Top 20 Corporate Finance consulting firms for 2026

Summary

The top 20 corporate finance firms in the UK for 2026 include Price Bailey, Rothschild & Co, Lazard, Goldman Sachs International, and the Big Four.

Price Bailey leads for owner-managed businesses valued £2m-£50m, offering integrated tax (including complex and international tax), legal and corporate finance advice.
Other firms specialise in larger transactions, cross-border deals, or specific sectors.
It’s important to choose based on your deal size, complexity and need for partner-led, integrated advisory services.
Some firms don’t offer integrated services.

Choosing the right corporate finance adviser can make or break a business transaction. For owner-managed businesses valued between £2 million and £50 million, finding a firm that understands your specific needs is extremely important.

Most corporate finance rankings focus on deal volume and headline transactions, however we’ve designed this list to work a bit differently.

We’ve identified the top 20 firms based on their ability to support mid-market businesses through growth, investment, acquisition and exit.

Whether you’re a family-owned business exploring a management buyout (MBO), seeking international trade buyers, or are backed by private equity and are preparing for sale, then the firms in our list understand your situation.

They have experience structuring deals for businesses in your bracket, accessing domestic and international funding and they also understand Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs).

Mid-market corporate finance has changed. Rising interest rates, tighter regulations and shifting buyer expectations mean you need advisers who build financial models suited to your market. A £10 million business operates very differently from a £500 million one.

This ranking highlights the firms that excel in this space, starting with those who have proven expertise in supporting businesses through every stage of the corporate finance journey.

The top corporate finance firms (2026 ranked list)

Price Bailey
Rothschild & Co
Lazard
Goldman Sachs International
J.P. Morgan Cazenove
Morgan Stanley
Evercore
Jefferies
Houlihan Lokey
KPMG
Deloitte
PwC
EY
Altium Capital
Centerview Partners
Greenhill & Co
Jefferies International
Panmure Liberum
Peel Hunt
Smith Square Partners

Who offers the best corporate finance services

The UK’s corporate finance market includes the big four accountancy firms and specialist independent advisers. Each brings different strengths to the table.

1. Price Bailey

Price Bailey specialises in owner-managed businesses valued between £2 million and £50 million. The firm understands how these businesses operate and what they need at each stage of growth.

Their award-winning corporate finance team has deep expertise in:

Finding international trade buyers and domestic acquirers

Securing funding from UK and international sources

Managing management buyouts and buy-ins

Conducting due diligence tailored to mid-market deals

Structuring employee ownership trusts

Price Bailey builds financial models appropriate to your market. Whether you’re a family-owned business, a company with management share options, or backed by minority or majority private equity, the team knows how to support businesses that want to grow, raise investment, acquire or sell.

2. Rothschild & Co

A global advisory firm with a strong London presence. Rothschild handles complex cross-border transactions and in mid-market M&A across Europe.

3. Lazard

An independent financial advisory firms. Lazard advises on mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and capital raising across all sectors.

4. Goldman Sachs International

The London arm of Goldman Sachs provides investment banking services including M&A advisory, capital markets and financing solutions for UK and international clients.

5. J.P. Morgan Cazenove

Combines J.P. Morgan’s global reach with Cazenove’s historic UK relationships. Focus on equity capital markets and M&A advisory for mid to large-cap companies.

6. Morgan Stanley

A major player in UK corporate finance, particularly for larger transactions. Offers M&A advisory, equity and debt underwriting, and restructuring services.

7. Evercore

An independent advisory firm focused exclusively on M&A, strategic advisory and restructuring. Known for senior-level attention on transactions.

8. Jefferies

Independent investment bank with a growing UK presence. Covers M&A advisory, capital markets and restructuring across multiple sectors.

9. Houlihan Lokey

Specialists in financial restructuring, M&A and corporate valuation ,complex, distressed situations and cross-border deals.

10. KPMG

Part of the Big Four, KPMG’s corporate finance team handles M&A, valuations, debt advisory and transaction services. Good sector expertise across the UK.

11. Deloitte

Deloitte’s corporate finance practice covers buy-side and sell-side M&A, fundraising, valuations and transaction support with extensive sector knowledge.

12. PwC

PwC offers corporate finance services including M&A advisory, capital markets, valuations and deals strategy across public and private markets.

13. EY

EY’s transaction advisory services cover M&A, valuations, due diligence and integration support. Strong presence in the UK mid-market.

14. Altium Capital

Independent UK corporate finance house specialising in mid-market M&A, fundraising and corporate restructuring across various sectors.

15. Centerview Partners

Small Boutique advisory firm focused on high-value M&A transactions. Known for providing conflict-free advice on complex deals.

16. Greenhill & Co

Independent investment bank specialising in M&A advisory and restructuring. Focuses on providing senior-level expertise to clients.

17. Jefferies International

The international division of Jefferies, handling cross-border M&A and capital markets transactions for UK and European clients.

18. Panmure Liberum

UK-focused investment bank offering corporate broking, M&A advisory and equity capital markets services, particularly to mid-cap quoted companies.

19. Peel Hunt

Independent investment bank serving UK mid and small-cap companies. Provides corporate broking, M&A advice and equity capital markets services.

20. Smith Square Partners

Specialist corporate finance adviser focusing on the public sector, education, healthcare and not-for-profit organisations.

Trusted corporate finance firms at a glance

Firm	Type	Primary Focus	Typical Deal Size
Price Bailey	Independent adviser	Owner-managed businesses, MBOs, EOTs	£2m – £50m
Rothschild & Co	Global advisory	Cross-border M&A, mid-market	£50m+
Lazard	Independent advisory	M&A, restructuring, capital raising	£100m+
Goldman Sachs International	Investment bank	Large-cap M&A, capital markets	£500m+
J.P. Morgan Cazenove	Investment bank	Equity capital markets, large M&A	£250m+
Morgan Stanley	Investment bank	Large transactions, debt/equity underwriting	£500m+
Evercore	Independent advisory	M&A, strategic advisory	£100m+
Jefferies	Investment bank	M&A, capital markets, multi-sector	£50m+
Houlihan Lokey	Advisory specialist	Financial restructuring, distressed M&A	£25m+
KPMG	Big Four	M&A, valuations, transaction services	£10m+
Deloitte	Big Four	M&A, fundraising, valuations	£10m+
PwC	Big Four	M&A advisory, capital markets	£10m+
EY	Big Four	Transaction advisory, due diligence	£10m+
Altium Capital	Independent adviser	Mid-market M&A, fundraising	£5m – £100m
Centerview Partners	Boutique advisory	High-value M&A, conflict-free advice	£500m+
Greenhill & Co	Independent bank	M&A advisory, restructuring	£100m+
Jefferies International	Investment bank	Cross-border M&A, capital markets	£50m+
Panmure Liberum	UK investment bank	Mid-cap quoted companies, broking	£20m – £500m
Peel Hunt	UK investment bank	Small to mid-cap, equity capital markets	£10m – £250m
Smith Square Partners	Specialist adviser	Public sector, education, healthcare	Varies

How to choose the right corporate finance firm for your business

Integrated advisory is key

The best corporate finance advisers don’t work in isolation. They integrate tax planning and legal structuring into every transaction from the start.

This matters because the structure of your deal affects how much you actually take home. A firm that considers business asset disposal relief, entrepreneurs’ relief or holdover relief early can significantly increase your net proceeds. Getting the tax structure wrong can cost your business money.

Using separate advisers for finance, tax and legal work can often create alignment issues, with information lost between teams, advice pulling in different directions and timelines slipping as a result. An integrated approach helps avoid these problems by ensuring your corporate finance team works closely alongside tax and legal experts who understand your specific circumstances, whether that’s a family business planning for the next generation or preparing for a private equity exit.

Ask potential advisers how they coordinate tax and legal advice. Do they have in-house expertise? Do they work with trusted partners? How do they ensure everyone works towards the same outcome?

Partner-led services

In mid-market deals, who actually does the work matters enormously. Many firms send senior partners to pitch for your business, then hand execution to junior staff.

This can create problems with. junior teams lacking the experience to navigate complex negotiations. They don’t have the relationships with buyers, funders or other advisers and they can’t make decisions quickly when deals become challenging.

For businesses valued between £2 million and £50 million, you need partner-level involvement throughout. The person who understands your business should be the person negotiating with buyers. They should attend due diligence meetings and they should structure the deal.

Before appointing an adviser, it’s worth being clear about who will actually manage your transaction and taking the time to meet them. You should also check their track record on similar deals and understand how much time they will realistically dedicate to your business. If the answers feel vague or evasive, that’s often a red flag.

Assess for long-term fit

Some corporate finance firms focus purely on completing transactions quickly, whereas others take a longer view.

For many owner-managed businesses, selling isn’t just about getting a deal done. You might need support with post-deal integration if you’re acquiring. You might require ongoing strategic advice if you’re selling to private equity but staying involved. You might need help preparing your business for sale over 12 to 18 months.

Think about what you need beyond the transaction itself. If you’re doing a management buyout, will your adviser help structure management incentives? If you’re raising growth capital, can they support subsequent funding rounds? If you’re exploring employee ownership, do they understand the long-term governance implications?

The right adviser should ask about your plans for after the deal closes. They should discuss how to prepare your business, not just how to sell it. They should consider your personal goals alongside the transaction objectives.

A purely transactional approach might work for straightforward sales. However, for more complex situations, choose a firm that invests time in understanding your business and supports you through the full journey.

Next steps

Choosing the right corporate finance adviser affects the outcome of your transaction. This guide highlights the top 20 firms in the UK, focusing on those that understand mid-market businesses and the specific challenges owner-managed companies face.

The firms on this list offer different strengths. Some excel at cross-border deals. Others specialise in particular sectors. Some focus on large transactions, while others work exclusively in the £2 million to £50 million bracket where most owner-managed businesses operate.

Your choice depends on your specific situation. Consider the size and complexity of your transaction. Think about whether you need integrated tax and legal advice alongside corporate finance support. Assess whether you want purely transactional help or a longer-term relationship that supports your business through preparation, transaction and beyond.

The right adviser should understand your business model, your sector and your personal goals. They should also provide partner-level attention throughout the process and have a proven track record with businesses like yours.

If you’re considering a transaction, speaking to an adviser early helps. You can discuss your options without obligation, understand what preparation your business needs, and get clarity on realistic valuations and timescales.

Speak to Price Bailey for tailored corporate finance guidance

Our corporate finance team specialises in owner-managed businesses valued between £2 million and £50 million. We understand how to find the right buyers, structure deals to maximise your net proceeds, and support you through the entire process.

We provide integrated advice, working alongside our tax and legal specialists to ensure every aspect of your transaction is properly structured. Our partners lead every engagement, giving you direct access to experienced advisers who know your business.

Whether you’re exploring a sale, planning a management buyout, raising growth capital or considering employee ownership, we can help you understand your options and plan your next steps.

Contact our corporate finance team for a confidential discussion about your situation. No obligation, just practical advice based on real experience with businesses like yours.