What We’re Building
We are not a generalist roll-up. Every agency we bring in strengthens a single focus: becoming the definitive digital visibility agency for B2B law firms in the United States.
That means we are looking for founder-led agencies with strong capabilities, either agencies already serving legal clients or shops with services we can point directly at our growing client roster. If you have built something worth protecting, we want to help you take it further than you could on your own.
Our Story: Why We're Doing This
Over eleven years, we learned how hard it is to grow a founder-led agency in this space the right way, by earning trust with law firms one relationship at a time.
Along the way, we kept meeting founders who were in the same place we had been. A real business, loyal clients, deep expertise, and no clear path to the next level. Most of them were told they had two choices. Sell to a private equity firm that would optimize the business for a quick resale, or keep grinding alone without the resources to scale.
We are building a third option. A home for founder-led agencies where the team lands well, the clients stay protected, and the founder gets the platform to do the best work of their career. We are operators who have lived this, and we are building for the long term, not a twelve-month flip.
The People Behind 9Sail Who You'll Be Working With
A decision like this is personal. You are not handing your team and your clients to a logo. You are trusting the people across the table. Here is who they are.
What It Looks Like to Join 9Sail
Our culture is built on four values: make your heroes proud, extreme ownership, be curious, and work the problem. We are known for unreasonable hospitality and for being a true partner rather than a vendor. Our team loves working here, and we want yours to feel the same. They would have a bigger platform, more resources, and the room to do their best work.
9Sail is known for long-term retainers, low churn, and high client satisfaction. When we bring on a new team, client communication and continuity are a deliberate focus, not an afterthought. Over time, your clients may also gain access to capabilities they don’t have today, including PR, thought leadership, and additional digital channels.
For most deals, we want founders who see this as their next chapter, not their last one. That could mean leading a service line, continuing to sell into your existing network, or stepping into a role built around your strengths. The goal is to put you in your zone of genius, with a bigger team behind you, a broader client base, and room to focus on the parts of the business you enjoy most.
Why Founders Choose 9Sail
We know legal.
We are not learning this space on your dime. We have spent over a decade serving AmLaw 200 and midlaw firms, and we know what elite service looks like from the inside.
We run a real process.
Before you sign anything, you will see exactly how the first 100 days work, who is responsible for what, and how your team and clients are brought in without disruption. We call it an onboarding plan, not integration, because that is how we think about it.
We are operators, not financial engineers.
When you join 9Sail, you are joining people who have done the work, not people who review the spreadsheets.
We have a track record.
Before we acquired our first agency, we co-invested in an adjacent business. In six months, it grew 48%. We learned what it takes to partner with a founder and deliver on the promises we make.
Our M&A process is guided by our board advisor, Corey Quinn, who helped scale Scorpion from $20 million to $200 million in recurring revenue through organic growth and strategic acquisition. We have banking relationships in place and a documented process at every stage.
Who We’re Looking For
• Founder-led agencies with $500K to $3M in revenue
• Legal-focused digital marketing shops or agencies with capabilities that translate to legal clients
• Owners who want to be part of something bigger, not just cash out and disappear
• Teams with strong client relationships and shared values and beliefs
Let’s Talk
If you have built something you’re proud of and you’re ready to explore what the next chapter looks like, we’d like to hear from you. No bankers required on your end. Just a conversation.
Bryan Pattman
All inquiries are held in strict confidence.