William Blair 2024 thoughts

what are your thoughts on William blair as of now? i remember last year during their firing spree the whole forum lit them up on fire. where do they stand in terms of exits? worth pursuing compared to other MMs/UMMs?

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about William Blair:

Reputation and Culture

  • Positive Culture: William Blair is known for promoting a positive culture. Many ex-employees have good things to say about their experience, which is relatively rare in the industry.
  • Employee Satisfaction: As of September 2023, William Blair has a high overall employee satisfaction rating of 99.6%.

Performance and Market Position

  • Mid-Market Leader: William Blair performs at or near the top of the mid-market space, often compared with firms like Baird.
  • Deal Experience: Analysts at William Blair get substantial deal experience, which is beneficial for transitioning to the buyside.

Exit Opportunities

  • Private Equity Placement: PE placement is group-specific but includes notable firms such as Francisco Partners, Providence Equity Partners, GTCR, Thoma Bravo, Summit Partners, and Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP).
  • General Sentiment: While not consistently placing into top-tier PE firms like Thoma Bravo or MDP, William Blair analysts still have solid exit opportunities.

Compensation

  • Competitive Pay: The pay at William Blair is consistent with Wall Street standards, and some reports suggest it might be above average due to its LLC structure.

Recent Developments

  • Market Perception: The firm has been rapidly growing and is viewed highly among firms that actively do deals in the $300M-$2B range.
  • Resilience: Despite market fluctuations, William Blair has maintained a strong reputation and continues to be a significant player in the mid-market space.

Comparison to Other MMs/UMMs

  • Prestige and Lifestyle: While not an "Elite" boutique, William Blair offers a balanced lifestyle and competitive compensation, making it a worthwhile consideration compared to other mid-market and upper mid-market firms.

In summary, William Blair remains a strong contender in the mid-market investment banking space with solid exit opportunities, competitive pay, and a positive work culture. It is definitely worth pursuing if you are considering a move within this segment of the industry.

Sources: Your thoughts on William Blair & Company?, Thoughts on Blair in 2021 and Beyond?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/william-blair-is-paradise?customgpt=1, William Blair Reputation (Tech), William Blair Layoffs?!

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Can only really comment on the tech team in London, which is doing very well - closed more deals than Arma last year and churning them out this year too. Bit sweaty but I think they're well looked after as a result of the deal flow. Idk about the rest of the bank but probably still very solid in terms of building a career and exits - these things don't change as a result of one lean year across a firm.

 

Does anyone know anything about the ATL office? I think they have tech and tech enabled services. Curious to hear about it since it’s relatively new, from ~2020 I believe. I have heard that the tech industry is growing in ATL.

 

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Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $101
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