Berkery Noyes vs Drake Star Partners
Comparing two boutique M&A advisors · Last updated April 12, 2025
| Attribute | Berkery Noyes | Drake Star Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Industry specialist | Tech boutique |
| HQ | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Founded | 1981 | 2003 |
| Sector focus | Information Services, Media, Education | Technology, Media, Communications |
| Deal size | $10M-$300M | $25M-$500M |
| Senior team |
|
|
| Rating | Locked | Locked |
| Reviews | 0 verified | 0 verified |
Choosing between Berkery Noyes and Drake Star Partners
Berkery Noyes and Drake Star Partners both work in Media. Founders running a sell-side process in those categories often see both names on their advisor longlist, which is why this comparison comes up. Berkery Noyes is a industry specialist while Drake Star Partners is a tech boutique, so the underlying business models differ even where the sector coverage overlaps.
Berkery Noyes is headquartered in New York, NY and was founded in 1981, while Drake Star Partners operates out of New York, NY and was founded in 2003. Sharing a home market gives both firms similar buyer-side relationship density, so the differentiator tends to be senior attention rather than geography. On deal-size focus, Berkery Noyes states $10M-$300M while Drake Star Partners states $25M-$500M. Beyond shared coverage, Berkery Noyes also reaches into Information Services, Education, while Drake Star Partners extends into Technology, Communications.
For founders deciding between Berkery Noyes and Drake Star Partners, the honest recommendation is to take a working session with each named partner before signing. Read the firm-level reviews on BankerNotes for the pattern that matters most: did the partner who pitched the mandate run the buyer calls and final negotiations, or did the work slide down the org chart by week six. That pattern, more than league-table position, is what separates a good outcome from a mediocre one.
Berkery Noyes is a industry specialist headquartered in New York, NY and founded in 1981. The firm focuses on Information Services, Media, Education and typically advises on transactions in the $10M-$300M range. Key deal...
Drake Star Partners is a tech boutique headquartered in New York, NY and founded in 2003. The firm focuses on Technology, Media, Communications and typically advises on transactions in the $25M-$500M range. Key dealmaker...
Frequently asked questions
- What is the main difference between Berkery Noyes and Drake Star Partners?
- Berkery Noyes is a industry specialist HQ'd in New York, NY (founded 1981), focused on Information Services, Media, Education, with a typical deal range of $10M-$300M. Drake Star Partners is a tech boutique HQ'd in New York, NY (founded 2003), focused on Technology, Media, Communications, with a typical deal range of $25M-$500M. Beyond those facts, the most reliable differentiator is senior banker attention, which BankerNotes reviews are designed to surface.
- Which firm has better founder reviews, Berkery Noyes or Drake Star Partners?
- Berkery Noyes's current rating is Locked (reviews unlock after five verified founders submit ratings). Drake Star Partners's current rating is Locked (reviews unlock after five verified founders submit ratings). Read the individual firm profiles for the full review breakdown.
- Should I shortlist both Berkery Noyes and Drake Star Partners?
- For most founders evaluating sell-side advisors with overlapping sector and deal-size fit, putting both on a shortlist is reasonable. The point of a bake-off is to test how the senior team behaves under pressure, how the firm shapes the buyer universe, and how it handles a difficult diligence question. Treat the shortlist as an interview, not a beauty contest.
- How does BankerNotes verify reviews of Berkery Noyes and Drake Star Partners?
- Every review is submitted by a founder who confirms they hired the firm as their sell-side advisor. We verify the reviewer privately using work email, LinkedIn, and approximate engagement timing. The verified identity is never published. Only the rating, written review, and a generic sector label appear on the public page.
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Last updated: April 12, 2025