Ervin Cohen & Jessup partner Joseph Petro lands Los Angeles Business Journal M&A honor

By AI, Created 5:06 PM UTC, June 04, 2026, /AGP/ – Joseph Petro of Ervin Cohen & Jessup was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2026 Leaders of Influence: Mergers & Acquisitions list. The recognition highlights his role advising entrepreneurs, founders and privately held companies on complex transactions and business exits.

Why it matters: - The recognition puts Joseph Petro among the Los Angeles business community’s highlighted M&A advisers in 2026. - The honor can strengthen Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP’s visibility with companies that need help with mergers, acquisitions, growth transactions and exits.

What happened: - Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP said Partner Joseph Petro was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2026 “Leaders of Influence: Mergers & Acquisitions” special feature. - The publication described the honorees as M&A professionals selected for “exceptional leadership, knowledge, skill and achievements across the full spectrum of M&A and fiscal guidance.” - The announcement was dated June 4, 2026, in Los Angeles.

The details: - Petro is a Partner and Chair of the firm’s Corporate Department. - The feature says Petro is a strategist who handles the complexities of the business lifecycle. - Petro focuses on representing entrepreneurs, founders and privately held companies. - Petro’s work is centered on counsel that bridges growth and successful exits. - Barry MacNaughton, managing partner at Ervin Cohen & Jessup, said the recognition reflects Petro’s “high-caliber advocacy and business insight.” - MacNaughton also said the honor underscores Petro’s commitment to guiding businesses through critical transactions with clarity and precision. - Petro works across disciplines inside the firm to deliver coordinated counsel. - Petro uses strategic foresight and judgment to steer complex transactions while aligning legal solutions with clients’ commercial objectives. - Petro was also named to Southern California Super Lawyers in 2025.

Between the lines: - The profile points to continued demand for lawyers who can combine deal execution with practical business advice. - The emphasis on entrepreneurs and privately held companies suggests Petro’s practice is aimed at owners making high-stakes decisions around expansion, sale or succession.

What’s next: - Ervin Cohen & Jessup is likely to continue using Petro’s recognition in its corporate and M&A positioning. - Petro’s profile may become a reference point for clients seeking regional M&A counsel with both transactional and business strategy experience. - More information is available in the company’s announcement.