The UK professional services sector is having more than a moment. Over the past year, US private equity firms have been circling the market, with deals like Warburg Pincus’ investment into Unity Advisory signalling growing transatlantic interest.

For founders, this surge of activity offers exciting opportunities, but also inevitable risks. Understanding why US private equity firms are arriving, what they’re looking for, and the potential pitfalls, will be critical for making the right choices.

But why the sudden interest? The first driver is simple: saturation in the US market. After years of aggressive investment, many of the most attractive professional services firms in the US are already heavily consolidated and owned by private equity, pushing valuations up and leaving fewer high-quality primary targets available.