CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 20,347	$ 27,921
Cash held in trusts	5,526	5,341
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,933 and $1,523	456,229	388,340
Expenditures billable to clients	42,341	33,118
Other current assets	27,207	34,862
Total current assets	551,650	489,582
Fixed assets, at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $115,884 and $105,134	88,010	78,377
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	5,247	4,745
Goodwill	851,135	844,759
Other intangible assets, net	78,813	85,071
Deferred tax assets	39,549	41,793
Other assets	35,850	33,051
Total assets	1,650,254	1,577,378
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	266,568	251,456
Trust liability	5,526	5,341
Accruals and other liabilities	300,562	303,581
Advance billings	163,639	133,925
Current portion of long-term debt	289	228
Current portion of deferred acquisition consideration	78,815	108,290
Total current liabilities	815,399	802,821
Long-term debt, less current portion	909,116	936,208
Long-term portion of deferred acquisition consideration	90,865	121,274
Other liabilities	55,576	56,012
Deferred tax liabilities	115,381	110,359
Total liabilities	1,986,337	2,026,674
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (Note 2)	62,955	60,180
Shareholders’ deficit:
Charges in excess of capital	(310,051)	(311,581)
Accumulated deficit	(581,161)	(581,848)
Total shareholders’ deficit	(399,038)	(509,476)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders’ deficit	1,650,254	1,577,378
Common Class A
Shareholders’ deficit:
Common shares	349,474	317,784
Preferred Stock [Member] | Series 4 Convertible Preferred Stock [Domain]
Shareholders’ deficit:
Convertible preference shares (liquidation preference $97,417)	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	(2,477)	(1,824)
Total shareholders’ deficit	(2,477)	(1,824)
Parent [Member]
Shareholders’ deficit:
MDC Partners Inc. shareholders’ deficit	(453,995)	(575,109)
Total shareholders’ deficit	(453,995)	(575,109)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Shareholders’ deficit:
Noncontrolling interests	54,957	65,633
Total shareholders’ deficit	$ 54,957	$ 65,633