ABOUT CHRIS

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WHO IS Chris BATZ?

Chris Batz, based in New York City, is the Founder and Managing Member of Columbus Street, an M&A advisory firm dedicated to facilitating corporate law firm combinations and transactions. Leveraging deep expertise in the US legal market, Chris guides clients through identifying and vetting target firms that align closely in culture, values, and economic fit.

Chris is the Founder of MergerWatch.com MergerWatch launched in early 2026 as the data intelligence arm of Columbus Street. Our mission is to be the definitive source of Law Firm Merger Data in the United States. We track every law firm merger and acquisition announcement with accuracy and speed and provide monthly, annual and special reports.

Chris received his executive MBA from Columbia Business School in New York City (May 2025) and also has a bachelors and masters in accounting degrees from liberal arts colleges. At Columbia, he focused his studies on corporate finance, corporate governance, and security analysis.

Chris is the Founder of The Lion Group, a Kansas City-based legal recruiting firm. With an extensive network and a 12 year history, Chris and his team recruit legal and compliance talent for growing companies and corporate legal departments in the Midwest and around the United States. He also places corporate defense partners, groups and opens offices for corporate law firms of 100 – 1,000+.

Chris is the co-host of The Future is Bright podcast. He and his co-host (Howard Rosenberg of Baretz + Brunelle) interview law firm managing partners, legal consultants, legal tech CEOs and more both men and women on corporate law firm industry trends including growth, consolidation, lateral talent, etc. plus career insights, and leadership takeaways. The Future is Bright can be found on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, etc.

Prior to the Future is Bright, Chris hosted a podcast, The Law Firm Leadership Podcast with 63 Episodes since 2016 where he spoke to and learned from large law firm Managing Partners, General Counsel, CEOs and Legal Consultants; both men and women. It was through these conversations and relationships where he grew his inspiration to launch The Future is Bright. You can listen to older episodes of The Law Firm Leadership Podcast here!

He brings a background in public accounting, a passion for marketing and strategy and has been quoted in Law360, Law.com, Texas Lawyer, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Legal Management, etc. Chris is the author of Lateral Moves: A Guide for Partners and Law Firms, which addresses the nuances of law partner lateral moves and is available on Amazon Kindle. Chris has also spoken and or met with several times for various ACC Chapters (Association of Corporate Counsel) around the United States.

The Lion Group is a member of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants and Sanford Rose Associates, the 9th largest US search firm.

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Whether you want to ask about how Chris can help your organization, book Chris to speak, or explore being a guest speaker on The Future is Bright podcast, Chris would love to chat.

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