What FIG groups are good

depends what subsector of FIG, but generally Ardea, GS, JPM, Evercore come to mind

MS is strong

can't speak for the group culture though

Insurance Advisory Partners. Heard they have a fantastic culture and everyone stays

I worked with both Moelis FIG and HL FIG. They have their strengths. 

Namely Moelis FIG has good looks when it comes to FIG RX deals given strong restructuring practice. Depending on whichever MDs are currently at the firm, there is also some decent coverage of those MDs’ clients. 

HL FIG also has some subvertical niches where they are strong. MM stuff obviously but have seen them do some smid-cap public work from time to time when one of their verticals has something going on in that space. 

GS/JPM both top of the street. Large gap between them and 3rd place (MS) 

Ardea and Fenchurch are good boutiques, especially within Insurance

UBS FIG is gr8 

How is DB fig nowadays? Are they decent? Would assume they’re mainly cap markets and rarely if ever lead on stuff 

In the US (no particular order): JPM, GS, Evercore, KBW (Banks / Depositaries)

In London: GS, Evercore, MS, JPM, UBS, Fenchurch, Continuum - Fenchurch & Continuum are strong in asset/wealth management and insurance in the mid-market, most of the other top BBs are solid at Banks & Insurance. CVP get on the odd large-cap, UBS, Citi and BofA are strong in continental EU banks

One thing to note is that the product coverage varies a lot in FIG. In asset & wealth / insurance, a lot of it is M&A dominated with significant PE interest. With banks, before the waves of M&A consolidation in Italy, Spain, Germany; it historically used to be more ECM / Cap Markets focused. My two cents are that you HAVE to have a strong public markets franchise as a FIG shop in UK/EU to even have a chance for M&A roles for Banks, as most Bank M&A is public takeovers atm.