New York has more active M&A advisors than any other city. This list covers 12 firms handling deals across finance, tech, healthcare, and media in 2026 - with deal sizes, sector focus, and recent transactions.
How New York M&A advisors work
New York advisors run the full process - valuation, buyer outreach, data room management, and close. Most senior partners here have closed dozens of deals across multiple market cycles.
The city's advisor ecosystem spans elite boutiques, bulge brackets, and specialized middle-market firms. Each serves a different deal size and sector profile.
Buyers in New York expect organized sellers. Getting your M&A documents in order before outreach signals readiness and compresses timelines.
Ellty lets you build a secure data room before your first advisor meeting. Upload financials, contracts, and cap table, then share with granular permission controls from day one.
| Deal Type | Deal Size | Sector Focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evercore | Both | $500M-$50B+ | Tech, healthcare, financial services, consumer | evercore.com |
| Lazard | Both | $500M-$100B+ | Financial advisory, restructuring, cross-border | lazard.com |
| Centerview Partners | Both | $1B-$100B+ | Large-cap complex M&A, board advisory | centerviewpartners.com |
| Moelis & Company | Both | $250M-$50B+ | Cross-sector M&A, restructuring, capital markets | moelis.com |
| PJT Partners | Both | $500M-$50B+ | Strategic advisory, restructuring, shareholder defense | pjtpartners.com |
| Houlihan Lokey | Both | $50M-$5B+ | Middle market, restructuring, financial sponsors | hl.com |
| Lincoln International | Both | $50M-$1B+ | Tech, healthcare, consumer, industrials | lincolninternational.com |
| Jefferies | Both | $100M-$10B+ | Tech, healthcare, consumer, energy, financial services | jefferies.com |
| Harris Williams | Sell-side | $50M-$500M | Healthcare, tech, business services, consumer | harriswilliams.com |
| Capstone Partners | Both | $10M-$500M | Tech, healthcare, business services, consumer | capstonepartners.com |
| MidCap Advisors | Both | $5M-$100M | Lower middle market, healthcare, business services | midcapadvisors.com |
| Lenox Hill Capital Advisors | Both | $10M-$250M | Middle market, cross-sector | lenoxhilladvisors.com |
How to verify an advisor's track record
Ask each firm for a closed deal list from the past 24 months. Focus on transactions that match your sector, deal size, and geographic buyer universe - not overall firm volume.
Check the names on those tombstones. If the senior partner who will run your deal isn't on any of them, you're buying brand, not execution.
Call two references directly - not just the ones the advisor provides. Ask about timeline accuracy, buyer access, and whether the team stayed senior throughout.
Ellty lets you share diligence documents with advisors during the pitch process. Tracking who opens what tells you which firm is actually doing homework before you sign.
Read the financial due diligence guide before your first advisor meeting. It helps you anticipate what buyers scrutinize and ask sharper questions during the pitch.
Build your NYC M&A data room
Organize your financials and deal docs for New York buyers securely.
Start free 14-day trialWhat an M&A deal looks like: 6 stages
New York deals typically move faster than the national average. Expect six to nine months from engagement to close on a well-prepared transaction.
| What happens | What you need ready | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preparation | Valuation, advisor selection, CIM drafting | 3 years financials, cap table, key contracts |
| 2. Advisor engagement | Engagement letter signed, process timeline set | Engagement letter, clean corporate records |
| 3. Marketing | Teaser and CIM sent to targeted buyer list | Ellty data room ready with gated document access |
| 4. LOI | Buyers submit bids, advisor selects shortlist | Management presentation, updated projections |
| 5. Due diligence | Winning buyer reviews all legal and financial docs | Full data room: IP, HR, leases, litigation history |
| 6. Close | Purchase agreement signed, funds transferred | Board sign-offs, regulatory filings, escrow |
12 New York M&A advisors in 2026
These firms are active in 2026 across the sectors New York deals most: financial services, technology, healthcare, media, and consumer.
1. Evercore
Evercore is one of the most respected independent advisory firms globally, known for keeping senior partners directly on every mandate rather than delegating to junior teams.
Recent Deals: Advised on multiple $1B+ transactions in 2025, including cross-border technology and financial services deals. Ranked among the top 10 M&A advisors globally by fee revenue in 2025.
LinkedIn: Evercore on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and retail, energy
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $500M-$50B+
Location: New York, NY (global offices in London, Houston, Los Angeles)
Website: evercore.com
2. Lazard
Lazard has advised on some of the largest and most complex M&A deals over the past 100 years. Its New York office leads cross-border mandates where European or Asian counterparties are involved.
Recent Deals: Active in financial services and restructuring M&A in 2025-2026. Advised on European acquirer transactions targeting US financial and tech assets.
LinkedIn: Lazard on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Financial advisory, financial institutions, restructuring, cross-border M&A
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $500M-$100B+
Location: New York, NY (global headquarters)
Website: lazard.com
3. Centerview Partners
Centerview runs fewer mandates than most firms its size. That means each client gets more time from founders and senior MDs - not just the pitch team.
Recent Deals: Advised boards on complex contested transactions and strategic reviews in 2025. Active in pharmaceutical and consumer sector advisory throughout 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: Centerview Partners on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Large-cap strategic M&A, board advisory, shareholder defense, pharmaceuticals
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $1B-$100B+
Location: New York, NY
Website: centerviewpartners.com
4. Moelis & Company
Moelis has advised on over $4 trillion in transactions since 2007. Its New York headquarters handles cross-sector mandates with no industry silos limiting deal team composition.
Recent Deals: Advised in restructuring and M&A in healthcare and consumer sectors in 2025. Active in both strategic and financial sponsor-driven transactions globally.
LinkedIn: Moelis & Company on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Cross-sector M&A, restructuring, capital raises, financial sponsor advisory
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $250M-$50B+
Location: New York, NY (global offices in LA, London, Dubai, Hong Kong)
Website: moelis.com
5. PJT Partners
PJT Partners was spun out of Blackstone in 2015 and specializes in complex strategic situations where most banks won't or can't provide unbiased advice.
Recent Deals: Active in restructuring and strategic advisory through 2025-2026. PJT Park Hill is one of the leading fund placement agents globally for PE and hedge funds.
LinkedIn: PJT Partners on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Strategic advisory, restructuring, shareholder defense, fund placement
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $500M-$50B+
Location: New York, NY
Website: pjtpartners.com
6. Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey is ranked number one globally for M&A transaction count in 2025. Its New York office covers healthcare, technology, and financial services transactions regularly.
Recent Deals: Ranked #1 globally for M&A deal count in 2025 across multiple sectors. Active in middle-market advisory and restructuring mandates across New York.
LinkedIn: Houlihan Lokey on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Middle market M&A, restructuring, financial sponsors, healthcare, technology
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$5B+
Location: New York, NY (multiple US and global offices)
Website: hl.com
Build your NYC M&A data room
Organize your financials and deal docs for New York buyers securely.
Start free 14-day trial7. Lincoln International
Lincoln International is a global mid-market advisory firm with a New York office and dedicated coverage across technology, healthcare, consumer, and industrials sectors.
Recent Deals: Completed 957 M&A transactions from 2020-2025. Active on PE-backed sell-side processes and healthcare advisory in New York through 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: Lincoln International on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, consumer, industrials, financial sponsors
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $50M-$1B+
Location: New York, NY (global offices including Chicago, London, Frankfurt)
Website: lincolninternational.com
8. Jefferies
Jefferies is a full-service investment bank headquartered in New York with a growing M&A advisory practice competing with bulge brackets on execution quality at lower fee thresholds.
Recent Deals: Active in technology, energy transition, and healthcare M&A in 2025. Advised on cross-border transactions involving European and Asian strategic buyers.
LinkedIn: Jefferies on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, energy, consumer, financial services, real estate
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $100M-$10B+
Location: New York, NY (global headquarters)
Website: jefferies.com
9. Harris Williams
Harris Williams runs a focused sell-side advisory practice. Its sector teams have strong buyer relationships in healthcare, tech-enabled services, and consumer that generalist banks don't replicate.
Recent Deals: Advised RANDYS Worldwide Automotive on its sale to Tailwind Capital in 2025. Active in healthcare and technology services sell-side advisory throughout 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: Harris Williams on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Healthcare, tech-enabled services, consumer and retail, business services
Deal Type: Sell-side
Deal Size: $50M-$500M
Location: New York, NY (also Richmond, Charlotte, San Francisco)
Website: harriswilliams.com
10. Capstone Partners
Capstone Partners is a top-ranked US middle-market advisor with a New York office covering technology M&A, healthcare services, and business services across the Northeast.
Recent Deals: Published sector M&A reports across technology, healthcare services, and business services in 2025. Active in sponsor-backed sell-side processes in the New York market.
LinkedIn: Capstone Partners on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare services, business services, consumer, financial services
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $10M-$500M
Location: New York, NY (national presence with multiple offices)
Website: capstonepartners.com
11. MidCap Advisors
MidCap Advisors is a New York-based boutique focused on the lower middle market. It handles transactions where a founder needs senior attention on a $20M deal - not just a $200M one.
Recent Deals: Active in healthcare and professional services sell-side advisory in the New York metro area through 2025-2026.
LinkedIn: MidCap Advisors on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Lower middle market, healthcare, business services, consumer products
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $5M-$100M
Location: New York, NY
Website: midcapadvisors.com
12. Lenox Hill Capital Advisors
Lenox Hill Capital Advisors is a New York middle-market firm for cross-sector clients who need senior attention and a lean team rather than a large bank's process.
Recent Deals: Active in middle-market M&A advisory across multiple sectors in the New York metro area through 2024-2025.
LinkedIn: Lenox Hill Capital Advisors on LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Middle market, cross-sector M&A, financial advisory
Deal Type: Both
Deal Size: $10M-$250M
Location: New York, NY
Website: lenoxhilladvisors.com
What buyers expect in a New York deal
New York buyers move quickly and expect sellers to match that pace. You'll get one chance to impress in a competitive process - disorganization costs you price, not just time.
Document requests come fast after LOI. Buyers expect a fully populated data room within 72 hours of signing. Anything slower signals operational risk and gives buyers leverage to chip the price.
Ellty's granular permissions let you control exactly what each buyer can see. Open access in stages as a buyer progresses - protecting competitive information from early-stage bidders.
Financial models get scrutinized harder in New York than in most markets. Make sure your due diligence documents are clean and consistent before you go to market.
Choosing between a boutique and a bulge bracket
If your deal is under $500M, a boutique advisory firm will almost always give you more senior attention. The partner who pitched you runs the process - not hand it off after signing.
Bulge brackets bring brand, broader reach, and cross-border firepower. For deals above $1B with complex shareholder structures, that reach is worth the tradeoff in personal attention.
The right choice depends on your buyer universe. If most likely acquirers are PE-backed or smaller strategics, a middle-market firm like Capstone or Lincoln International has sharper relationships.
Review your merger vs acquisition structure options before engaging an advisor. Structure shapes which advisors have relevant track records for your specific situation.
Fees, engagement letters, and what to negotiate
Most New York M&A advisory firms charge a monthly retainer plus a success fee at close. Retainers run $10K to $50K per month depending on deal complexity and firm size.
Success fees follow a Lehman-style formula, ranging from 1% to 5% of deal value. Negotiate a fee cap for large deals and a minimum fee floor to align advisor incentives with yours.
Push back on tail provisions that extend beyond 12 months. A two-year tail means you owe a success fee on any deal you independently find - long after the engagement ends.
Ellty helps you manage advisor engagement documents in one place. Share the draft engagement letter and fee schedule through a secure data room to keep pre-engagement admin clean.
How Ellty helps you close an M&A deal in New York
Your advisor shortlist is set. Open a data room before your first call.
- 1.Upload your M&A documents to a secure roomAdd your financials, legal docs, and cap table now.
- 2.Set view and download rights for each partyControl who sees what across buyers and advisors.
- 3.See who reads what and follow up fasterTrack opens and page time to find serious buyers.
Common questions about New York M&A advisors
- Match the firm to your deal size and sector. Elite boutiques suit $1B+ complex deals. Middle-market firms serve $10M-$500M best.
- Most charge $10K-$50K monthly retainer plus 1-5% success fee at close. Negotiate the tail period carefully.
- Expect six to nine months from engagement to close. Well-prepared sellers with clean data rooms close faster.
- Yes. Firms like Lazard, Evercore, and Moelis have global offices built for cross-border M&A mandates.
- Lower middle market firms like MidCap Advisors handle deals from $5M. Elite boutiques rarely go below $500M.
- Boutiques give more senior access. National firms add buyer reach. Deal size determines the right choice.
