William Blair Expands Equity Capital Markets Investment Banking Team, Adding Brian Friedman in Chicago

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–William Blair, the premier global boutique, announced today that it has expanded its Equity Capital Markets investment banking team with the addition of veteran investment banker Brian Friedman. Friedman joins as a managing director in Chicago and will lead the origination and execution of late-stage private placement and crossover financings across all growth industries.

“We are excited to expand our Equity Capital Markets team with a highly regarded banker like Brian,” said Steve Maletzky, head of Equity Capital Markets investment banking at William Blair. “The convergence of private and public capital markets has broadened strategic alternatives for growth companies, and in the current market environment, financing solutions are a key area of need for our corporate, venture capital, and private equity clients. Brian bolsters an already strong Equity Capital Markets team and will accelerate the growth of our existing private placements business. Most importantly, Brian shares our commitment to execution excellence and our dedication to client success.”

Friedman joins from Paragon Biosciences, where he was head of equity capital markets. Prior to that he was a managing director at First Analysis Securities Corporation for nine years, where he was a founding member of the firm’s investment banking division. He began his career at Guggenheim Partners. Friedman received his J.D./M.B.A. from IIT Chicago Kent College of Law, and a B.B.A. in finance from the University of Iowa.

In 2019, William Blair unlocked over $100 billion in value for clients, completing 245 transactions.

About William Blair Investment Banking

William Blair’s investment banking group enables corporations, financial sponsors, and owner/entrepreneurs around the world to achieve their growth, liquidity, and financing objectives. Drawing on the collective intellectual capital and deep sector expertise of a global team that reaches across more than 20 cities on four continents, the investment banking group brings a rigorous and innovative approach to corporate board advisory projects, mergers and acquisitions, and equity and debt financing. Over the past five years, the team has completed more than 1,050 advisory and capital markets transactions totaling more than $365 billion in value for our clients.

About William Blair

William Blair is the premier global boutique with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 20 offices worldwide.* For more information, please visit williamblair.com.

*Includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.