Configure Partners Research
Advisory Approach
Configure Partners is a distinctive credit-oriented boutique investment banking platform that combines debt placement expertise, special situations advisory, and M&A advisory services. Founded by Jay Jacquin and Jamie Hadfield, the firm operates from Atlanta (headquarters) and New York with a thesis-driven approach: Configure believes that the best outcomes for clients come from sophisticated capital structure management combined with deep transactional expertise. The firm explicitly positions itself as the antithesis of most investment banks—operating with a principal mindset where client objectives become the firm's objectives. Their team of seasoned bankers and credit professionals brings 100+ years of combined experience, with many principals being former professional investors, business owners, and restructuring professionals. Configure's approach emphasizes detailed preparation, bespoke positioning, and 'rolling up the sleeves' to learn each business and craft positioning that generates investor interest. The firm combines credit markets expertise with M&A execution, giving clients unique insights into financing dynamics and buyer processes.
Sector Focus & Industry Expertise
Configure serves six core industries of coverage across business services, healthcare, industrial and distribution, power and energy, restaurants and consumer services, technology and media, automotive, and financial services. Within each industry, the firm maintains active practices and relationships. Their healthcare practice encompasses physician practice management, behavioral health platforms, and healthcare services companies. The industrial and distribution practice covers manufacturing, logistics, and specialized industrial services. Their business services expertise spans staffing, facilities management, and outsourced operational services. Power and energy covers utilities and energy-focused businesses. The restaurants and hospitality practice includes restaurant SaaS platforms and food service companies. Technology and financial services round out their sectoral coverage. The firm's ability to integrate credit knowledge with M&A advisory gives them particular strength in understanding financing implications at the earliest stages of transactions.
Process & Advisory Capabilities
Configure operates three core service lines: debt placement (connecting sponsors and operators with lending partners across bank and direct credit markets), special situations and restructuring (helping companies navigate balance sheet challenges, over-leverage, and complex capital structures), and M&A advisory (managing sophisticated sell-side and buy-side processes for middle market companies and PE sponsors). In M&A advisory, the firm manages institutional-quality processes with exhaustive preparation. They differentiate through credit-market intelligence—their deep relationships in the debt markets provide windows into buyer financing capabilities and appetite, which can be leveraged throughout M&A negotiations. For companies in special situations or restructuring, Configure helps identify strategic alternatives including liability management, rescue financing, and fresh capital solutions. The firm staffs engagements with senior-level professionals to ensure responsiveness and pressure-tested advice. They also leverage a network of operating experts, crisis managers, and independent board directors to supplement management and board teams when needed.
Buyer Network & Track Record
Configure maintains an extensive network of capital partners across private equity sponsors, strategic acquirers, family offices, and direct lenders. Recent engagements demonstrate strong relationships with leading PE firms including Kingswood Capital Management (multiple transactions including the acquisition of Safran Passenger Innovations, an aerospace platform, and investment in Infotree Global Solutions, an international workforce management firm), Platinum Equity (Branding Iron Holdings acquisition), Palm Beach Capital (Growve equity investment), and others. The firm reports 1,713 annual interactions with capital partners and has facilitated $3B+ in transaction volume with repeat clients since 2018. Transactions have spanned diverse buyer types: strategic acquirers, PE sponsors, family offices, and financial sponsors. Notable recent deals include advising Kingswood on its acquisition of Safran Passenger Innovations (a leading provider of in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems) and advising on Kingswood's strategic investment in Infotree Global Solutions (a provider of international workforce management solutions serving Fortune 500 companies across 80 countries). Configure also advised Growve on equity financing led by Palm Beach Capital and debt financing from TCW and NMP Capital, positioning the $400M+ revenue health and wellness company for growth.
Competitive Positioning
Configure differentiates from larger investment banks and other boutiques through several factors. First, their credit orientation—they approach each transaction as if underwriting it as a debt provider, understanding leverage implications and buyer financing constraints from the inside. Second, their operational perspective—the team includes former professional investors and business owners who understand operational realities and can validate business assumptions. Third, their special situations expertise—many team members have deep restructuring and distressed transaction experience, allowing them to navigate complex situations others cannot. Fourth, their process rigor and candid advice—Configure explicitly operates with a low-ego, people-first approach and provides objective assessments throughout the transaction lifecycle, not just salesmanship. Finally, their network breadth—with annual interactions exceeding 1,700 capital partners across bank and direct credit markets, they have market intelligence and buyer access that many advisory boutiques lack. They have been recognized as Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year by the 18th Annual M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards and were honored as a 2025 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing privately held company.
Not a Fit If
Configure typically works best with companies and sponsors seeking sophisticated capital solutions, institutional-quality processes, and advisors who understand credit dynamics. They are not a fit for: businesses seeking a large investment bank with global platforms (Configure is boutique), companies wanting minimal advisor involvement or hand-holding (Configure takes 'roll up the sleeves' approach), or situations requiring the brand name of a top-tier global firm over execution quality. Given their credit market focus, Configure is particularly strong for PE sponsors and growth companies seeking to optimize leverage, but less suited for purely asset-light businesses or simple processes with limited capital structure complexity.
Team Leadership
The firm is led by Jay Jacquin and Jamie Hadfield, the founding partners. Managing Directors include Joseph Weissglass, Doug Clarida (25+ years of experience), Parm Atwal (20+ years in sponsor finance), Rory Keenan (20+ years in investment banking), Daniel Amatulli (Managing Director of Technology and Innovation), David Fleming (Managing Director in NYC with nearly two decades in debt financing and M&A), Pia DeDeyn, and others. The firm has recently promoted Matt Guill to Managing Director and Kyle Stinchcomb to Director. All principals are registered with FINRA through Configure Partners Securities, LLC (CRD# 165594), demonstrating regulatory standing as a broker-dealer.
Geographic Coverage & Operations
Configure is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1500) with an additional office in New York City (430 Park Avenue, 19th Floor). The firm primarily serves US middle-market companies and sponsors, with some international transaction experience. Their buyer network extends globally, particularly among PE sponsors and strategic acquirers with US operations or acquisition mandates.
FINRA Registration & Regulatory Status
Configure Partners Securities, LLC is registered with FINRA as a broker-dealer (CRD# 165594) and member of SIPC. This registration is maintained by the operating affiliate Configure Partners Securities and allows the firm's principals to engage in securities transactions on behalf of clients. The regulatory standing provides additional credibility and institutional legitimacy for capital market transactions.