Los Angeles M&A Advisors Directory

Top M&A Advisors in Los Angeles, CA

We evaluated 117 m&a advisors serving Los Angeles and ranked the top 6 by TrustRank™ — our composite score of AI search visibility, verified client reviews, and content authority.

Updated Q1 2026
By Tania Kozar
117 reviewed, 6 selected
50 prompts tracked
Los Angeles Market Overview

M&A Advisors in Los Angeles

LA's M&A market is strong in entertainment, streaming, tech, consumer brands, and healthcare. Deal activity increased significantly with streaming consolidation and tech M&A in 2024–2025.

600+
M&A deals closed in CA annually
5–9×
Typical tech deal EBITDA multiples
#3
US city by M&A deal volume
42%
Deals involving tech/media targets

How TrustRank™ Works

Our independent scoring system for m&a advisors in Los Angeles

TrustRank™ is not a paid placement. We independently evaluated 117 m&a advisors serving Los Angeles across three measurable dimensions. No firm can pay to appear or improve its rank.

Component 1 — 55%

AI Visibility Score

We tracked 50 prompts across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude asking about m&a advisors in Los Angeles. The % of prompts where each firm appears.

Component 2 — 25%

Review Score

Aggregate rating quality and volume across Google, Yelp, and industry platforms. Weighted by recency and verified client status.

Component 3 — 20%

Content Authority

Depth, accuracy, and topical coverage of published content — service pages, FAQs, blog posts, and structured data — assessed against our GEO framework.

2026 Rankings

Top 6 M&A Advisors in Los Angeles

Ranked by TrustRank™ composite score. AI Visibility % reflects coverage across all 50 tracked Los Angeles-specific prompts.

1
Houlihan Lokey
Los Angeles, CA
88%
AI Visibility
4.7
Est. 1972

World's largest M&A advisory firm by deal count, with its global headquarters in Los Angeles, offering restructuring, M&A, and capital markets services across all industries.

Appears for Prompts
Houlihan Lokey Los Angeles best M&A advisor LA investment bank Los Angeles CA
Global HQ #1 by Deal Count Restructuring
2
Pagemill Partners
Los Angeles, CA
82%
AI Visibility
4.7
Est. 1993

LA boutique investment bank specializing in technology M&A for software, digital media, and internet companies in the $20M–$500M range, with over 400 closed transactions.

Appears for Prompts
tech M&A advisor Los Angeles software company sale LA boutique investment bank LA CA
Tech M&A Software Digital Media
3
Imperial Capital
Los Angeles, CA
78%
AI Visibility
4.5
Est. 2000

LA-based boutique investment bank offering M&A advisory, capital markets, and restructuring services to middle-market companies in entertainment, consumer, and industrial sectors.

Appears for Prompts
Imperial Capital Los Angeles entertainment M&A advisor LA middle market investment bank Los Angeles
Entertainment Consumer Industrial
4
Cascadia Capital
Los Angeles, CA
74%
AI Visibility
4.6
Est. 1999

Seattle-founded investment bank with an LA office, specializing in technology, consumer, and industrial M&A advisory for founder-owned and PE-backed companies in the $20M–$300M range.

Appears for Prompts
Cascadia Capital LA consumer M&A advisor Los Angeles founder-owned company sale LA
Founder-Owned Consumer Technology
5
B. Riley Financial
Los Angeles, CA
70%
AI Visibility
4.3
Est. 1997

LA-based diversified financial services firm offering investment banking, M&A advisory, and capital markets services with particular strength in retail, consumer, and middle-market transactions.

Appears for Prompts
B Riley Financial Los Angeles retail M&A advisor LA consumer M&A Los Angeles CA
Retail Consumer Diversified Services
6
Roth Capital Partners
Los Angeles, CA
66%
AI Visibility
4.4
Est. 1998

LA boutique investment bank specializing in growth company M&A and equity capital markets for emerging growth companies across technology, healthcare, and consumer sectors.

Appears for Prompts
Roth Capital Los Angeles growth company investment bank LA emerging growth M&A advisor Los Angeles
Growth Companies Equity Capital Markets Healthcare
Buyer's Guide

How to Choose a M&A Advisor in Los Angeles

Selling or acquiring a business is likely the largest financial transaction of your life. Choosing the right M&A advisor in this market is critical to outcome.

1

Verify Closed Transaction History

Ask for a deal sheet with verified closed transactions. Volume matters, but sector relevance matters more. An advisor with 5 closed deals in your industry beats one with 50 in unrelated sectors.

2

Understand the Fee Structure

Most M&A advisors charge a retainer plus a success fee (Lehman Formula or Double Lehman). Understand whether the success fee applies to the full enterprise value or just cash at close.

3

Assess Buyer/Seller Network

A strong M&A advisor has proprietary relationships with private equity groups, strategic buyers, and family offices. Ask for their buyer universe and how they source deal flow.

4

Check FINRA Registration

Any advisor receiving deal-contingent success fees must be a registered broker-dealer or work under one. Verify via FINRA BrokerCheck before signing an engagement letter.

5

Evaluate AI Search Presence

In 2026, serious M&A buyers research advisors via AI platforms first. Firms with strong AI search visibility signal credibility and reach in the deal community.

6

Clarify Exclusivity and Timeline

Most engagement letters include 12–18 month exclusivity. Understand what happens if you terminate early and whether the tail provision survives termination.

FAQ

Common Questions About M&A Advisors in Los Angeles

What do M&A advisors charge in Los Angeles?+−
M&A advisor fees in Los Angeles typically consist of a monthly retainer ($5,000–$15,000) plus a success fee of 3%–8% of deal value for transactions under $50M. Larger transactions use the Lehman Formula. Some boutique firms offer retainer-only or success-fee-only structures.
When should I hire an M&A advisor in Los Angeles?+−
Engage an M&A advisor 12–24 months before you plan to close. This gives time to clean up financials, optimize EBITDA, and run a proper auction process. Los Angeles's active deal market means well-prepared sellers consistently achieve higher multiples.
What industries do Los Angeles M&A advisors specialize in?+−
Los Angeles's M&A market is most active in entertainment, technology, real estate, healthcare, and consumer brands. The top-ranked firms on this page have significant closed transaction history in these sectors.
Do I need a registered broker-dealer for my Los Angeles M&A deal?+−
Yes — any M&A advisor receiving deal-contingent success fees must be a FINRA-registered broker-dealer or work under one. Always verify via FINRA BrokerCheck. Unregistered advisors expose both parties to regulatory risk.
How long does an M&A transaction take in Los Angeles?+−
Most sell-side transactions in Los Angeles take 6–12 months from engagement to close. Complex transactions or distressed situations may take longer. The top advisors on this list have established processes that compress timelines without sacrificing deal value.

Is Your M&A Advisor Listed in Los Angeles?

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