Los Angeles is the second-largest M&A market in the US. This list covers 13 firms active in 2026 - with deal sizes, sector focus, and what each one does well.
How LA M&A advisory differs from other markets
Los Angeles M&A is shaped by three dominant sectors: media and entertainment, technology, and consumer. Advisors who work across all three are rarer than you'd expect.
The LA buyer universe includes a mix of global conglomerates, West Coast PE, and crossover investors who move between tech and consumer deals. Your advisor needs to know which category fits your business.
Deal timelines in LA can stretch because of the entertainment and media sector's complex rights structures. Pure M&A advisors who understand IP ownership in media move faster than generalists.
Ellty's virtual data room lets you organize deal documents and contracts before your advisor begins outreach. Organized files reduce back-and-forth and speed up the process.
What LA advisors bring to mid-market deals
The strongest LA mid-market advisors have closed 8+ transactions per year in your sector. Firm size matters less than deal count in your specific sub-sector over the last two years.
LA has a higher share of founder-owned businesses than Chicago or New York. Many LA advisors have built practices around founder liquidity events, which require different buyer positioning.
Entertainment and media M&A in LA often involves rights valuations, content library assessments, and talent agreements. Only advisors with sector experience can run these processes competently.
Ellty's mergers and acquisitions page covers what buyers expect from a well-organized data room. Buyers who get complete files at first request submit LOIs faster.
| Deal Type | Deal Size | Sector Focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intrepid Investment Bankers | Both | $20M-$500M | Consumer, food and beverage, health and wellness, DTC, retail | intrepidbankers.com |
| JEGI LEONIS | Both | $25M-$1B+ | Media, entertainment, software, business services, fintech | jl-co.com |
| Houlihan Lokey | Both | $50M-$5B+ | Media, technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services | hl.com |
| William Blair | Both | $50M-$2B+ | Healthcare, consumer, technology, business services | williamblair.com |
| Moelis & Company | Both | $100M-$10B+ | Media, entertainment, technology, financial services, consumer | moelis.com |
| Lazard | Both | $500M-$50B+ | Media, entertainment, consumer, technology, industrials | lazard.com |
| Oaklins Donnelly Penman | Both | $10M-$300M | Lower middle market, manufacturing, services, media | oaklins.com/us |
| Harris Williams | Both | $50M-$2B+ | Consumer, healthcare, technology, industrial, business services | harriswilliams.com |
| Piper Sandler | Both | $50M-$2B+ | Healthcare, consumer, technology, media, financial services | pipersandler.com |
| Guggenheim Securities | Both | $100M-$10B+ | Media, entertainment, healthcare, consumer, financial services | guggenheimpartners.com |
| Berkery Noyes | Both | $10M-$300M | Media, information services, digital media, software | berkerynoyes.com |
| Capstone Partners | Both | $10M-$500M | Consumer, healthcare, technology, business services | capstonepartners.com |
| Raymond James | Both | $25M-$1B+ | Consumer, healthcare, technology, media, financial services | raymondjames.com |
How to verify an advisor's track record
Ask for a full deal list with company names, deal sizes, and buyer types from the last 24 months. A serious LA advisor closes 8+ transactions per year in your sector.
Ask who will work your deal day-to-day and how many active mandates that person carries. More than four active mandates means you won't get the attention you're paying for.
Call the CFO or founder of two companies they sold - not the references they offer. Ask about senior banker involvement after the pitch meeting ended.
Ellty's due diligence workspace tracks every document buyers open during diligence. You'll see who is doing real work before management presentations begin.
Read the sell-side due diligence guide before you sign an engagement letter. Understanding what buyers will ask lets you build the right data room from day one.
LA M&A data room ready fast
Organize your financials and contracts before Los Angeles buyers start diligence.
Start free 14-day trialWhat an M&A deal looks like: 6 stages
Los Angeles sell-side processes run five to nine months. Media and entertainment deals with complex rights structures can take longer. Consumer and tech processes move faster when there's a competitive buyer pool.
| What happens | What you need ready | |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Valuation, advisor selection, CIM drafting | 3 years financials, customer data, IP ownership docs |
| Advisor engagement | Engagement letter signed, buyer list and timeline set | Engagement letter, org chart, key contracts |
| Marketing | Teaser and CIM sent to qualified strategic and PE buyers | Ellty data room with staged access for each buyer group |
| LOI | Buyers submit bids, advisor negotiates shortlist | Updated financials, management deck, cap table |
| Due diligence | Winning buyer reviews all legal, financial, and IP records | Full Ellty room: contracts, IP, HR records, financials |
| Close | Purchase agreement signed, funds transferred | Board approvals, reps and warranties, escrow setup |
13 Los Angeles M&A advisors active in 2026
These firms are active across media, entertainment, consumer, technology, and healthcare M&A in Los Angeles in 2026.
1. Intrepid Investment Bankers
Intrepid is headquartered in Los Angeles and built one of the most active consumer and food and beverage M&A practices on the West Coast, with 20+ transactions per year across specialty consumer categories.
Recent Deals: Completed 20+ consumer and food and beverage transactions in 2024-2025 including deals in better-for-you food, personal care, and specialty consumer brands. Active through 2026.
LinkedIn: Intrepid Investment Bankers on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Consumer, food and beverage, health and wellness, DTC, specialty retail
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $20M-$500M
Location: Los Angeles, CA (headquartered)
Website: intrepidbankers.com
2. JEGI LEONIS
JEGI LEONIS formed in 2025 from the merger of JEGI CLARITY and Leonis Partners, creating a firm with deep coverage of media, entertainment, software, and business services M&A in the LA market.
Recent Deals: Closed 35 transactions in 2024 approaching $5B in combined deal volume, with significant media and entertainment coverage relevant to the Los Angeles market through 2026.
LinkedIn: JEGI LEONIS on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Media, entertainment, software, business services, fintech, information services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $25M-$1B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast presence, also New York and London)
Website: jl-co.com
3. Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey is headquartered in Los Angeles and runs one of the most active M&A advisory practices in the city, covering media, consumer, healthcare, technology, and financial services.
Recent Deals: Ranked No. 1 M&A advisor globally for transactions under $1B in 2024. Active in LA media, consumer, and healthcare M&A through 2025-2026 with a dedicated sector team.
LinkedIn: Houlihan Lokey on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Media, technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, business services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$5B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (global headquarters)
Website: hl.com
4. William Blair
William Blair has a West Coast presence and covers healthcare, consumer, technology, and business services M&A with a sell-side practice that connects LA businesses to a global PE and strategic buyer network.
Recent Deals: Active in healthcare and consumer M&A advisory through 2025-2026. William Blair closes 150+ transactions annually across US offices, with strong consumer and healthcare coverage nationally.
LinkedIn: William Blair on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Healthcare, consumer, technology, business services, financial services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$2B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast office, global network)
Website: williamblair.com
5. Moelis & Company
Moelis is headquartered in Los Angeles and covers media, entertainment, technology, and consumer M&A at the large-cap end, with a sell-side track record in high-profile LA transactions.
Recent Deals: Active in media, entertainment, and technology M&A advisory through 2025-2026. Moelis has advised on several high-profile media and consumer transactions in the Los Angeles market.
LinkedIn: Moelis & Company on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Media, entertainment, technology, financial services, consumer
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $100M-$10B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (global co-headquarters, also New York)
Website: moelis.com
6. Lazard
Lazard has significant LA-based coverage of media, entertainment, and consumer M&A and has advised on multiple Los Angeles-based transactions at the large end of the market.
Recent Deals: Active in large-cap media, entertainment, and consumer M&A advisory through 2025-2026. Lazard's LA team covers transactions with global strategic buyers across entertainment and consumer goods.
LinkedIn: Lazard on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Media, entertainment, consumer goods, technology, industrials
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $500M-$50B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (major office, global network)
Website: lazard.com
LA M&A data room ready fast
Organize your financials and contracts before Los Angeles buyers start diligence.
Start free 14-day trial7. Oaklins Donnelly Penman
Oaklins Donnelly Penman covers lower and core middle market M&A across manufacturing, services, and media with a hands-on approach that keeps senior advisors on deals from start to close.
Recent Deals: Active in lower middle market M&A advisory through 2025-2026. Oaklins covers manufacturing, distribution, and services businesses with a regional buyer network on the West Coast.
LinkedIn: Oaklins on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Lower middle market, manufacturing, business services, media, distribution
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $10M-$300M
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast office within Oaklins global network)
Website: oaklins.com/us
8. Harris Williams
Harris Williams covers consumer, healthcare, technology, and industrial M&A with a deal-count track record that few mid-market advisors in Los Angeles can match across these sectors.
Recent Deals: Advised on 30+ consumer and healthcare transactions in 2024-2025. Active in West Coast consumer and healthcare M&A through 2026 with national buyer network coverage.
LinkedIn: Harris Williams on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Consumer, healthcare, technology, industrial services, business services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$2B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast coverage, national network)
Website: harriswilliams.com
9. Piper Sandler
Piper Sandler covers healthcare, consumer, technology, and media M&A with research-backed sector expertise and a buy-side and sell-side practice that reaches both PE and strategic buyers.
Recent Deals: Active in healthcare, consumer, and media M&A advisory through 2025-2026. Piper Sandler publishes sector research that gives sellers market data before entering a process.
LinkedIn: Piper Sandler on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Healthcare, consumer, technology, media, financial services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$2B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast office, national network)
Website: pipersandler.com
10. Guggenheim Securities
Guggenheim Securities has a strong LA presence and covers media, entertainment, healthcare, and consumer M&A at the large end, with a deep entertainment buyer network built through years of LA deal activity.
Recent Deals: Active in media, entertainment, and healthcare M&A through 2025-2026. Guggenheim's LA team has advised on several entertainment and consumer transactions in the $200M-$2B range.
LinkedIn: Guggenheim Partners on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Media, entertainment, healthcare, consumer, financial services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $100M-$10B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (major office, national and global network)
Website: guggenheimpartners.com
11. Berkery Noyes
Berkery Noyes covers media, information services, and digital media M&A with 35+ years of deal experience - a narrow focus that delivers real sector depth for businesses in the LA media market.
Recent Deals: Active in media technology and information services M&A through 2025-2026. Berkery Noyes tracks quarterly deal activity across media tech and digital content sectors.
LinkedIn: Berkery Noyes on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Media, information services, digital media, software, marketing technology
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $10M-$300M
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast coverage, also New York HQ)
Website: berkerynoyes.com
12. Capstone Partners
Capstone Partners covers lower and core middle market M&A with a research-led buyer targeting approach and sector reports that help sellers understand valuation benchmarks before going to market.
Recent Deals: Active in consumer, healthcare, and technology M&A advisory through 2025-2026. Capstone publishes quarterly sector M&A market reports across all covered industries.
LinkedIn: Capstone Partners on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Consumer, healthcare, technology, business services, industrials
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $10M-$500M
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast office, national presence)
Website: capstonepartners.com
13. Raymond James
Raymond James covers consumer, healthcare, technology, and media M&A with a dedicated investment banking team that advises on sell-side and buy-side mandates across multiple LA sectors.
Recent Deals: Active in consumer and healthcare M&A advisory through 2025-2026. Raymond James investment banking covers mid-market sell-side processes with a national PE and strategic buyer network.
LinkedIn: Raymond James on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Consumer, healthcare, technology, media, financial services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $25M-$1B+
Location: Los Angeles, CA (West Coast office, national network)
Website: raymondjames.com
LA's entertainment and media overlap with M&A
Entertainment and media M&A in LA is different from any other sector. Content rights, talent agreements, distribution deals, and guild obligations all affect deal structure and valuation.
Advisors who haven't closed entertainment or media transactions won't know how to present content library value or negotiation with streaming platforms. Sector experience is non-negotiable here.
Strategic buyers in LA entertainment include the major studios, streaming services, and content aggregators - all of whom have active M&A teams. Your advisor should have existing relationships with these acquisition teams.
Ellty's dynamic watermarking protects sensitive content strategy documents during diligence. Distribution agreements and content libraries shouldn't circulate without buyer-specific tracking.
Read the M&A process guide to understand how a structured sell-side process protects your negotiating position. LA buyers test sellers who don't run a disciplined process.
Working with cross-border buyers in Los Angeles
LA's position as a Pacific gateway means cross-border deals with Asian and European buyers are common. Japanese conglomerates, Korean chaebol, and European PE funds all actively acquire LA businesses.
Cross-border deals require advisors with relationships in the acquirer's home market. A local LA boutique without international reach will miss 30-40% of your potential buyer pool.
Currency, tax structure, and regulatory approval timelines differ significantly in cross-border deals. Your advisor should have experience navigating CFIUS review where applicable.
Ellty's granular permissions lets you give international buyers access to translated or jurisdiction-specific documents without sharing your full data room. Control matters in cross-border processes.
Read the how to prepare for due diligence guide before your first international buyer meeting. Cross-border buyers often request more documentation than domestic buyers.
Choosing the right LA advisor for your size
The size of your deal determines which firms will give you senior attention. Boutiques under 30 bankers typically close 8-12 deals per year - each one gets partner-level involvement.
Large national banks with LA offices run 50+ mandates simultaneously. You'll get a strong brand and broad buyer network, but your day-to-day contact may be an associate, not a partner.
Ask every firm you pitch how many live mandates the partner who pitches you is currently running. The honest answer tells you how much time your deal will actually get.
Ellty's private equity page covers what financial sponsors review before submitting a bid. Understanding PE buyer criteria helps you prepare the right documents before outreach begins.
Read the San Francisco consumer M&A advisors guide if you're comparing Bay Area and LA advisory options. Geography affects buyer networks more than most founders expect.
How Ellty helps you close an M&A deal in Los Angeles
Build your data room early. LA buyers expect complete organized files.
- 1.Upload financial and legal documents securelyAdd financials, IP, and contracts before outreach.
- 2.Set permissions for each buyer and deal stageControl which buyers access IP vs teaser files.
- 3.Track document opens to find serious buyersSee who reviews what and follow up precisely.
Common questions about Los Angeles M&A advisors
- LA deals often involve media and entertainment rights structures. Cross-border buyer activity from Asia is also significantly higher.
- Consumer and services businesses trade at 6x-10x EBITDA. Media and entertainment assets vary widely by content value.
- Expect five to nine months. Entertainment and media deals with rights complexity can run longer than consumer or tech processes.
- Use a boutique under $200M for senior attention. Use a national firm when cross-border buyers or deal size above $500M matters.
- Moelis, Lazard, JEGI LEONIS, and Guggenheim Securities all have active entertainment and media M&A practices in Los Angeles.
- Yes. Lazard, Houlihan Lokey, and William Blair all run cross-border M&A processes with Asian and European buyer access from LA.
