Lakewood Advisors

What Lakewood Advisors does

Lakewood Advisors, LLC is a privately held, New York-based boutique financial advisory and investment banking firm founded in 2018 by Edward Grebow, a former CBS executive and Sony Broadcast Division president. The firm targets middle-market companies and organizations with M&A advisory, capital raising, financing, and specialized consulting mandates, with deep focus on the media technology, broadcast, and US-Japan cross-border transaction markets. Service offerings include sell-side and buy-side M&A, capital raising via introductions to banks, private equity, family offices, and BDCs, UCC Article 9 foreclosure auction management (run jointly with affiliated Broker/Dealer Pickwick Capital Partners), labor relations and public policy advisory, and principal investments in early-stage companies. The firm has a particularly distinctive US-Japan capability, fielding four senior partners in Tokyo (Nishiwada, Ohki, Naito, Kashii) who collectively bring decades of Sony, Astellas, Novartis, and Japanese broadcasting executive experience.

LWA's revenue model is purely professional services fees, negotiated on a per-engagement basis, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Disclosed client engagements include Avara Pharmaceutical Services (longstanding advisory and CPHI Japan representation), Splashlight Holdings (UCC auction mandate), American Industrial Acquisition Corp (US pharma portfolio sale and contract renegotiation), an unnamed US Space Services Company (Japanese JV for deep space logistics), the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (post-COVID reopening negotiations), Draft Nation LLC (minority investment and advisory), and an unnamed combat sports league (capital raise). Go-to-market is exclusively partner-led direct engagement — there are no self-serve channels, no marketing campaigns beyond thought-leadership blog content and conference participation, and no junior-analyst pyramid structure typical of bulge-bracket banks.

The firm has no proprietary technology platform; its competitive value rests entirely on senior-partner expertise, decades-old relationships, and sector specialization (broadcast technology, pharma, labor, space, financial services). The Pickwick Capital Partners affiliation extends execution reach to 100+ affiliated investment bankers, providing distribution into institutional capital sources without adding headcount to LWA itself. Ownership is closely held by founding partners, with no disclosed external funding rounds.

Name

Lakewood Advisors

Legal name

Lakewood Advisors, LLC

Website

https://lakewoodadvisors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lakewood Advisors is a boutique New York-based financial advisory and investment banking firm founded in 2018 that serves middle-market companies with M&A, capital raising, and cross-border US-Japan advisory services, specializing in media technology, pharmaceuticals, and broadcast sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking & Financial Advisory

NAICS

Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC), Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE)

Keywords

• Investment banking advisory
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Capital raising services
• Middle market advisory
• Media technology consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory Fees: Advisory fees earned from buy-side and sell-side M&A mandates, including sell-side engagements (e.g., retained to sell Splashlight Holdings) and buy-side representation.
2. Capital Raising / Financing Advisory: Fees for assisting clients in raising growth capital, including introductions to banks, private equity firms, family offices, and business development companies. Also includes minority investments made by LWA itself (e.g., Draft Nation investment).
3. UCC Article 9 Auction Management: Lakewood Advisors working with affiliated Broker Dealer Pickwick Capital Partners earns fees for managing UCC Article 9 foreclosure auctions, a specialized service for lenders and their agents.
4. Labor Relations and Business Advisory: Fees for advising labor organizations and companies in complex labor contract negotiations, business development support, and strategic advisory services beyond traditional investment banking.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lakewood Advisors is a boutique financial advisory and management consulting firm that advises middle-market companies on mergers and acquisitions (buy-side and sell-side), capital raising and financing (introductions to banks, private equity, family offices, and BDCs), and cross-border US-Japan investment opportunities. Through its affiliated broker-dealer Pickwick Capital Partners, the firm also manages UCC Article 9 foreclosure auctions for lenders, and it provides specialized labor relations and public policy advisory services for unions and labor-affiliated organizations.

Product overview

Lakewood Advisors is a boutique investment banking and financial advisory firm that offers a unified suite of advisory services rather than a modular product platform. Their core service offerings include financial advisory (M&A), capital raising/financing, Japanese business expertise, and labor relations services. The firm also provides specialized UCC Article 9 auction services through its affiliated broker dealer Pickwick Capital Partners. Additionally, the firm produces proprietary industry research through its Broadcasting Trends analysis prepared by Operating Partner Bob Seidel. The company serves middle market clients primarily in media technology, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and space technology sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Advisory Services (M&A) Advisory services for companies in media technology and financial services on crucial buy-and-sell decisions including mergers and acquisitions. Engaged for sell-side engagements (e.g., Splashlight Holdings) and buy-side representation.
• Capital Raising and Financing Assistance in finding appropriate sources of capital including introductions to banks, private equity firms, family offices, and business development companies for working capital and acquisition financing. Includes LWA's own minority investments (e.g., Draft Nation).
• Japanese Business Expertise (US-Japan Cross-Border Advisory) Advisory and assistance for Japanese and American companies, private equity firms, hedge funds and family offices on investment opportunities, M&A, and partnerships in the Japanese market.
• Labor Relations and Labor Services Business advisory services including joint venture and marketing agreements, executive recruiting, and complex labor relations situations for labor-affiliated organizations and labor-sensitive companies.
• UCC Article 9 Auction Services Management of UCC Article 9 foreclosure auctions for lenders needing to foreclose on assets of defaulting borrowers, working with affiliated broker-dealer Pickwick Capital Partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Restored Amalgamated Bank from near FDIC seizure to profitability and raised $100M in capital from billionaire investors Wilbur Ross and Ron Burkle
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Avara Pharmaceutical ServicescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Avara Pharmaceuticals is a long-time client of LWA. LWA Partner Kenji Nishiwada and Senior Advisor Seigo Kashii represented Avara at CPHI Japan 2025, a leading pharmaceutical trade exhibition. Seigo Kashii also serves on Avara's Advisory Board of Directors. LWA supports Avara's business development and market access in Japan.
• Secura/Isaac GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLWA works with Secura/Isaac Group on banking regulatory and asset quality advisory engagements for multi-national, regional, and community bank clients. LWA Partner Bill Isaac is Chairman of Secura/Isaac Group and a former Chairman of the FDIC. The collaboration focuses on advising banks dealing with regulatory issues and problem assets.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Drake Star: Global boutique investment bank focused on technology, media, and entertainment M&A. Highly comparable to LWA given its concentration in media-tech sell-side and capital-raising advisory for middle-market clients, including cross-border work.
• FocalPoint Partners: Boutique middle-market investment bank advising on M&A, capital raising, and special situations. Comparable to LWA in serving lower middle-market media, tech, and business services clients with senior-led engagement teams.
• Cascadia Capital: Middle-market advisor with deep focus on media, sports, entertainment, and technology. Direct overlap with LWA's media-tech and sports content mandates and similar senior-driven coverage model.
• MEDIA iQ / MEDIA Advisory Partners: Boutique advisory firm serving media and digital media companies on transactions and strategy. Closely mirrors LWA's media-tech vertical focus and middle-market client profile.
• Luma Partners: Boutique M&A advisor specializing in digital media and marketing technology. Highly comparable to LWA in targeting mid-market media-tech buyers and sellers and producing sector thought leadership.
• BGL (Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company): Middle-market investment bank covering industrials, media, and tech on M&A and capital raising. Similar boutique model, similar client profile, and comparable focus on sponsor-backed and private-owner transactions.
• EF Hutton (Dominari Securities): Smaller US broker-dealer providing capital markets and advisory services, often to middle-market and emerging growth companies. Comparable to LWA's broker-dealer adjacent activities via Pickwick Capital Partners.
• Chardan Capital Markets: Boutique investment bank and broker-dealer focused on small and mid-cap technology, media, and healthcare companies. Comparable business model and cross-border capital-raising orientation to LWA.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln International: Global mid-market investment bank with strong media and technology coverage. Lighter-touch competitor at the upper end of LWA's deal size range with broader resources and global reach.
• FTI Consulting: Global advisory firm with significant corporate finance and special situations advisory practices. Comparable across LWA's M&A advisory, capital advisory, and UCC/special-situation work, but at much larger scale and breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lakewood-advisors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Lakewood Advisors