Hi, I’m Chris Walton, author of this guide and CEO of Eton Venture Services.
I’ve spent much of my career working as a corporate transactional lawyer at Gunderson Dettmer, becoming an expert in tax law & venture financing. Since starting Eton, I’ve completed thousands of business valuations for companies of all sizes.
Read my full bio here.
If you’re exploring a sale, preparing for a strategic partnership, or structuring a complex transaction, the M&A consultant you choose plays a central role in how smoothly the process runs and how strong your outcomes are.
In this article, I’ve outlined what separates top M&A consultants from the rest and curated a list of professionals known for their results across a range of industries and transaction types. Whether you’re preparing to sell, raise capital, or structure a complex deal, these experts are worth your shortlist.
→ If you’re looking for top M&A advisory firms, please check out our other guide: 8 Top M&A Advisory Firms in the US in 2025
Here are the key factors to consider to find an exceptional M&A consultant:
Criteria | Importance |
Experience & Expertise | Experience and expertise are crucial indicators of a consultant’s ability to navigate the complexities of M&A. An experienced consultant knows how to manage the complex M&A process and can spot problems before they escalate. Always check how many years he has worked in M&A. |
Specialization | A consultant who specializes in your particular industry will be deeply familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities within that field. They will have a nuanced understanding of the following:
These are all key for advising on and managing successful mergers. Check for past work and clients in your particular sector to gauge their specialization. |
Reputation & Credibility | The reputation and credibility of a consultant are key signs of their reliability and the quality of their work. Check testimonials from past customers or ask for references. |
Customer Service & Support | Excellent customer service and support are critical in an M&A process. Your consultant should promptly answer all your concerns. They should also offer ongoing support after the deal, as issues may arise later. Make sure to check if the consultant can defend the M&A valuations in court if needed—this is an important benefit I offer. |
In this article, I’ll go into how my team and I at Eton Venture Services excels in these areas.
I’ll also introduce you to six other M&A consultants, each excelling in their specialization areas.
| Name | Years of Experience | Company & Title | M&A Specialization | Based in |
| Chris Walton | 20+ | President & CEO at Eton Venture Services | Private equity firms, investors, and high-net-worth Individuals | Austin, TX |
| Bindi Patel | 20+ | Senior Associate at Piedmont M&A Advisors | Small to mid-sized businesses | Atlanta, GA |
| Don Keysser | 35+ | Managing Principal at Hannover Ltd | Tech-focused small to medium-sized private companies | Minneapolis, MN |
| Yasmin Atefi | 10+ | Vice President at AEC Advisors | Transportation, manufacturing, and professional business services sectors | New York City, NY |
| Christine Chen | 20 | Senior Consultant at La Piana Consulting | Nonprofit sector | New York, NY |
| Jack Simonian | 13+ | Managing Principal at Blackcastle Partners | Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) Sector | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Michael Gravel | 30 | Founder and Managing Partner at iMerge Advisors | Small & Midcap Software & Technology Sector | Greater Seattle Area |
| Mike Moran | 10+ | Founder & Managing Director at M&A Healthcare Advisors | Healthcare services and providers | Los Angeles, CA |
Name: Chris Walton
Company: Eton Venture Services
Title: President & CEO
Years of Experience: 20+
M&A Specialization: Private equity firms, investors, and high-net-worth individuals
Based in: Austin, TX
Chris Walton is the founder of Eton Venture Services and a trusted M&A consultant to private equity firms, investors, and high-net-worth individuals.
He’s a Stanford Law graduate and former M&A associate at Gunderson Dettmer, with over 15 years of combined legal and financial experience supporting complex sales, acquisitions, and everything in between.
As the head of a boutique M&A advisory firm, he leads a team of Stanford Law alumni and former Big 4 consultants, offering hands-on guidance and the responsiveness high-stakes transactions demand.
Three reasons why people choose Chris Walton:
A Stanford Law graduate and former M&A associate at Gunderson Dettmer, Chris brings a rare combination of legal training and financial expertise that makes him a go-to consultant for complex transactions. This dual expertise ensures you get:
Whether you’re selling a company, acquiring one, or navigating critical negotiations, you get senior-level guidance that’s technically sound and built for high-stakes decisions.
As a top-tier M&A consultant, Chris Walton has supported over 1,000 firms and individuals through sales, acquisitions, and the strategic decisions in between.
Since founding Eton Venture Services in 2010, he has advised businesses generating $5M to $150M in revenue, the range where deal terms get more complex and tailored guidance matters most. His past clients include industry leaders like Substack, Spring Health, and Joby Aviation.
With this level of experience behind you, you can be assured that every decision is backed by real-world insight, every risk is considered, and your deal is structured to protect value and stand up to scrutiny.
3. Chris Walton combines senior guidance with fast, responsive support
Chris is hands-on with every client. He works directly with you to make sure your transaction gets the attention it deserves.
Whether you need quick input during negotiations, help responding to buyer concerns, or strategic guidance ahead of a board discussion, he’s one call or email away and always ready to move. That responsiveness is why clients trust him when the pressure is high and timing matters.
Here’s what Chris Walton’s clients say about working with him:
🎉 Fun Fact: Chris spent nearly seven years of my life working in Southern Japan and can speak Japanese.
Click here to get a free valuation consultation with Chris Walton.
Name: Bindi Patel
Company: Piedmont M&A Advisors
Title: Senior Associate
Years of Experience: 20+
M&A Specialization: Small to mid-sized businesses
Based in: Atlanta, GA
Bindi Patel is a key consultant at Piedmont M&A Advisors, bringing over 20 years of experience from her hometown of Atlanta, GA.
As a Senior Associate, she advises small to mid-sized firms on purchasing, selling, and financing businesses.
Bindi counsels on both domestic and international transactions, with clients across the public and private sectors including:
Her expertise extends to ESG consulting, covering topics such as:
🎉 Fun Fact: Bindi is an avid traveler and has lived in various cities worldwide.
Name: Don Keysser
Company: Hannover Ltd
Title: Managing Principal
Years of Experience: 35+
M&A Specialization: Small-medium size privately held tech companies
Based in: Minneapolis, MN
Don Keysser is the managing principal at Hannover Ltd with over 40 years of experience across:
Throughout his M&A career, he has managed over 2.5 billion dollars in financing and led project teams for both domestic and international projects.
He has also secured financing for over 250 projects and is a published author of journal articles.
Additionally, he teaches MBA-level courses in financial management, capital markets, global finance, and corporate finance.
He is associated with multiple professional associations including:
🎉 Fun Fact: Don teaches MBA classes at Saint Mary’s University and he’s a Senior Lecturer at Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota.
Name: Yasmin Atefi
Company: AEC Advisors
Title: Vice President
Years of Experience: 10+
M&A Specialization: Transportation, manufacturing, and professional business services sectors
Based in: New York, NY
Yasmin Atefi is the Vice President at AEC Advisors and is based in New York City.
At AEC, Yasmin focuses on mergers & acquisitions, private equity transactions, and corporate finance consulting.
She has an impressive previous experience in investment banking at Goldman Sachs as well as JP Morgan Chase. There, she worked in a variety of verticals including:
She is a mechanical engineer by education and has worked at GE Aviation on the assembly and test of military helicopter engines.
🎉 Fun Fact: Yasmin’s interests include skiing, hiking, and NYC Pizza.
Name: Christine Chen
Company: La Piana Consulting
Title: Senior Consultant
Years of Experience: 20
M&A Specialization: Nonprofit sector
Based in: New York, NY
Christine Chen is a Senior M&A consultant specializing in the nonprofit sector, bringing over 20 years of experience, including 12 in senior leadership roles.
She has expertly guided nonprofits through major organizational changes and crises, such as leading STREB Inc. through the pandemic and American Repertory Ballet through a major artistic director change and the 2009 recession.
Christine excels in quantitative data analysis, business strategy, and execution, combining these skills with an adaptive and creative approach to tackling seemingly impossible challenges.
Her commitment to creating positive impact and value is evident in her work with diverse organizations striving for a more just and equitable world.
Christine approaches each project with empathy, humility, and respect, making her an invaluable asset in the nonprofit M&A landscape.
🎉 Fun Fact: Christine enjoys spending time outdoors — hiking, biking, swimming in open waters, or simply chopping and stacking wood.
Name: Jack Simonian
Company: Blackcastle Partners
Title: Managing Principal
Years of Experience: 13+
M&A Specialization: Revenue between $1Mn and $50Mn in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states
Based in: Las Vegas, Nevada
Jack Simonian specializes in M&A advisory services in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry.
He represents privately-held US and Canadian companies with revenues between $2 million to $100 million.
As the leader of Blackcastle Partners, Jack manages both sell-side and buy-side engagements, providing end-to-end services including sourcing, engaging, developing, and executing M&A opportunities.
Before his M&A career, Jack worked as an architect on large-scale commercial projects for one of the world’s largest retail property developers.
His deep industry knowledge and diversified skill set form a strong foundation for his current role, allowing him to offer valuable expertise to his clients.
🎉 Fun Fact: Jack is fluent in four languages.
Company: iMerge Advisors
Title: Founder and Managing Partner
Years of Experience: 30
M&A Specialization: Revenue between $1Mn and $50Mn in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states
Based in: Greater Seattle Area
Michael Gravel brings nearly 30 years of senior-level executive operations, fundraising, private equity, venture capital, M&A, and investment banking experience within the technology sector.
Prior to founding iMerge, Michael held senior executive positions at financial software technology firms where he managed and integrated several acquisitions, such as:
Over the past 25 years, he has successfully executed more than 125 transactions in the small to mid-size software and technology sector, totaling over $1 billion in value.
His deep industry knowledge and dedication to his clients have cemented his position as a trusted advisor in the tech M&A landscape.
Beyond his professional achievements, Michael is actively engaged in several charitable organizations.
🎉 Fun Fact: Michael was awarded the biggest honor of the Big Brother/Big Sister program: Big Brother of the Year.
Company: M&A Healthcare Advisors
Title: Founder & Managing Director
Years of Experience: 10+
M&A Specialization: Healthcare companies generating $2M–$20M EBITDA
Based in: Los Angeles, CA
Mike Moran is the Founder and Managing Director of M&A Healthcare Advisors, a boutique investment bank that supports lower-middle-market healthcare businesses through the sale process.
Since launching MAHA in 2021, Mike has advised companies across a wide range of healthcare verticals, including:
He and his team focus exclusively on businesses generating $2 million to $20 million in EBITDA, offering:
Prior to founding MAHA, Mike held senior roles at American Healthcare Capital, where he spent over six years advising on sell-side transactions for smaller healthcare service companies. He progressed from Vice President to Executive Vice President and eventually Principal, managing deals across a variety of healthcare verticals.
With a dual degree in Finance and Psychology from Syracuse University, Mike brings a mix of strategic insight and people-first perspective to every transaction.
🎉 Fun Fact: Mike currently lives in Los Angeles, California and is happily married with 3 children.
Have more questions about M&A consultants? I answered them below:
An M&A consultant provides expert advice and guidance throughout the process of mergers and acquisitions.
Their responsibilities include:
They manage due diligence, ensuring all financial, legal, and operational aspects are meticulously reviewed.
M&A consultants also facilitate communication between parties, mitigate risks, and help structure the deal to achieve the best possible outcome for their clients.
Their goal is to ensure a smooth transaction that aligns with their client’s strategic objectives.
An M&A advisor can provide invaluable expertise, reduce risks, and streamline the complex process of mergers and acquisitions.
Consider the following checklist to decide if you need an advisor:
I talked about the four factors you should look for in an exceptional M&A consultant at the beginning of the article.
But here’s a gist of what you should look for:
Schedule a free consultation meeting to discuss your M&A or valuation needs.
