25 Best Buy-Side M&A Firms for Acquirers & Private Equity

Choosing the right buy-side M&A advisor can mean the difference between a thesis that flounders and a deal that delivers. For many corporate development and private equity teams, acquisitions are the primary vehicle for executing growth strategies, expanding into new markets, acquiring talent, or modernizing capabilities.

As acquisition pipelines become more competitive and proprietary deal flow harder to secure, partnering with experienced buy-side advisors is critical to uncovering, evaluating, and winning the right targets. Their role often begins with deal origination: mapping the market, uncovering off-market opportunities, and making first contact with potential sellers before a competitive process launches.

This guide covers 25 of the leading global investment banks, independent boutiques, law firms, and consulting partners (listed in alphabetical order) that work with acquirers to source proprietary opportunities, assess fit, structure and finance transactions, and plan integration to unlock value after closing.

We summarize each firm’s strengths, sectors, and a sampling of buy-side work so corporate acquirers, private equity sponsors, and family offices can quickly shortlist the most relevant partners for their strategy, deal size, and timeframe.

What is a Buy-Side M&A Firm?

Buy-side M&A advisors work for companies, private equity, or family offices that are seeking to acquire another company. While sell-side advisors help maximize value for the seller, buy-side advisors work on behalf of the acquirer and effectively become an extension of their corporate development or investment team.

Buy-side advisors operationalize a growth strategy by helping the team define the investment thesis, map the market, identify and approach targets, and assess their financial and strategic fit. They also support the technical work of valuation, deal structuring, negotiations, and due diligence processes (including the legal due diligence, financial due diligence, operational due diligence, tax due diligence, and technology due diligence workstreams).

These advisors help acquirers turn acquisition strategies into executed transactions, from sourcing targets to closing deals that align with financial and strategic objectives. Whether it's a platform acquisition, bolt-on, or cross-border expansion, buy-side firms structure deals designed to mitigate risk and accelerate post-acquisition value creation.

Buy-side advisors are often engaged when time, internal capacity, and/or domain knowledge are not sufficient on the buy-side to source, evaluate, and execute on deals. They can help to accelerate outreach, secure confidentiality, and ensure transactions stay on track.

Buy-side advisors frequently support integration planning to create Day 1 Readiness and capture long-term value post-close. Most engagements follow a retainer + success fee structure, though prices may vary based on the scope of work.

25 Leading Buy-Side M&A Firms

Each of the following firms helps clients successfully identify, evaluate, and acquire businesses, ranging from small add-ons to multibillion-dollar strategic acquisitions.

Arrowpoint Advisory

Arrowpoint Advisory, the UK mid-market team of Rothschild & Co, provides buy-side M&A advisory services to corporates, private equity firms, and portfolio companies looking to grow through acquisition. Leveraging Rothschild & Co’s global network and their own deep sector expertise across industries such as business services, industrials, healthcare, consumer, and technology, Arrowpoint helps clients define acquisition strategies, identify and approach both on- and off-market targets, and assess strategic fit.

Their senior-led teams bring hands-on execution and international reach, allowing clients to access high-quality opportunities and navigate regulatory and cross-border complexities.

From initial strategy through to closing, Arrowpoint manages every step of the acquisition process. This includes target evaluation, financial modeling, valuation, deal structuring, and negotiation, as well as coordinating due diligence and arranging acquisition financing when needed. Their experience advising both buyers and sellers allows them to anticipate issues, negotiate effectively, and ensure disciplined, value-focused execution, helping clients secure the right deals and maximize long-term value.

Arrowpoint Advisory has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Baker Tilly Capital

Baker Tilly Capital (part of the broader Baker Tilly network) offers buy-side M&A advisory services focused on the middle market. It supports corporations, private equity firms, and portfolio companies in identifying, evaluating, and executing acquisitions.

On the buy-side, specifically, Baker Tilly Capital provides advisory services that support clients throughout the entire acquisition lifecycle. From strategy and target assessment to diligence, deal structuring, financing, and post-close integration support, the firm works closely with its clients to minimize risk and maximize value at every step of the process.

By leveraging its global network and cross-disciplinary resources, including tax, valuation, and commercial due diligence, Baker Tilly Capital helps clients identify hidden value and structure deals that align with their long-term strategic objectives.

In 2023, the global network Baker Tilly International (of which Baker Tilly US is a member) ranked 13th by deal count worldwide for mid-market M&A (“183 transactions with disclosed value above $587 million”) and top 10 for small-cap M&A in its Global Network League Tables.

Baker Tilly Capital has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Bank of America Global Corporate and Investment Banking (GCIB)

Bank of America Global Corporate & Investment Banking (GCIB) is the investment-banking subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. GCIB supports clients pursuing acquisitions, carve-outs, or bolt-on combinations by leveraging its global coverage, industry reach, and transaction‐execution infrastructure. The GCIB platform includes the full capital structure: loans, bonds, convertibles, equity offerings and follow-ons, private capital fundraising, and M&A advisory.

GCIB’s support may include strategic advisory (target screening and valuation), supporting the acquisition financing, cross-product execution (equity or debt issuance, leveraged financing), integration planning, and treasury or capital-markets support after closing. The fact that the advisory is part of a broader financing platform puts GCIB in a position to provide end-to-end advice, spanning the strategic, financial, and operational aspects of a transaction.

Bank of America has earned a multitude of awards and recognitions. Its Global Corporate & Investment Banking business was recognized by the publication Global Banking & Finance Review (via the EMEA Corporate & Investment Banking division) for “Best M&A House in EMEA,” “Best M&A Deal in Europe,” and “Best M&A Deal in MENA.” In the 2024 Euromoney Awards for Excellence, Bank of America was named Latin America’s Best Investment Bank and Latin America’s Best Bank for Advisory.

According to DealRoom’s analysis, Bank of America’s M&A advisory franchise improved its ranking globally, rising from 5th to 4th in one year, demonstrating strengthening performance in M&A advisory.

GCIB has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Barclays

Barclays Investment Bank (a division of Barclays PLC) offers a full-service buy-side M&A advisory service. This service provides advisory services to corporate and institutional clients on the acquisition of companies, assets, or business units worldwide. As a buy-side advisor, Barclays supports clients in target identification and valuation, due diligence, negotiation, financing, and integration planning.

Clients working with Barclays on the buy-side benefit from the bank’s extensive global coverage, integrated advisory and capital-markets capabilities, and history of high-profile mandates supported by sector-specific teams.

Barclays’ advisory capabilities have been recognized by industry awards and rankings. In the first half of 2025, Barclays was one of the top six banks globally by deal value. In July 2025, the bank won five Euromoney Awards for Excellence, including “World’s Best Investment Bank” for ECM and “UK’s Best Investment Bank.” In October 2025, Barclays was named the “M&A Team of the Month” by The Banker magazine, which reflects its rapid expansion in global dealmaking.

Barclays has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is an independent investment bank that focuses on providing middle-market mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital markets, financial restructuring, and strategic advisory services. With its headquarters in Cleveland and offices strategically located across the United States, BGL offers a geographically diverse platform with deep industry experience.

Operating in various sectors, including healthcare, industrials, consumer, services, infrastructure, and technology, BGL is well-positioned to support clients throughout the U.S. Additionally, as a U.S. partner of the Global M&A Partners network, BGL assists clients in accessing cross-border opportunities and connecting with global strategic buyers or targets.

BGL offers a full suite of advisory services to companies and investors seeking strategic acquisitions to drive growth. This includes working with clients to develop an acquisition strategy, identify and approach potential targets, conduct valuation and due diligence, and ultimately structure and negotiate the deal.

BGL has received several awards and industry recognitions for its continued track record and leadership in middle-market advisory. For example, in 2017, the Global M&A Network recognized BGL for its “Transaction Excellence and Investment Banking Leadership,” including an award for its advisory role in The Dermatology Group's recapitalization by The Riverside Company.

BGL has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Calder Capital

Calder Capital is a U.S.-based M&A advisory and investment banking firm based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 2013, the firm primarily works with lower-middle-market clients (advising on transactions with enterprise values of approximately $1 million to $100 million) and across industries such as manufacturing, distribution, business services, construction, and related fields.

The firm's buy-side practice focuses on proprietary, off-market deal flow (i.e., acquisition targets that are not widely marketed) and an intensive outreach process, including direct calling and emailing potential sellers to create exclusivity with buyers.

In 2025, Calder Capital was named a finalist for “Investment Bank of the Year – Middle Market” at the 24th Annual The M&A Advisor Awards (2025). Additionally, one of its M&A Advisors, Patrick Robey, was named a recipient of The M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leaders Award (2025). The firm was also recognized by Axial Networks as a “Top 10 Lower Middle Market M&A Advisor” for the years 2020–2024, an accolade awarded to firms with steady volume in the lower middle market.

Calder Capital has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Capstone Partners

Capstone Partners is a middle-market investment bank offering M&A advisory, financial advisory, and consulting services to privately held and sponsor-backed companies. It has industry-specific teams with coverage across the United States and serves clients throughout the full business lifecycle, from strategic growth planning and capital raising through acquisitions and exits.

Capstone's buy-side M&A advisory services assist corporate and private equity clients with executing their acquisition strategies. This includes defining criteria, conducting market assessments, identifying and sourcing qualified targets (including proprietary and off-market opportunities), managing outreach and due diligence, and evaluating strategic fit.

In December 2024, Capstone introduced a new Buy-Side M&A Advisory Group, specializing in retained search mandates with a focus on proprietary deal-sourcing and long-term pipeline development for serial acquirers and platform roll-ups.

In recent years, the firm has been named “Middle Market Investment Bank of the Year” multiple times by The M&A Advisor, as well as the Global M&A Network. The firm states that it has received nearly 200 awards over the last decade.

Capstone Partners has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Centerview Partners

Founded in 2006, Centerview Partners is an independent investment-banking advisory firm headquartered in New York, with additional offices in major financial markets around the world.

Centerview’s strengths in buy-side M&A advisory include: advising strategic acquirers and financial sponsors on acquisitions and helping clients identify targets, value transactions, structure and negotiate deals, often in complex and high-stakes situations. On its “Transactions” page, the firm highlights its work spans a broad range of industries, deal types (including strategic advisory, restructuring, special-committee work), and enterprise values.

Centerview’s reputation is also reflected in its ranking in various market rankings and awards. In one FactSet “Advisor Quarterly” listing, for instance, Centerview Partners had a total transaction value of approximately $240.8 billion over 74 deals, ranking it among the top global advisors overall. Centerview was also a finalist in the 23rd Annual M&A Advisor Awards for 2024.

Centerview Partners has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Citi Banking, Capital Markets & Advisory

Citigroup Banking, Capital Markets & Advisory (BCMA) business is the firm’s global investment banking division, responsible for providing a full suite of financial services, including M&A advisory, equity and debt capital markets, and banking coverage of institutional clients.

Through Citigroup’s global platform (its capital markets depth, sponsor coverage, cross-border reach, and sector expertise), BCMA aims to serve acquirers not only with target identification but also with deal financing, regulatory advice, and transaction integration planning.

Citigroup was named “North America’s Best Investment Bank 2025” by Euromoney, which specifically mentioned its M&A performance: the firm ranked second on announced buy-side transactions by volume and recorded a wallet-share gain of 64 basis points from the prior year.

Citigroup was the top M&A financial adviser in the oil & gas sector in Q1 2024 (by both value and volume) per an industry ranking. Also, in the consumer sector, Citi was ranked as the top M&A advisor based on the value of transactions in 2024.

Citi has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Evercore

Evercore Inc. is a global independent investment banking advisory firm headquartered in New York. It was founded in 1995 as Evercore Partners by Roger Altman and others. Evercore focuses on investment banking advisory.

The firm’s Investment Banking unit includes Strategic Advisory, which provides services in some of the most complex and high-stakes transactions, such as large-scale mergers and acquisitions, contested takeover defense and shareholder activism, special committee assignments, and cross-border engagements. According to the firm’s 2023 annual report, Evercore advised on four of the 10 largest M&A transactions globally in that year.

In 2024, Evercore advised on various transactions, including a reverse merger of a biopharma company, a major refinancing (~$4.9 billion), and the sale of a business unit of a well-known consumer company. This highlights the firm's ability to deliver on high-value, complex transactions across sectors and geographies.

Evercore has also earned significant industry recognition for its advisory leadership in M&A. For example, in 2025, it was named “North America’s Best Bank for Independent Advisory” by Euromoney, reflecting its strong advisory credentials and independence-focused model.

Its global ranking by fee-based metrics places it among the top ten firms worldwide. For example, according to a 2024 report by PwC that ranked advisors by deal count, Evercore was ranked 8th globally with 193 deals representing $331.8 billion in announced transaction value.

Evercore has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Gibson Dunn

Gibson, Dunn is an international law firm with a distinguished M&A advisory practice built over more than 135 years. The firm's M&A group uses a multidisciplinary approach, leveraging its antitrust, tax, employment, intellectual property, financing, and litigation expertise to represent clients in all aspects of the deal process.

The firm has been involved in many of the largest and most high-profile transactions in recent years. Recent examples include the firm's representation of Pioneer Natural Resources in its $64.5 billion merger with ExxonMobil, one of the largest deals of 2024, and of VMware in its $89 billion sale to Broadcom. Other recent deals include PepsiCo's $3.3 billion sale of Tropicana and Naked juice brands and Xylem's $7.5 billion acquisition of Evoqua Water Technologies.

The firm was named “Law Firm of the Year – Mergers & Acquisitions Law” for 2024 by Best Law Firms, a recognition that signals top performance in the national category for that practice area. In 2025, Gibson Dunn achieved two prestigious “Deal of the Year” awards at the D CEO Mergers & Acquisitions Awards 2025, in partnership with the Association for Corporate Growth. The honored deals included the Pioneer/ExxonMobil merger and the acquisition of smart snack company Cibo Vita by private equity firm Citation Capital.

Gibson Dunn has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs’s Mergers & Acquisitions advisory practice is part of its Investment Banking Division and assists clients in the entire spectrum of M&A activity, including, but not limited to, M&A strategy, deal execution, divestitures, spin-offs, joint ventures, and complex cross-border transactions. The firm’s M&A group works in tandem with its broader corporate coverage to help clients across the full M&A lifecycle. It utilizes its industry and geographic strengths to guide clients from initial objectives through valuation, negotiation and deal structuring, and closing.

In recent years, Goldman Sachs has consistently ranked at or near the top of global league tables for M&A advisory by deal value, underscoring its position as a market leader. In 2024, GlobalData reported that Goldman Sachs was the leading financial adviser by deal value, advising on transactions worth an estimated $417.8 billion. For the first nine months of 2024, the bank increased its lead to advise on approximately $744.7 billion in deals across 313 transactions, equating to a 33.3% share, according to data from ION Analytics.

The bank's strong performance continued in 2025. In the first half of the year, the bank produced a 38.7% year-on-year increase in deal value, advising on approximately $721 billion worth of transactions. According to Meed, in the first half of 2025, Goldman Sachs also ranked as the leading financial adviser, by deal value, in the construction sector, with the bank advising on $26.2 billion worth of transactions.

Goldman Sachs has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Greenberg Traurig

Greenberg Traurig (GT) is an international law firm with a comprehensive range of M&A advisory services. Through its Corporate / M&A & Private Equity practice, GT has more than 350 M&A-focused attorneys in 40-plus offices worldwide and is located in many of the world's leading business and financial centers. GT provides public and privately held companies, private equity firms, and other investors with M&A advisory services in domestic and cross-border transactions.

GT offers deep support in tax structuring, due diligence, and cross-border planning through a dedicated M&A tax capability. This capability helps clients mitigate risk and ensure efficiency in global transactions. Industries served include manufacturing, technology, life sciences, consumer products, financial services, energy, and infrastructure, among others.

In March 2023, GT was named Law Firm of the Year at the 22nd Annual M&A Advisor Awards, while Senior Chairman Cesar L. Alvarez received a Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Hall of Fame. In 2025, GT was recognized at the 17th Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards by the Global M&A Network as “Americas M&A Law Firm of the Year” among other distinctions.

The firm’s M&A team and individual lawyers have also been ranked by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, and other leading legal directories, reflecting strong practitioner rankings and international market reputation.

Greenberg Traurig has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Harbor View Investment Banking

Harbor View Advisors (HVA) is a boutique investment banking and strategic consulting firm focused on M&A advisory services (buy-side and sell-side) for middle-market companies. HVA proactively seeks to find and acquire growth through platform and add-on transactions for private-equity-backed companies and strategic buyers.

From a performance metric standpoint, HVA reportedly has closed transactions with up to ~30% initial response rate and up to ~85% overall response rate from qualified targets. HVA notes that they measure transaction success not just by the closing of the transaction, but also by factors like retention of acquired target companies and/or synergies, as well as seller satisfaction, to reinforce the client’s brand for future M&A.

In 2025, HVA was named a finalist at The M&A Advisor 24th Annual Awards program, honored for dual deal recognition for its role in the acquisition of RPSI by Definiti in both the “Financials Deal of the Year” and “Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year” categories. HVA has also been named to the “Top 50 Investment Banks in the Middle Market” list by the Grady Campbell & Co. program, celebrating the firm’s strong standing among middle-market advisors.

Harbor View Advisors has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Jefferies

Jefferies is an international, full-service investment banking and capital markets firm founded in 1962. In the M&A advisory arena, Jefferies offers advice on everything from corporate divestitures and dispositions to leveraged buyouts and joint ventures, spin-offs, corporate defense, and contested situations. The firm’s global reach and sector experience allow it to cater to clients around the world and in many industries.

Jefferies’ advisory capabilities have been acknowledged in recent years. For instance, according to a recent leadership letter from the firm, Jefferies ranked #5 in global advisory (M&A). In the upstream oil and gas space, Jefferies was named as a leading financial adviser in the oil and gas M&A sector in early 2025.

Jefferies’ Featured Transactions page shows several high-profile transactions (subject to client confidentiality), underscoring the firm’s active engagement in large, high-stakes M&A activities across industries and geographies.

Jefferies has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

J.P. Morgan Investment Banking

J.P. Morgan's Investment Banking unit provides a full range of advisory services. Serving strategic corporate and private equity clients worldwide, the M&A group advises on transactions including combinations, takeovers, divestitures, and spin-offs. J.P. Morgan's M&A advisory business is focused on out-of-the-box structuring, cross-border execution, industry specialization, and leveraging its global platform.

Even as M&A advisory has experienced its normal cyclical ebbs and flows over the past few years, J.P. Morgan has continued to rank among the global leaders by most measures. According to independent league-table data covering all announced M&A deals for 2024, J.P. Morgan advised on some $805.6 billion worth of transactions (across an estimated 405 deals), placing it third in the world by deal value.

In its most recent annual report, the firm reported that in M&A, it advised on 395 transactions worth more than $744 billion in 2024, and generated $3.3 billion of advisory fees. This equates to a market share of approximately 9.6%.

In August 2024, Euromoney named J.P. Morgan “World’s Best Investment Bank” at its Awards for Excellence ceremony. The bank’s investment banking business also secured a “Triple Crown” award from Global Finance magazine, being named “World’s Best Bank,” “World’s Best Investment Bank,” and “World’s Best Private Bank.” In Asia-Pacific, J.P. Morgan was co-leader of the financial-advisory rankings for M&A in that region (by value) for 2024, alongside UBS.

J.P. Morgan has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Kirkland & Ellis

Founded in 1909, Kirkland & Ellis is an international law firm based in Chicago with a full-service transactional, litigation, and restructuring platform. According to Reuters, it’s the world’s largest law firm by revenue.

Kirkland’s M&A and transactional offering is full-service, with a specialist M&A group of lawyers who work across geographies and practice areas (tax, antitrust, IP, regulatory, executive compensation, etc.) on complex, cross-border transactions.

In Q1 2025, Kirkland & Ellis advised on 96 transactions with a total deal value of $90 billion. In the first three quarters of 2025, the firm advised on 36 transactions in the oil and gas sector alone, with a total deal value of $48.9 billion.

In the Legal 500 large deals ($1 billion+) category, Kirkland is recognized for advising on large cross-border mergers, leveraged buyouts, and contested transactions. In January 2024, Reuters named the firm No.1 in the global M&A legal advisor league tables for the first time.

In 2024, the firm was listed in the 2025 edition of Chambers Global as being Band 1 in 26 categories and a leading firm in 56 additional categories. At the 2024 PEI (Private Equity International) Awards, Kirkland won Law Firm of the Year in multiple regions. In 2024, the firm was named “Law Firm of the Year – Structuring” by Mergermarket at its British Private Equity Awards.

Kirkland & Ellis has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

MarshBerry

Recently acquired by Lincoln International, MarshBerry's Buy-Side M&A Advisory services function as part of the buyer's extended team, with subject matter expertise (notably in insurance/wealth-related deals), market and deal flow, and execution. They emphasize end-to-end support: acquisition planning, screening, negotiation, and due diligence, as well as post-deal management and planning.

MarshBerry’s larger investment banking operation (via affiliate MarshBerry Capital, LLC, a FINRA/SIPC member) also provides the firm with the regulatory infrastructure and transactional capacity to handle complex deals. Their buy-side advisory services build on this platform, as does their deep industry expertise in insurance brokerage, wealth management, and distribution services.

The firm also highlights its proprietary benchmarking and market intelligence resources in support of advisory efforts. In 2023, The Insurer named MarshBerry “M&A Advisor of the Year” for its work in the Retail and Specialty Insurance Brokerage segment.

MarshBerry has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Morgan Stanley Investment Banking

Part of Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking & Capital Markets business, its M&A advisory group is one of the pillars of the firm’s global corporate-finance operations. Headquartered in New York and founded in 1935 (as the parent company), Morgan Stanley is a global firm with offices in dozens of countries and tens of thousands of employees, making it well-equipped to advise on multi-jurisdictional, cross-border M&A. The M&A business has a strong track record, supported by deep industry knowledge, broad product capabilities (debt, equity, and hybrid-financing options), and the firm’s global reach.

Morgan Stanley was recognized by Euromoney as “The World’s Best Investment Bank 2025.” Euromoney’s data shows that the bank was in the market-leading position globally for public M&A transactions in 2024 (with 309 deals worth an estimated $633 billion, a 26% global market share).

Euromoney also recognized Morgan Stanley as “Asia’s Best Investment Bank for M&A 2025” due in large part to its APAC market-leading position in M&A ($167 million in revenues and a 7.1% market share in APAC ex-Japan in 2024). According to the 2022 global M&A advisor league tables by value (via Mergermarket/Oaklins), Morgan Stanley placed third in Asia-Pacific ex-Japan for deal value ($800 million, 270 deals).

Morgan Stanley has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

PMCF Investment Banking

PMCF Investment Banking is a middle-market investment bank offering M&A advisory services throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The firm has a history of serving existing privately held, family-owned, and private-equity-backed businesses rather than recent start-ups or new-to-market players. PMCF has over 30 years of experience and over 300 financial advisory transactions in its deal pipeline.

PMCF’s buy-side advisory service helps clients formulate acquisition criteria, identify and engage target companies, and work on transaction structuring and negotiations to meet the buyer’s value expectations. The process's focus is grounded in middle-market experience, and service extends to a variety of industry sectors: business services, healthcare, consumer/retail, Industrials, software and technology, transportation and logistics, and plastics and packaging.

In March 2025, PMCF was named “Dealmaker of the Year” by the Association for Corporate Growth Detroit (ACG Detroit) in its 2024 M&A All Star Awards, recognizing the firm’s impact in Southeast Michigan, the complexity of its transactions, and its overall contribution to the M&A community. In addition, PMCF’s Managing Director Joe Wagner was recognized as a “Notable M&A Dealmaker” in Crain’s (Detroit) for 2025.

PMCF has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Rothschild & Co.

Rothschild & Co’s Global Advisory division, and in particular its M&A & Strategic Advisory offering, is widely regarded as one of the most active and trusted advisers in international merger-and-acquisition markets. With more than 1,600 bankers operating across 47 countries, the firm offers global reach while maintaining the independence and tailored client focus often associated with smaller boutiques.

Rothschild & Co has deep roots in financial services, tracing a lineage of more than 200 years in global markets. This provides it with a long-standing network and insight into cross-border transactions.

Euromoney recognized the firm in six of the 14 major categories at its Awards for Excellence 2025, including “World’s Best Bank for Independent Advisory,” “Europe’s Best Bank for Independent Advisory,” and the UK’s “Best Investment Bank for M&A.” In 2024 league tables from GlobalData, Rothschild & Co ranked number one by deal volume in Europe for 2024 (the bank advised on 132 deals) and in the top 10 by value (ranked ninth) for 2024.

In the H1 2025 league tables from Mergermarket, the firm ranked number one in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the financial advisor league table by the value of deals advised on, totaling $76.1 billion; the bank accounted for about 65.9 % of disclosed announced M&A volume in MENA.

Rothschild & Co. has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Sikich

Sikich is a Chicago-based, technology-enabled, full-service professional services firm offering a range of advisory, accounting, consulting, tax, audit, and deal-related services. According to its website, the firm works with corporations, not-for-profits, state and local governments, and federal agencies, applying a depth of operational, strategic, and financial expertise.

For a buyer seeking external support for acquisitions, Sikich provides a full suite of buy-side services that span strategy through to execution, including identifying and reaching out to targets, negotiating deals, and conducting due diligence.

In May 2025, The Consulting Report recognized Kurt Estes, a principal at Sikich, as one of the “Top 25 M&A Consultants & Leaders of 2025.” This award highlights the strength of the firm’s M&A advisory leadership. In July 2025, the company announced the completion of two new acquisitions (Reason Financial Advisors and Itascapoint) as part of its own growth strategy, signaling that Sikich is not only advising on deals but actively participating in them as well.

Sikich has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

UBS

UBS Group AG (UBS), through its investment banking subsidiary UBS Investment Bank, has a global, comprehensive M&A advisory capability. UBS’s M&A advisory function is well-established, globally oriented, and currently distinguished in certain key regions, making it a credible choice for complex transactions, especially for clients seeking significant cross-border or Asia-Pacific exposure.

In 2025, Global Finance ranked UBS as the “Best M&A Bank in Asia-Pacific” and a leader in the region in M&A financial advisory services for 2024. The company was specifically noted for completing 30 transactions in the region with a total deal value of $14.4 billion.

In 2025, Euromoney ranked UBS “Asia’s Best Investment Bank 2025,” noting that UBS retained the top spot in the Asia ex-Japan M&A revenue league table, earning USD 145 million and 9.8% market share in 2024; Euromoney also noted that UBS led in M&A advisory volumes in Southeast Asia. More recently (Q1-Q3 2025), UBS has been noted as one of the top financial advisers in the Asia-Pacific region for M&A, by value and volume.

UBS has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

VRA Partners

VRA Partners is a boutique investment bank based in Atlanta. It offers middle-market M&A, capital raising, and strategic advisory services to business owners, management teams, and private equity sponsors. The website states that the firm has facilitated more than 650 transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $60 billion, with a “boutique mindset” and big-bank sophistication.

VRA Partners was founded to provide custom M&A solutions across various industries, including business services, consumer/retail, industrials, and technology. It emphasizes industry expertise and close collaboration with owners and management teams.

In a recent strategic update, VRA Partners announced that it will be expanding its buy-side M&A advisory services, adding experienced personnel and infrastructure to deepen relationships with private-equity sponsors and offer outsourced corporate development and retained search solutions for add-on acquisitions.

In 2019, the firm was named advisor to a deal that won the award for “M&A Deal of the Year ($25MM–$50MM)” in the 18th Annual M&A Advisor Awards.

VRA Partners has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

West Monroe

West Monroe is a business and technology consulting firm based in the U.S. and founded in 2002. Headquartered in Chicago, West Monroe began its history as a boutique consulting firm focused on regional clients but has since expanded to multiple industries (private equity, high tech and software, manufacturing/distribution, financial services, healthcare/life sciences) and geographies, becoming a full-service consulting firm that pairs operations, technology, and business strategy.

Against that backdrop, West Monroe’s M&A advisory practice supports clients across the full transaction lifecycle, including pre-transaction diligence and carve-out planning, as well as post-merger integration and value-creation execution.

West Monroe won M&A Advisors’ Deal of the Year Award in 2023 for its advisory role in the acquisition of PANTHERx Rare from Centene Corporation by Vistria Group, General Atlantic, and Nautic Partners. Earlier that year, two professionals within West Monroe’s M&A practice, Jordan Nouhan and Madeline Verbeten, were honored by M&A Advisor as winners of the 14th Annual Emerging Leaders Award, recognizing rising talent in the deal-advisory world.

West Monroe has advised buyers in M&A transactions such as:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key stages of the buy-side M&A process that M&A firms help with?

Buy-side advisors help with strategy and target identification, outreach to potential sellers, initial evaluations, financial modeling, valuation, and deal structuring. They also coordinate due diligence, assist in negotiating terms, and help manage closing documentation and integration planning.

What's the difference between a large investment bank (like Goldman Sachs) and a boutique firm (like Calder Capital)?

Large investment banks focus on high-value, complex global deals and offer a full range of services, including financing, capital markets, and cross-border expertise. Boutique firms specialize in middle-market or smaller transactions, offering more personalized service, lower fees, and deep sector or regional expertise.

When should I consider hiring a law firm like Kirkland & Ellis or Gibson Dunn for a buy-side transaction?

You should engage a law firm once you're seriously evaluating a target or preparing a letter of intent (LOI). They are essential for drafting and negotiating purchase agreements, managing legal due diligence, handling regulatory issues, and protecting your interests throughout the deal.

How are consulting firms (like West Monroe) different from investment banks?

Investment banks focus on deal execution—finding targets, negotiating terms, and structuring transactions. Consulting firms provide operational and technical support, such as commercial, technology, and operational due diligence, integration planning, synergies, and post-merger execution.

How are buy-side M&A advisors typically paid?

Buy-side advisors are typically compensated through a retainer fee plus a success fee that is paid only if a deal closes. Some firms offer contingency-only models or performance-based structures, depending on the size and complexity of the transaction.

What should I look for when selecting a buy-side advisor?

Look for industry expertise, a proven track record with similar deals, strong networks for sourcing opportunities (including off-market deals), transparent fee structures, and the ability to offer strategic guidance, negotiation support, and seamless coordination across legal, financial, and operational teams.

Turn Buy-Side Strategy into Repeatable Wins with DealRoom

Selecting the right advisor is only one part of the equation. The other is the operating system you run your acquisitions on. With the DealRoom M&A Platform, buy-side teams have a single, purpose-built workspace to take a deal from thesis to closed transaction (and beyond) with less friction and more discipline.

Pipeline tracking, deal scoring reports, and due diligence requests live alongside an integrated data room and project management, keeping sourcing, valuation, diligence, and negotiations connected, auditable, and on schedule. Once a deal closes, teams can seamlessly transition into integration planning and execution with centralized Day 1 Readiness tasks, synergy tracking, workstreams, and cross-functional collaboration.

DealRoom offers role-based permissions for internal and external parties, real-time status and analytics, automated reminders, and standardized playbooks and templates to codify how your team evaluates risk and value creation. The result is faster cycle times and a repeatable process that compounds learning from one deal to the next.

If out-executing (not just out-analyzing) is your goal, consider the tooling behind your advisors. Request a demo to learn how the DealRoom M&A Platform helps buy-side teams close better deals, faster.