LSH Partners Research
Advisory Approach
LSH Partners is an independent boutique investment bank headquartered in New York City, founded in November 2016 as a spinout from Loeb Partners Corporation. The firm is built on the thesis that middle-market companies require senior-level attention and independent advice unburdened by the conflicts of interest inherent in larger bulge bracket firms. Every senior banker on the LSH Partners team brings 20-30 years of experience from prominent Wall Street institutions, providing institutional-quality advisory services with the agility and focus of a specialized boutique.
The firm differentiates itself through deep partnership with clients, understanding their unique needs, and delivering impartial advice where the client always comes first. LSH Partners believes that the best advisory outcomes come from combining extensive market relationships, institutional process rigor, and senior banker involvement from engagement through close.
Services and Coverage
LSH Partners provides comprehensive investment banking services across four core verticals:
- M&A Advisory: Buy-side and sell-side transaction advisory across the middle market ($10M-$500M+ range)
- Restructuring and Capital Markets: Debt refinancing, capital raises, and complex financial restructurings
- Corporate Finance: Strategic financing, growth capital, and business combination structures
- Principal Investment: Direct co-investment and GP stakes through related investment vehicles
The firm serves a broad range of industries, with particular depth in consumer/retail, healthcare services, financial services/fintech, technology, and industrial sectors. Their client base includes founder-owned businesses, family-office backed companies, and private equity portfolio companies seeking independent financial advisory.
Deal Track Record and Sector Focus
LSH Partners has actively closed transactions across diverse sectors and deal types. Recent and notable transactions include:
2025: C.H. Guenther Acquires Fresca Mexican Foods - Advised on the acquisition of a foodservice-focused tortilla producer, expanding the buyer's production capacity and market reach.
2024: Hunter Point Capital - Served as placement agent for the firm's debut GP stakes fund, raising a record $3.3 billion (as of March 2024), demonstrating the firm's deep relationships with institutional capital providers.
2023: Volato Business Combination - Provided fairness opinion to the Special Committee of PROOF Acquisition Corp I in connection with its business combination with Volato, a leading private aviation company. This $60M+ capital raise and SPAC transaction shows LSH Partners' experience with complex public market transactions.
2019: Gryphon Investors/RoC Skincare - Served as financial advisor to Gryphon Investors on the acquisition of RoC, a leading anti-aging skincare brand, from Johnson & Johnson. This consumer/healthcare transaction demonstrates the firm's ability to execute meaningful acquisitions in branded consumer sectors.
2023: CM Equity Partners - Served as general advisor on portfolio transactions.
According to Tracxn, LSH Partners has facilitated approximately 10 deals (as of January 2026), comprising 8 M&A transactions and 2 funding rounds. Across deal types, the firm has experience in sell-side M&A, buy-side transactions, recapitalizations, and capital raises. Deal sizes range from $20M to $3.3B, reflecting the firm's capability across the full middle-market spectrum.
Process and Client Engagement
LSH Partners runs institutional M&A processes with senior banker involvement. Key aspects of their engagement model:
- Senior-level attention: Every engagement receives direct involvement from managing directors and senior advisors, not junior bankers
- Institutional process rigor: Comprehensive quality of earnings support, buyer outreach strategies, and data room preparation
- Independence and impartiality: As an independent boutique without private equity or principal investment conflicts, LSH Partners provides unbiased advice focused on maximizing client value
- Strategic expertise: Team members bring operational backgrounds and deep industry knowledge from prior Wall Street and corporate roles
- Long-term relationships: The firm emphasizes building enduring client relationships beyond single transactions
Buyer Network and Relationships
LSH Partners maintains extensive relationships across the institutional capital ecosystem:
- Private Equity: Deep relationships with PE firms including involvement in general partner fundraisings and portfolio transactions
- Strategic Buyers: Cross-border and domestic strategic acquirers across consumer, healthcare, industrial, and technology sectors
- Financial Sponsors: Family offices, mezzanine lenders, and other financial institutions
- Capital Providers: Relationships with institutional investors for capital raises, as evidenced by placement agent work for $3.3B+ funds
The firm's dual structure includes Loeb Spencer House Partners (LSHP), a strategic alliance with London-based Spencer House Partners LLP formed in 2015, providing seamless cross-border M&A capability and European buyer/strategic access.
Team and Expertise
James L. Kempner - President. James Kempner was formerly President of Loeb Partners Corporation before leading the 2016 spinout to form LSH Partners. He is a Partner of Loeb Spencer House Partners and brings decades of M&A and investment banking experience.
Steven Niemczyk - Senior Advisor. Steven Niemczyk is the former Vice Chairman and Global Head of Asset Management investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He leads Loeb Spencer House Partners (LSHP) and provides strategic guidance to LSH Partners' advisory practice. His expertise spans institutional asset management, wealth management, and cross-border transactions.
John Ziegler - Managing Director. John Ziegler serves as a managing director in the M&A advisory practice, bringing deep middle-market M&A expertise and extensive buyer relationships across industrial, manufacturing, and business services sectors.
Rachel Samuels Prew - Director and VP/Secretary. Rachel Samuels Prew is a director and executive officer of LSH Partners, holding the position of VP/Secretary. She brings investment banking and M&A advisory experience, with securities registrations including Series 79 and Series 63.
Samuel Bradley - Associate. Samuel Bradley joined LSH Partners as an investment banking associate, bringing junior-level advisory support and transaction execution expertise.
Nicholas Fallon - Analyst. Nicholas Fallon serves as an investment banking analyst, providing quantitative and analytical support on deal processes and valuations.
Christopher Di Vito - Analyst. Christopher Di Vito is an analyst at LSH Partners, contributing research and analytical support to advisory engagements.
Geographic Coverage and Market Position
LSH Partners is headquartered at 780 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The firm is licensed to conduct business across 39 U.S. states and territories, providing national coverage for middle-market transactions. In addition to NYC headquarters, the firm maintains cross-border access through its partnership with Spencer House Partners in London, enabling European and international transaction capability.
The firm is FINRA-regulated (CRD# 284952, SEC# 8-69817) and maintains broker-dealer and investment adviser registration across North America, providing full securities services capability.
Competitive Positioning
LSH Partners occupies a distinct position in the middle-market M&A advisory landscape:
- Independence: Unburdened by conflicts inherent in bulge bracket firms or firms with competing PE practices
- Senior Expertise: Every engagement receives director/MD-level involvement, not delegated to junior bankers
- Boutique Agility: Faster decision-making, relationship-focused, and responsive to client needs
- Broad Capability: Full-service advisory (M&A, restructuring, capital markets) rather than specialist-only focus
- Institutional Capital Access: Deep relationships with PE, strategic buyers, and financial sponsors demonstrated through placement agent and advisory work
- International Capability: Cross-border transaction expertise through LSHP London alliance
Not a Fit If
LSH Partners' sweet spot is high-quality middle-market M&A (typically $20M-$300M+ range) with sophisticated, growth-oriented business owners or sponsors. The firm would likely decline:
- Asset sales or distressed situations lacking institutional appeal
- Highly time-sensitive fire sales where process rigor is not valued
- Transactions below their minimum engagement size
- Situations requiring only transactional accounting/structuring (non-advisory)
Strategic Positioning Summary
LSH Partners is a well-capitalized, institutionally-connected independent investment bank serving discerning middle-market clients. The firm's competitive advantage rests on senior banker involvement, independence from conflicts, institutional capital relationships, and demonstrated expertise across consumer, healthcare, financial services, industrial, and technology sectors. Founded by accomplished Wall Street veterans, LSH Partners represents the boutique alternative to bulge bracket banks for sophisticated middle-market transactions requiring strategic partnership and impartial advice.