Joele Frank

What Joele Frank does

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is an independent strategic communications and investor relations advisory firm headquartered in New York at 22 Vanderbilt Avenue, 18th Floor, with a second office at One California Street, Suite 1800, in San Francisco. Founded in 1998 as a minority and women-owned partnership, the firm today fields approximately 220 team members — including 26 partners and 48 managing directors and directors — advising publicly traded companies, private equity sponsors, and Fortune 200 enterprises through high-stakes corporate situations. The legal entity (Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher) is organized as a partnership governed under New York law, with no external investors, parent company, or private equity ownership disclosed.

The firm's service portfolio spans M&A and transaction communications, shareholder activism preparedness and defense, bankruptcy and restructuring communications, crisis response (including cybersecurity incidents), leadership transitions, ongoing investor relations, governance and corporate stewardship, financial sponsor communications, and integrated design and digital strategy services. Revenue is generated through professional services fees tied to discrete engagements — M&A mandates, proxy fights, Chapter 11 processes, crisis response retainers, and ongoing IR retainers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: engagements originate through direct outreach to boards, CEOs, and C-suite executives and through a referral network of top legal, financial, and advisory professionals who channel mandates to the firm.

Joele Frank has held the #1 U.S. M&A PR Advisor ranking from The Deal continuously since 2013, the #1 Shareholder Activism Defense IR/PR Advisor ranking from Bloomberg since 2019, and the top-ranked bankruptcy and restructuring PR advisor position from The Deal since 2017 — a sustained leadership position that the firm leverages as its primary demand-generation mechanism. The firm operates a conflict-free model (advising only companies, never activists) and integrates practice specialists across Strategy, Governance, Design, Digital, and Research under a single partnership. In 2025 the firm reported advising on 200+ deals totaling $850B+ in deal value (Mergermarket), 80 activism defense engagements (Bloomberg), 200+ C-suite transitions, and 50+ Fortune 200 IR clients, with 1,000+ activism defense engagements advised since 2000.

Name

Joele Frank

Legal name

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Website

https://joelefrank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Joele Frank is an independent New York-based strategic communications and investor relations advisory firm serving public companies, private equity sponsors, and Fortune 200 enterprises across M&A, activism defense, restructuring, crisis, and investor relations engagements with 220+ professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Advisory

NAICS

Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150)

akta.pro primary industry

M&A Advisory (Buy-side/Sell-side) (BPAHADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industry-Specialist / Sector-Focused M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Strategic communications advisory
• Investor relations consulting
• M&A public relations
• Crisis communications services
• Shareholder activism defense

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Advisory: Professional services fees for strategic communications counsel during high-stakes corporate situations including M&A transactions, shareholder activism defense, restructuring and bankruptcy, crisis communications, leadership transitions, cybersecurity incidents, and investor relations support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Joele Frank is a strategic communications and investor relations advisory firm providing professional services to publicly traded companies, financial sponsors, and corporate boards during high-stakes corporate events. Service offerings span M&A transactions, shareholder activism defense, restructuring and bankruptcy, crisis communications, leadership transitions, cybersecurity incidents, investor relations, corporate communications, governance, financial sponsors advisory, design, and digital strategy. The firm operates as a partner-led engagement model with integrated specialists delivering counsel to C-suite executives and boards.

Product overview

Joele Frank is a strategic communications and investor relations advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services rather than a software product. The firm's service portfolio includes M&A/Transactions, Activism Preparedness and Defense, Restructuring/Bankruptcy, Crisis Communications, Leadership Transitions, Cybersecurity, Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, Governance and Corporate Stewardship, Financial Sponsors advisory, Design, and Digital Strategy services. These offerings work together to provide integrated communications counsel to boards, executives, and communications/IR teams during critical business moments and ongoing corporate needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M&A / Transactions Strategic communications advisory for mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, and IPOs provided to corporate boards, executives, and communications/IR teams.
• Activism Preparedness and Defense Shareholder activism defense advisory services including preparedness strategies, proxy fight campaigns, and settlements for publicly traded companies facing activist investors.
• Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Liability Management Communications advisory for Chapter 11 processes, out-of-court restructurings, 363 sale processes, and liability management exercises provided to distressed companies and their stakeholders.
• Crisis Communications Crisis preparedness and response services including simulations, response campaigns, and early risk identification for corporate clients facing reputational threats.
• Leadership Transitions Reputational guidance and tailored communication strategies for leadership transitions, succession planning, and board-level changes at large enterprises.
• Cybersecurity Communications Communications support for cyber incidents including ransomware attacks, data breaches, and system outages, plus advance preparedness planning and protocol development.
• Investor Relations Strategic investor relations counsel including earnings support, investment thesis development, investor days, and analyst engagement for public companies.
• Corporate Communications and Reputation Management Corporate positioning, financial communications, media relations, thought leadership, and employee engagement services for enterprise clients.
• Governance and Corporate Stewardship Advisory on shareholder engagement, governance, sustainability reporting, executive compensation narratives, and board education for public companies and their boards.
• Financial Sponsors Advisory Dedicated practice for financial sponsors and portfolio companies covering profile raising, reputation management, fundraising, and deal activity.
• Design Services Integrated design services including brand enhancement, presentation design, web design, infographics, video production, and social content supporting client communications programs.
• Digital Strategy Targeted digital campaigns, paid advertising, social media content development, and AI-zero click optimization for reputation management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of event-driven clients retain firm for ongoing support
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sloane & Company: Strategic communications firm specializing in M&A, investor relations, shareholder activism, and crisis situations. Boutique competitor to Joele Frank with overlap in IR advisory and special situations mandates.
• Brunswick Group: Global strategic communications and critical issues advisory firm, consistently ranked as a top M&A, activism, and crisis communications advisor. Direct competitor to Joele Frank across M&A PR, shareholder activism defense, and crisis mandates, with broader geographic reach in Europe and Asia.
• ICR (ICR Inc.): Strategic communications and advisory firm serving public companies, with strong positioning in investor relations, IPO communications, and special situations. Direct competitor to Joele Frank's IR and M&A communications practices for mid- and large-cap clients.
• Abernathy MacGregor: Boutique strategic communications firm specializing in M&A, shareholder activism defense, and crisis situations for public companies. Closest comparable boutique competitor to Joele Frank in pure-play M&A and activism communications.
• Sard Verbinnen & Co: Strategic communications and investor relations firm focused on M&A, activism defense, and crisis situations; was one of Joele Frank's closest pure-play competitors before its 2022 combination with FTI Consulting. Comparable in client base, practice mix, and league-table positioning.
• Kekst CNC: International strategic communications consultancy advising on M&A, shareholder activism, crisis, and restructuring situations. Closest international competitor to Joele Frank with strong cross-border capabilities, especially in Europe.
• Prosek Partners: Strategic communications firm serving financial services, asset management, and professional services clients, with growing M&A and special situations practice. Comparable mid-sized competitor to Joele Frank with strong financial sponsor relationships and IR depth.
• Edelman Financial Communications: Strategic financial communications practice within Edelman, focused on M&A, IR, and crisis work for corporate clients. Comparable to Joele Frank's financial communications offering, with parent-company resources and global infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• FTI Consulting: Large global advisory firm with a Strategic Communications segment (built around the acquired FD/FD Americas and Sard Verbinnen businesses). Competes with Joele Frank across M&A, activism, and restructuring communications, but bundles these services with restructuring, expert, and public affairs offerings at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• Longacre Square Partners: Strategic communications firm focused on special situations, shareholder activism, M&A, and investor relations. Smaller and more niche than Joele Frank, but increasingly competitive in activism defense and proxy fight engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/52257

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Joele Frank