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For tech, it’s going to be mostly middle market with Blair and Guggenheim (yes I know they’re an EB but their Chicago branch is focused on mm software and IT) leading the field. Baird is committed to building out their tech right now but they’re behind Blair for sure. M&A wise not sure there are a lot of shops that focus solely on it but Blair has an m&a group and the co-head of M&A at Citi sits in Chicago.

 

As someone stated, Chicago has a few M&A focused spots and the deals are mainly executed through coverage groups. While a few BBs have offices in Chicago they are just a satellite office that focuses on one industry or has a few MDs that want to live in the midwest. I'm more familiar with MM shops so here you go on those:

  • Baird - a lot of M&A out of that office; more industrials focused
  • Blair - Probably the largest MM in Chicago; they do a lot of M&A and plenty of deals in tech / tech-enabled services
  • Houlihan - Pretty large office in Chi that focused on M&A but it's primarily food & bev, healthcare and industrials
  • Lincoln - Mainly an M&A shop but their tech groups are primarily in SF and NY (as most will be)
  • Lazard Middle Market - don't know much about their Chi office but it exists
  • Piper Sandler - They have an office and a buddy of mine works their in DCM; not sure about their M&A team though
  • Raymond James - they are building out an office in Chicago but it looks more focused on industrials
 

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