Top 50: Americas M&A Investment Bankers

“Distinction in Dealmaking”

Published exclusively by Global M&A Network, the 9th annual list profiles highly respected, successful, and innovative group of 50 investment bankers from the Americas mergers and acquisitions communities. 85 firms and 490 professionals were reviewed for the current A-list.

All transactions are truly a team effort, and inclusion in the A-list also validates the firms’ leadership and record of closing value-creating transactions irrespective of deal size. We have range of identifiable criteria for making the often-hard editorial decisions.

Congratulations: Top 50 M&A Investment Bankers, and the firm’s they represent!


Warren has over 30 years of investment banking and financial advisory experience. His specialty spans directing and advising mergers to sourcing of capital and investing. Having owned, operated and sold his own businesses in the past, he truly understands the significance of transactions. He works tirelessly to close the right deals with the right buyers at the highest prices. Warren began his career practicing law at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP in the firm’s New York and London offices.


John is the founder of Capstone Partners, one of the largest and most active middle market investment banking firm in the U.S. During his 20-year leadership tenure, he has lead Capstone through two rounds of growth financings and nine strategic transactions, including the most recent public merger with Huntington Bank (NASDAQ: HBAN). John has acted as investment banker, management consultant, interim executive, investor, and board member to over 300 companies. He is a contributing author of "Best Practices of the Best Deal Makers" and "Agile M&A". John received the prestigious “M&A Leadership” accolade at the USA M&A Atlas Awards (2019).

John most enjoys about his career... What I have enjoyed most in my career is the people I have had the privilege to serve, ranging from our employees to our management team to our clients, especially our clients. The ability to contribute to their lives and their legacies is an honor that never grows old.


Adam has over two decades of transactional experience ranging from mergers and acquisitions to private capital raises for middle market companies. He is a strategic advisor to entrepreneurs and management teams with a demonstrated history of creating value to all stakeholders. He is passionate for assisting entrepreneurs in navigating the complexities of M&A and capital markets. Prior to GLC, Adam was a Director with KPMG Corporate Finance.


Mark Francis

Mark has nearly 25 years of experience in M&A and financial operations in the healthcare industry and has managed a wide variety of projects, from acquisitions, divestitures, financings, and financial restructurings to joint ventures and strategic alliance formation. He has closed more than 200 transactions involving healthcare IT and informatics, managed care, hospitals, homecare and hospice, urgent care, and other healthcare facilities.


David founded Vaquero Capital in 2011 to serve private Saas, Internet/mobile & data companies throughout their lifecycle. He has over 19 years’ experience advising companies on capital raising and mergers and acquisitions. His clients have included Alchemy Systems, Hyphen Solutions, Enverus, Allegro, Irth Solutions, Kony, Manta Media, HomeAway, Zillow, among others. He has worked on transactions with many leading investors including Insight Venture Partners, Accel-KKR, Bain Capital, Benchmark Capital, Austin Ventures, TCV, Greycroft, ABS, Oak Investments and Redpoint Venture Partners. David is a past winner of the prestigious “Investment Banker of the Year” accolade at the USA M&A Atlas Awards.

What David most enjoys about his career... I am passionate about helping founders and PE/VC backed management teams execute on complex transactions. I enjoy the long-term relationships built with entrepreneur and sponsor clients, and helping companies grow through their private market lifecycles.


Brenen is Supervising Principal of Generational Capital Markets, Chief M&A Officer of Generational Equity, and serves on the Generational Group Executive Board. He has 27 years’ experience in the M&A Industry, including the past 12 years with Generational. Prior to joining Generational, he was a partner of a boutique M&A firm specializing in the engineering industry. Before that, he was with Citigroup Capital Strategies.


Michael Klym

Michael with over twenty years of industry experience, advises on mergers, acquisitions, capital raise and related transactional matters. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 2009, he was a Vice President at RBC Capital Markets. He began his career as an attorney at Bennett Jones, LLP.


Robert founded Leonis Partners, one of New York City’s premier boutique financial advisory firms. Robert and his team took techniques they learned at working at large financial institutions such as JP Morgan and Lazard Freres and applied them to growing technology businesses. Since its founding, Leonis has emerged as a leader in technology M&A, capital raise and related advisory matters. Robert won the prestigious “M&A Leadership” in Boutique Investment Banker category at the Americas M&A Atlas Awards (January 2023).


Ricardo Lacerda

Ricardo is a widely respected and an experienced dealmaker. Before founding BR Partners, he was Head of Citigroup's Investment Bank in Latin America (2007-2009) and Brazil (2005-2009). Previously, he worked at Goldman Sachs, where he held the positions of Chief Executive Officer in Brazil (2001-2005) and Vice President at Investment Banking in New York (1996-2001).


Brian Link