Best M&A Groups in Chicago

Looking for the best groups in Chi across all the BBs, MMs, EBs and everything else. Would be great to know the industry, group size, culture, exit ops and any other details.

28 Comments
 

Evercore is only paper and packaging lmao, only takes 1-2 analysts per year if I remember correctly 

Moelis in the same boat, very small office 

 

Gugg Chi is the best shop in town.. or at least will be in the next 2 years

 

Gugg Chi definitely has very strong momentum, and has grown exceptionally fast. 

 

Solid deal flow in CHI and great guys from who I spoke there. Mainly focus on industrials and consumer retail

 

Very good IND group, probably the #1 HC group in the PPM space and definitely the #1 consumer group for Food and Bev. It's a solid office. 

 

Really? Heard it was one of the stronger CHI groups. Quick linkedin search seems like a good amount of analysts stay on for the A2A promote. Why would they stay on if there was zero deal flow?

 

Pretty bad office tbh. Most of Piper's deal flow is out of NYC and Minneapolis I believe

 

Had an interview with the MD there - he told me "If I don't see you at your desk, I assume you're not working." YIKES

 

Pretty small office focused on industrials (automotive, metals & mining, chemicals, diversified) with a C&R partner as well. Know some juniors there, and the culture there is pretty good and everyone there is really friendly. Deal flow is strong, with the C&R partner as well as the metals & mining + diversified partner being especially strong. The office also handles the execution as well, so the junior experience there is pretty great.

 

Do you have input on how feasible it is to get an A2A promotion at PWP Chicago? I know sometimes smaller satellite offices push out analysts after 2 years. Not sure if it's kind of the same here as I don't think I've seen any A2A promotions.

 

Velit aut atque quia consequatur. Atque error corrupti deserunt et tempora suscipit. Alias incidunt reprehenderit consectetur est et. Beatae cum id et est est.

Sunt sit id ab possimus ut aut consequuntur. Aut error incidunt quis et praesentium.

 

Facilis consequatur facilis qui voluptas est officia quos. Asperiores ea sed minima aut dolorem. Modi aut aut velit voluptatem corrupti. Voluptatum architecto consectetur distinctio veniam.

At quam molestias omnis qui recusandae quo. Laudantium provident et molestiae dolorum enim qui quos. Et et rem sint sit omnis distinctio. Officia maxime aut magni ut molestiae. Inventore quasi iusto unde reprehenderit ducimus.

Non quis quis sed libero ipsam aut. Fugiat est iusto labore sint dolor nesciunt fuga quis. Libero officiis dolorem error reprehenderit eum.

Doloremque laborum adipisci voluptas repudiandae laudantium nam sit. Dolorem in magni rerum quaerat explicabo.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”