Michelle R. Generaux named a 2026 M&A Visionary by LA Times

Murtaugh LLP said Co-Managing Partner Michelle R. Generaux has been selected for Business by LA Times Studios’ 2026 Private Equity and M&A Visionaries list. The recognition highlights her decade leading the firm and her deal work for architecture, engineering and design clients across California.

Why it matters: - The recognition spotlights one of Southern California’s more specialized deal lawyers in the architecture, engineering and design sector. - Generaux’s work affects ownership changes, private equity sales and succession planning for firms where licensing, staffing and project continuity can shape transaction value. - The award also underscores Murtaugh LLP’s role in middle-market transactions for professional services firms across California.

What happened: - Murtaugh LLP announced that Co-Managing Partner Michelle R. Generaux was named to the 2026 Private Equity and M&A Visionaries list by Business by LA Times Studios. - The program recognizes private equity and M&A leaders for professional achievements and significant transactions completed over the prior 24 months. - Generaux has spent more than a decade leading Murtaugh LLP. - She served as the firm’s sole Managing Partner for 10 years and now co-manages the firm with Marin T. Bradshaw.

The details: - Generaux’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity sales, strategic acquisitions and internal ownership succession. - She advises architecture and engineering firms on mergers, acquisitions and ownership transitions. - Generaux recently represented a nationally recognized architectural firm with more than 750 employees in its acquisition of design service assets from a publicly traded international real estate company. - In that matter, she led drafting and negotiation of the asset purchase agreement and advised on transition planning across offices, personnel and active projects. - She also served as lead counsel to a California-based infrastructure contractor in its sale to a private equity firm. - In that transaction, she structured and negotiated the stock purchase agreement and related financing documents and guided ownership through diligence, valuation and risk allocation. - Generaux has represented numerous engineering firms in sales of ownership interests to publicly traded engineering companies. - She negotiates equity and stock purchase agreements, structures F-reorganizations and coordinates lender and rollover financing. - She also counsels design professional and contractor clients on internal succession, including shareholder agreements, buy-sell agreements and financing arrangements. - Generaux serves as outside general counsel to multiple architecture and engineering firms. - Her general counsel work covers pre-claim risk management, contract negotiation with counterparties including Fortune 500 companies, employment matters and multi-jurisdiction licensing and regulatory compliance. - She is a frequent speaker at industry events hosted by the American Institute of Architects and the American Council of Engineering Companies. - Generaux presented at the 2026 CASI Accessibility Summit. - Generaux is President and a board member of the Notre Dame Club of Orange County. - She founded the Notre Dame Professionals of Orange County, a network with more than 140 members. - She also served as Executive Director of the ND2OC Community Service Endowment and has held leadership roles with United Way’s 211OC project.

Between the lines: - The honor points to a legal niche that blends deal-making with industry-specific operational knowledge. - Murtaugh LLP is highlighting Generaux not just for transactions, but for helping professional firms manage growth, succession and regulatory complexity. - Michael J. Murtaugh said Generaux understands how design firms make money, how licensing works across state lines and what founders need during complex deals.

What’s next: - Generaux is likely to remain a lead adviser for architecture, engineering and contractor clients navigating sales, acquisitions and ownership transitions. - Murtaugh LLP says the firm will continue serving professional services clients in business transactions, litigation and trust and estate matters. - More information is available in Murtaugh LLP’s announcement and on the firm’s LinkedIn page.

The bottom line: - The LA Times recognition reinforces Generaux’s standing as a niche M&A lawyer whose practice is built around the needs of design and engineering firms.