Chicago IB Firms

Wanted to get more insight on comp, culture, and exits at these firms in Chicago. MM is discussed a lot but not really the boutiques and BBs:

Barclays, JPM, GS, Citi, Evercore, Moelis, PWP, Greenhill, Solomon Partners

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I can offer some info on the ones I know:

Barclays - not too familiar with the office but is likely comparable with the other BB below

JPM - focused a lot in industrials, specifically the automotive industry. More hardcore culture and medium - small sized office

GS - not too familiar but have heard culture is brutal in the chicago office

Citi - also pretty heavy on industrials. Don’t know much else but the culture seems a little lackluster

Evercore - super small office with a niche team focused in the paper and packaging industry. Small as in like 7 - 10 total people

Moelis - pays well and works on a lot of deals with the NY and SF offices (I think). The group is naturally focused more on industrials since they are in chicago

PWP - better developed culture from what I understand and also primarily works in industrials

Greenhill - have heard this office is pretty sweaty but the people who are working there are very smart. Interviews are mostly technical

Solomon Partners - very new and I have not heard much about them

 

They are going to be smaller offices than Blair. Don’t know much about the BofA office but the people I know at credit Suisse are down to earth solid people

 

Worked at one of them and have many friends at the firms mentioned. 

Evercore: small team, mainly paper and packaging deals

PWP: small team but growing, MDs are in P&P and Auto

Greenhill: was one of the largest EB in Chicago, NY office seems to fell off but the Chicago team is still strong, rough culture during COVID but heard they improved it a lot

Moelis: 10-yr Chicago office, heard great things about culture, team size consistent, mainly work in consumer, P&P, and fig

Citi: big team tough culture, heard its improving tho

CS: was a big team but seems to be shrinking, heard its p sweaty

tbh if u are considering any of the firms above for Chicago you should def consider William Blair. People call it MM but its based in chicago so have great home court advantage (great deal flow, great pay, good culture)

 

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