Best Chicago Boutique IBs?
Hey just wondering on your opinion on some of the best Chicago boutique IBs are. I have searched for opinions but most seem to be very dated.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
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William Blair would probably top my list.
Williams Blair runs Chicago. You can get any Chicago PE firm from WB
Lincoln International is very good.
only 2 FT and 2 SA
William Blair, Lincoln Int'l, Duff & Phelps.
Mesirow is getting better.
Steer clear of Stout Risius Ross
Why do you say steer clear of Stout?
D&P I'm not sure is a top shop. Lincoln and WB definitely are though
Not sure on D&P- Blair, Lincoln, Baird all solid shops. KBW, Sandler, Greenhill, Moelis (and I'm sure some others) are larger boutiques with Chicago offices. Personally think Lincoln is mediocre- they have a strict 'only hire from targets' policy, and I think they miss out on a lot of talent (they hire from Illinois, Indiana, and maybe 1 or 2 others). I would probably take Blair first out of the pure Chicago places- HQ are in the city and it is a bit more prestigious in Chicago then Baird is (probably purely because it is headquartered in Milwaukee).
What is the consensus view on Ziegler?
Haha, I know. Been in contact with HR for a position, but honestly very perplexed about what the hell religion/education/senior living finance could entail and what they could even get out of it. Healthcare seems legit, but idk.
Houlihan Lokey, Greenhill, Lazard and Moelis are on the top of my list for Chicago. But wouldn't put them in the boutique category, just "non-BB".
If you are strictly talking about boutiques then State Street Advisors, Dresner Partners, Mesirow, Lazard MM, Houlihan Capital do really well
Tough to group those bottom banks together- Lazard MM Chicago office probably has 15 people- Mesirow Chicago has upwards of 800.
On a related note- Mesirow does well, but I have heard horrible things about both culture and comp there.
I would agree and I personally don't think Lazard MM in Chicago is that good. If you do Lazard MM, you have to do MPLS, not Charlotte or Chicago.
However, those numbers for Mesirow include all of their non-IB services, which they are much more known for. They only started up the IB practice about 5 years ago. Hours aren't too bad (70 per wk) but comp is poor (not sure exactly how much analysts or associates make, but sounds closer to Big 4 CF).
This thread makes it seem like there is a wide range in what people define as "boutique" (probably because the term itself is pretty ambiguous.)
Yeah my thoughts exactly, how tf does Blair fall into the boutique category?
Here are a few...
Well known: Blair, Baird, BMO, Lincoln
Well known in Chicago: Mesirow, Loop Capital Markets
Some others: Livingstone, Dresner Partners, Brown Gibbons Lang, Cabrera Capital Markets (Pub Fin)
Mesirow IB group is about 15-20 bankers total in Chicago.
I found this old list of firms with a presence in the Chicago area. Its comprised of BBs, elite boutiques, MMs, and bunch of tiny-no-name shops... HQ is if the firm is has its headquarters in Chicago (places like BMO and Baird were thrown in as well).
Its nothing special, but I think it could be very helpful for freshman/sophomores blasting out their resume and looking to get their foot in the door.
Also, I'm sure some places aren't included and some of this info is probably incorrect or outdated but I don't really have the time or the need to update it. If you want the excel file PM me.
Ablum, Brown, and Company HQ Allegiance Capital Branch Alliance Bernstein Branch Alvarez & Marsal Branch Amherst Partners LLC Branch Arlington Acquisitions Inc. HQ Arnstein & Company, LLC HQ Arvon Advisors LLC HQ Ashland Capital Partners HQ AVM Financial Group HQ BAC Inc HQ Baker Tilly Branch Bank of America Merrill Lynch Branch Barclays Branch Barrington Research Associates, Inc. HQ Bernardi Securities HQ Billow Butler & Co. LLC HQ Blackman Kalick HQ Blackmore Partners HQ Blaylock Robert Van Branch BMO Capital Markets HQ Brown Brothers Harriman Branch Brown Gibbons Lang & Co. Branch Cabrera Capital Markets LLC HQ Cain Brothers Branch Caledonia Capital Partners, LLC HQ Cannacord Genuity Branch Cantor Fitzgerald Branch Chapman Associates HQ Chicago Corporation HQ Citigroup Branch City Capital Advisors HQ CK Cooper Branch Cognient Group, LLC HQ Colonnade Advisors HQ Cowen Branch Credit Suisse Branch Davis Capital HQ Deloitte Corporate Finance Branch Deustche Bank Branch Dresner Partners HQ Duff & Phelps HQ First Analysis Securities Corp. HQ Flint Creek Partners, LLC HQ Focal Point Partners Branch Fort Dearborn Advisors LLC HQ GarWood Securities HQ George K. Baum Branch Gleacher Branch Goldman Sachs Branch Greenhill Branch Guggenheim Partners HQ Houlihan Capital, LLC HQ Houlihan Lokey HQ HSE and Co Branch Independence Equity HQ J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Branch Janney Montgomery and Scott Branch Jeffries Branch JH Chapman HQ John S. Vincent HQ Jordan, Knauff & Co. HQ Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Branch KeyBank Branch KPMG LLP Branch Lakeshore Food Advisors HQ Lazard Branch Lincoln International HQ Livingstone Partners LLC HQ Loop Capital Markets LLC HQ Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. Branch Melvin & Company HQ Mesirow Financial Holdings Inc. HQ Metronome Partners LLC HQ Moelis Branch Monroe Securities HQ Morgan Stanley Branch MR Beal and Company Branch Navigant Capital Advisors HQ Neuberger Berman HQ Norris & Associates LLC HQ P&M Corporate Finance, LLC HQ Panthera Global HQ Patriot Capital Advisors HQ Pendo Advisors HQ Piper Jaffray & Co Branch PNC Branch Prairie Capital Advisors HQ PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance HQ Prometheous Capital Partners HQ R.W. Baird HQ RapiDemand Corp. HQ Raymond James/Morgan Keegan Branch RBC Capital Markets Branch Republic Partners, Inc. HQ Resource Financial Corp. HQ River Branch Capital HQ Sagent Advisors Inc. Branch Sandler O'Neill Branch Siebert Brandford and Shank Branch Sikich HQ Stern Brothers Branch Stevenson & Co. HQ Stifel Nicolaus Branch Stout Risius Ross Advisors LLC HQ Sucsy, Fischer & Company HQ ThinkEquity Branch Third Coast Capital Advisors LLC HQ TTK Partners LLC HQ UBS Investment Bank Branch Verit Advisors HQ Vista Equity Partners Branch Wells Fargo Branch William Blair HQ XMS Capital Partners LLC HQ Ziegler HQ
Also, a lot of the firms listed above are not involved in pure M&A banking ... some specialize in public finance, valuation, RE, ESOPs, AM, ER, etc
What about banks in general? What are the stronger BBs in Chicago? Really just interested in offices that fully execute, would also be curious to hear about exit ops.
MS Chicago is strong. They focus on consumer but do their own execution.
funny you say that - i've actually heard the opposite that they don't do their own execution. I've also heard the culture kind of sucks there...
JPM and Citi are stronger BB's in Chicago. Both focus primarily on industrial in IBD, though both have some other operations in the city as well (particularly JPM). I've also heard GS mentioned as a strong office in Chicago, though I don't know that for sure.
funny you say that - i've actually heard the opposite that they don't do their own execution. I've also heard the culture kind of sucks there...
thanks for the good info!
capiq chicago boutiques (Originally Posted: 05/11/2012)
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http://dl.dropbox.com/u/35230016/CompanyScreeningReport.xls
Chicago boutiques still hiring? (Originally Posted: 03/06/2012)
Hey guys,
I've been reaching out to alumni working in finance (PE/IB) firms and landed a couple of interviews.
I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for Chicago/NY based boutiques that usually hire late/are still legit? (For SA)
It'd be great if someone actually interned at one of these places.
I tried searching on WSO, got some hits but figured there would be more firms out there. It's just difficult to separate Blackmore Partners (wtf?) and actual firms.
Feel free to pm.
Appreciate it.
Wait what's wrong with Blackmore? They don't look that non-legit.
I'll just leave this for you.
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/blackmore-partners-chicago
I stand corrected...haha
pm me, I did a bit of cold calling, and I have a list of firms that may be interested in summer interns. What school do you go to?
Could you pm me with a list to help my current job search?
Thanks
Boutiques in Chicago - Freshman interested in S&T (Originally Posted: 10/15/2011)
Hey guys I'm a freshman interested in S&T and quant roles, and I was wondering if any of you know of any small firms I should reach out to when looking for an internship this summer. I've tried to find a list, but all I've found are BB's, MM's, and PE firms that don't seem to be interested in having a rising sophomore as an intern. Any ideas?
Thanks
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/regional-boutiques
I am familiar with that thread, but most of the firms have internship programs that say they are geared toward rising seniors. Anybody know of specific very small shops that might want to take on a rising sophomore for the summer?
Im interested in this as well. Im a sophomore and looking for an internship to get a bit ahead with some work experience.
If you're interested in S&T/quant, then you should probably try the forum geared toward that (traders train). Also, you can try landing an internship at a prop trading firm as a sophomore. There are tons of them in Chicago.
Boutiques in Chicago - Insight to the most prestigious boutiques? (Originally Posted: 03/12/2008)
Can anyone provide me with some insights to the more prestigious boutiques in Chicago. I know there is a list of regional boutiques, but which ones are really good?
Lazard Middle Market - Goldsmith Agio & Helms
I think William Blair & Co may have a big office there as well.
WB is headquartered in Chicago.
are more Middle Market than Boutiques (besides Agio)...
Duff and Phelps Keefee Bruyette & Woods Browns Gibbon Lang Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett Robert Baird (though MM) Cochran Caronia Waller Houlihan Lokey (more MM) Lincoln Int'l (more MM) Piper (horrible) Stout Risius Ross
Hope that helps..
dresner and thinkequity
William Blair & Company (one of the better ones) Fox Pitt Kelton (merged with CCW) Loop Capital (mostly public finance)
is also head-quartered in Chicago.
Bump
Best boutiques in Chicago? Not talking about Blair, Lincoln, or other large middle markets. Looking for 10-30 man teams.
Just a heads up, Lincoln is not classified as an elite boutique. It is an MM.
Edit: Thanks for fixing your post.
Are you asking for smaller 10-20 man shop boutiques that are not classified as MM firms (as the ones you listed are)?
everyone is listing MM firms but I'd like to hear about the smaller 10-20 man shops
Off the top of my head:
Any knowledge on Mesirow, Livingstone, and Dresner? Pay, deal flow, exit opps, brand name?
Prairie hardly does healthy M&A to my knowledge, their internship programs are designed for indivduals who don't really know a ton about IB. You wouldn't get the exposure most of you are looking for.
Can speak to Mesirow as well. I interviewed with them and really liked the guys. Laid back and chill af, all fit based. However, I have heard they have a major turnover problem. One analyst lateraled to Rothschild in recent years, and multiple of my alumni left quickly.
Dresner guys are awesome (from my limited interactions). One analyst just left for Baird though.
BGL a total frat house. You are not monitored by superiors and just need to get your shit done. Lots of gambling/sports betting, chill dudes who like to booze.
Livingstone typically hires MBA interns. I loved the guys I spoke with. Very smart, know their shit, and seem passionate af. Unbelievable rep for a boutique and some of my PE friends (FT) speak super highly of them.
Great list Tony
Mesirow guys gets some good experience and deal flow, so it's no surprise that they get poached by groups that are paying quite a bit higher and have similar hours expectations. Same probably goes for Dresner, though I don't really know anyone over there.
Yes, my bad.
There are probably 50+ at the 5-20 banker size
Yes my bad. Looking for 10-30 man teams.
Moelis, Evercore, Lazard, and Greenhill are in Chicago
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