THE REAL UPDATED CALIFORNIA PRESTIGE RANKING 2025
Never thought I would make up this type of list, but felt the need to do so since the original post is so inaccurate. I am excluding consulting firms because I have no insights. The list becomes pretty meaningless after B because all these firms have their strong niches, although tier D and E (no offense) mostly are hired for financing capabilities other than Intrepid. And no, Santander isn't suddenly becoming a 'prestigious' bank just because it absorbed CS LA, and MS Menlo isn't speedily declining because they lost some seniors.
S+ : MOE LA, MS Menlo
S : JPM SF, MOE SF, EVR Menlo, LAZ SF, MS SF, CVP SF
A: Citi SF, BofA Palo Alto/SF, PWP LA, CVP Palo Alto, HL LA RX
B : PWP SF, Rothschild LA, JEFF SF, Tidal, BofA LA, PJT SF, UBS LA
C : Barclays Menlo, William Blair SF, GUGG Menlo, GHL SF, Union Square Advisors, Liontree SF, Ducera LA RX
D : RBC SF, Deutsche SF, Santander LA, WF LA, Intrepid Investment Bankers
Approximately correct. Depending on what you want, I think Moelis LA could be S++, however just by virtue of me making this comment I guess it precludes it from being in the top category.
For media/entertainment, MOE LA can be S++.
I would say placement into generalist roles is also very good. It’s overall a well respected shop where you do significant M&A deals with strong brand names as well as some Rx.
Where is MS SF and BofA SF
Added.
Ya, much better than original list
CVP Biopharma SF office is easily S++
Thoughts on Citi Tech vs Laz tech/boa PA/JPM?
Its a tier below JPM Tech and Laz Tech in terms of both junior exits and lead deal mandates. Citi is getting better though with hiring senior talent. But since “prestige” is something typically college / analysts care about wrt buyside, I’d pick JPM (and I’m biased bc I worked there but have seen it first hand). Citi tech on same tier as Bofa tech.
What types of exits do you see from JPM Tech? Typicall MF/UMM?
Yeap, Laz tech = jpm tech, citi and bofa both below.
JPM LA?
wheres tidal partners
assuming above CVP PA?
I assume GS’s healthcare & consumer groups fall in S tier?
Likely, the looks will be at least the same for PE recruiting.
Honest question (don't mean to be rude), but what deals have CVP Palo Alto been on since the Tidal folks left? Also what has PWP SF or PJT SF done in recent memory?
Just curious if their ranking is just because of their firm's prestige or if their west coast offices are actually producing.
Well the title said it’s a prestige tier list so I would assume the ranking is based on prestige….
Because those firms, although lacking meaningful deal generation, can send juniors to highly coveted PE seats just by the virtue of their brands. Kids from PWP/PJT SF/CVP PA will be getting more looks than WB SF which do quite a lot of deals.
Bro really forgot about the biggest bank in LA - HL
Ok HL analyst.
Great list, thank you for sharing. FT Partners is headquartered in SF. Piper Sandler and BMO have a California presence.
OP here, but any intel on Piper and BMO? FT Partners, sorry I really don't know about them.
There’s no prestige in California…
Sbed for putting my bank one level above where I would've expected it to be. Great Job!
del
More prestige and firm focus on IB business segment, would take a gs offer over ms pretty much every time plus get to be in the city vs suburbs, on more of the most prominent M&A deals
Where is JPM LA?
They have an LA team??
Where would TD Cowen, Cantor Fitzgerald, Lincoln, Wells Fargo, and Raine Group place?
Why is USA so low? Not annoyed or anything just wondering as i thought it was considered good.
jpm sf higher?
what do people think about Moelis SF?
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