CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 23,186	$ 27,921
Cash held in trusts	5,377	5,341
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,682 and $1,523	428,195	388,340
Expenditures billable to clients	37,071	33,118
Other current assets	38,606	34,862
Total current assets	532,435	489,582
Fixed assets, at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $109,667 and $105,134	82,228	78,377
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	4,606	4,745
Goodwill	846,124	844,759
Other intangible assets, net	80,968	85,071
Deferred tax assets	41,539	41,793
Other assets	38,753	33,051
Total assets	1,626,653	1,577,378
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	252,146	251,456
Trust liability	5,377	5,341
Accruals and other liabilities	294,341	303,581
Advance billings	148,679	133,925
Current portion of long-term debt	260	228
Current portion of deferred acquisition consideration	111,612	108,290
Total current liabilities	812,415	802,821
Long-term debt, less current portion	887,270	936,208
Long-term portion of deferred acquisition consideration	123,758	121,274
Other liabilities	54,611	56,012
Deferred tax liabilities	105,402	103,443
Total liabilities	1,983,456	2,019,758
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (Note 2)	60,383	60,180
Shareholders’ deficit:
Charges in excess of capital	(308,808)	(311,581)
Accumulated deficit	(585,498)	(574,932)
Total shareholders’ deficit	(417,186)	(502,560)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders’ deficit	1,626,653	1,577,378
Common Class A
Shareholders’ deficit:
Common shares	323,023	317,784
Preferred Stock [Member] | Series 4 Convertible Preferred Stock [Domain]
Shareholders’ deficit:
Convertible preference shares (liquidation preference $95,507)	90,220
Total shareholders’ deficit	90,220	0
Share Capital To Be Issued [Member]
Shareholders’ deficit:
Shares to be issued, 100,000 shares in 2016	0	2,360
Share Capital To Be Issued [Member] | Common Class A
Shareholders’ deficit:
Shares to be issued, 100,000 shares in 2016	0	2,360
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Shareholders’ deficit:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,021)	(1,824)
Total shareholders’ deficit	(2,021)	(1,824)
Parent [Member]
Shareholders’ deficit:
MDC Partners Inc. shareholders’ deficit	(483,084)	(568,193)
Total shareholders’ deficit	(483,084)	(568,193)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Shareholders’ deficit:
Noncontrolling interests	65,898	65,633
Total shareholders’ deficit	$ 65,898	$ 65,633