of Orion Legal MSO in May 2026, supporting Orion's national expansion. Managing Partner and Co-Founder Lee Coleman was appointed Chair of Orion's National Advisory Board. Founded in 1985, the firm operates 10 offices across Kentucky and Tennessee and has recovered over $2 billion for clients. Orion provides non-legal operational support while the firm retains full ownership.
• Ron Bell Injury LawyersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Ron Bell Injury Lawyers, founded in 1982 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is partnered with Hughes & Coleman (since 2008) and receives non-legal operational support through Orion Legal MSO alongside Hughes & Coleman. There is no change to ownership or control of the firm.
• Holland & Knight LLPminorOthers · 21 May 2026Holland & Knight LLP served as legal counsel to Orion Legal MSO for the Hughes & Coleman partnership.
• Samson Partners GroupminorOthers · 21 May 2026Samson Partners Group acted as financial advisor to Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers for the Orion Legal MSO partnership.
• English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLPminorOthers · 21 May 2026English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley, LLP served as legal counsel to Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers for the Orion Legal MSO partnership.
• Robert W. Baird & Co.minorOthers · 6 April 2026Robert W. Baird & Co. served as one of two financial advisors to Uplift Investors for the IMS Legal Strategies acquisition (alongside Piper Sandler).
• Piper SandlerminorOthers · 6 April 2026Piper Sandler served as one of two financial advisors to Uplift Investors for the IMS Legal Strategies acquisition (alongside Robert W. Baird).
• Kirkland & EllisminorOthers · 6 April 2026Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal counsel to Uplift Investors for the IMS Legal Strategies acquisition.
• Deloitte Corporate Finance, LLCminorOthers · 6 April 2026Deloitte Corporate Finance, LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to IMS Legal Strategies in connection with its acquisition by Uplift Investors.
• Katten Muchin Rosenman LLPminorOthers · 6 April 2026Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP acted as legal counsel to IMS Legal Strategies in connection with its acquisition by Uplift Investors.
• Tim McKey / Vista ConsultingminorOthers · 3 February 2026Tim McKey of Vista Consulting served as key strategic advisor on the Dudley DeBosier / Orion Legal MSO partnership transaction.
• Dudley DeBosier Injury LawyerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers serves as the founding partner firm of Orion Legal MSO, Uplift's managed service organization for plaintiff law firms. The firm's founding partners (Chad Dudley, Steven DeBosier, and James Peltier) retain 100% ownership of the law firm, invest in Orion alongside Uplift, and join Orion's executive leadership team. Orion provides non-legal operational support (marketing, finance, technology, talent, administration) enabling attorneys to focus on legal work.
• Houlihan LokeyminorOthers · 22 January 2026Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor to Uplift Investors for the formation of Orion Legal MSO with Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers.
• Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (Stifel)minorOthers · 22 January 2026Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Stifel company, served as financial advisor to Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers for the Orion Legal MSO partnership.
• Greenberg Traurig, LLPminorOthers · 22 January 2026Greenberg Traurig, LLP acted as legal counsel to Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers for the Orion Legal MSO partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sterling Partners: Middle-market PE firm investing in services and technology-enabled businesses, with a comparable team pedigree (Managing Partner Doug Rosenstein and CSO Evan Trent both held roles at Sterling). Directly comparable on mandate, check size, and value-creation orientation.
• Arsenal Capital Partners: Middle-market PE firm focused on services, healthcare, and industrial growth businesses. Comparable on services specialization and growth-oriented approach; VP Alex Wang previously worked at Arsenal.
• Nautic Partners: Middle-market private equity firm focused on services, distribution, and manufacturing. Directly comparable on services orientation and middle-market check size; Managing Partner Will Hausberg previously worked at Nautic Partners.
• Kinderhook Industries: Middle-market PE firm focused on services and industrial businesses, often executing multi-add-on roll-ups. Comparable on services focus and acquisition cadence; Principal Robb Crow also has prior tenure at Kinderhook.
• Odyssey Investment Partners: Middle-market PE firm focused on services and industrial businesses. Comparable fund mandate and services focus; Principal Jake Gillman previously worked at Odyssey, indicating direct familiarity with the platform model Uplift is replicating.
• Gridiron Capital: Middle-market private equity firm focused on services, consumer, and specialty industrial businesses, often at $10–$40M EBITDA. Highly comparable to Uplift on fund size, sector focus, and operating playbook; Managing Partner Will Hausberg previously served as Senior Managing Director at Gridiron.
• Trinity Hunt Partners: Lower middle-market growth-oriented PE firm focused on business services and consumer. Trinity Hunt was the prior owner of IMS Legal Strategies, executing 14 add-ons before exiting to Uplift; directly comparable in services thesis and add-on roll-up model.
• ICV Partners: Middle-market PE firm with a services and consumer orientation. Comparable on fund size and services thesis; VP Robert Raglin previously worked at ICV Partners.
• Gryphon Investors: Middle-market private equity firm investing in services, consumer, and healthcare businesses. Comparable on services thesis and value-creation model; Principal Robb Crow previously worked at Gryphon.

Broad incumbents

• Harvest Partners: Established middle-market PE firm investing in services, consumer, and industrial businesses. Comparable on services mandate and add-on roll-up playbook, but with a longer track record and larger fund vehicles than Uplift.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uplift-investors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Uplift Investors