What Flagstaff Partners does

Flagstaff Partners Pty Ltd is an Australian independent corporate finance advisory firm headquartered in Melbourne (Level 20, 101 Collins Street) with a second office in Sydney (Level 4, 66 Hunter Street). Founded in 2009, the firm employs 30+ corporate finance professionals whose Managing Directors average more than 25 years of experience, and it positions itself as Australia's pre-eminent independent advisory firm with a track record of over A$380 billion of announced transactions. Its core services span strategic corporate finance advice, complex and special situations, divestments and demergers, mergers and acquisitions, capital structure and dividend policy advice, government privatisations, equity capital markets advisory, and debt advisory, delivered on a long-term trusted-adviser basis to large corporates, listed companies, pre-IPO businesses, and Australian federal and state government entities.

The firm operates a pure professional-services model with no proprietary technology platform, software product, or disclosed AI capability. Revenue is generated through transaction-based advisory fees and retainer arrangements on M&A, capital markets, and strategic mandates; pricing is bespoke per engagement and not publicly disclosed. It differentiates itself from the bulge-bracket banks through explicit independence and conflict-free advice, and extends its reach through alliances with independent advisory firms across Europe, North America and Asia to serve cross-border mandates. Notable disclosed clients include ANZ, Domino's Pizza, Victoria State Government, The Star Entertainment Group, PointsBet and the University of Melbourne.

Ownership is private, with no disclosed institutional, private equity or venture capital backing; the firm is led by Chairman Tony Burgess AO, Deputy Chairman Michael Burn, CEO Paul Donnelly, CFO Shirley Desa, and COO Vivienne Petroff, with a senior bench that includes former senior government and banking figures such as Peter Costello AC, Ian Watt AC, Geoff Cohen and David Williamson. Distribution is direct and relationship-driven — senior partners engage boards and management of enterprise clients with no intermediary or digital channel — and graduate, internship and scholarship programmes underpin ongoing talent renewal at a deliberately small headcount.

Name

Flagstaff Partners

Legal name

Flagstaff Partners Pty Ltd

Website

https://flagstaffpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Flagstaff Partners is an Australian independent corporate finance advisory firm of 30+ professionals providing M&A, capital markets, divestment, and government privatisation advice to large corporates, listed companies and government entities from offices in Melbourne and Sydney.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Finance Advisory

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Divestitures, Carve-Outs & Spin-Off Advisory (FSAEAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Divestitures, Spin-offs & Carve-outs Advisory (BPAHADAJ), Debt & Capital Advisory (Debt Raising, Refinancing, Private Credit) (BPAHAOAD), Fairness Opinions & Independent Board Advice (FSAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Corporate finance advisory
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Capital markets advisory
• Equity capital markets
• Debt advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Finance Advisory Fees: Flagstaff Partners generates revenue through professional advisory fees for corporate finance services including M&A transactions, capital markets advice, divestments, and strategic consulting. Revenue appears to be generated through transaction-based fees (success fees for completed deals) and potentially retainer arrangements for ongoing advisory relationships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Flagstaff Partners provides independent corporate finance advisory services on a trusted-adviser basis to Australian and international corporations and government clients. The firm advises on mergers & acquisitions, divestments & demergers, complex and special situations, capital structure and dividend policy, equity capital markets (IPOs, placements, rights issues), debt advisory, and government privatisations including public-private partnerships.

Product overview

Flagstaff Partners is an Australian independent corporate finance advisory firm that provides a unified suite of advisory services rather than a technology product platform. The firm offers strategic corporate finance advice, complex & special situations, divestments & demergers, mergers & acquisitions, capital structure & dividend policy, government privatisations, equity capital markets advice, and debt advisory. These services are delivered by experienced corporate finance professionals on a trusted adviser basis over the longer term.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Corporate Finance Advice Financial and strategic advice to boards and companies on critical corporate finance issues, delivered on a longer-term trusted adviser basis.
• Complex & Special Situations Advisory on challenging and complex situations that require exacting analytical, structuring and commercial expertise.
• Divestments & Demergers Advisory on asset sales, spin-offs, carve-outs and other portfolio optimisation transactions.
• Mergers & Acquisitions End-to-end advice and management of public market and private treaty M&A transactions.
• Capital Structure & Dividend Policy Strategic capital management and capital structure reviews and advice.
• Government Privatisations Advisory on asset sales, concessions and public-private partnership transactions for government clients.
• Equity Capital Markets Advice Advice on arranging and executing equity capital markets transactions including IPOs, placements and rights issues; buybacks and market sell-downs.
• Debt Advisory Structuring and negotiation of debt and capital market facilities.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Independent Advisory Firms (Europe, North America, Asia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagstaff Partners maintains a range of alliances with independent advisory firms in Europe, North America and Asia. These international relationships complement the firm's other international connections and enable it to serve clients with cross-border advisory needs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rothschild & Co: Independent global advisory firm with long-standing Australian presence. Mirrors Flagstaff's model of senior-led, conflict-free M&A and capital structure advice, competing for the same mid- and large-cap Australian mandates.
• Lazard: Global independent financial advisory firm with a strong Australian M&A and capital markets practice. Closely comparable business model—pure advisory, conflict-free positioning, senior-led client coverage—making it the most direct competitor for cross-border mandates.
• Grant Samuel: Australian independent corporate advisory firm focused on M&A, takeovers, and strategic advice. Highly comparable in scale, independence, and target client base (ASX-listed corporates and their boards).
• Highbury Partnership: Independent Australian corporate advisory firm providing M&A and strategic advice to listed and unlisted companies. Closely comparable boutique model targeting ASX-listed clients in similar mid-cap transactions.
• Gresham Advisory: Boutique Australian corporate advisory firm offering M&A, takeover defense, and strategic advice. Directly competes for independent advisory mandates from mid-cap listed companies and government-related entities.

Broad incumbents

• PwC Australia (Deals): Big Four deals and M&A advisory practice that competes with Flagstaff on mid-market transactions, divestments, and government advisory work, supported by broader consulting and audit capabilities.
• Macquarie Capital: Australia's dominant homegrown bulge-bracket advisor with deep M&A, ECM, and privatization credentials. Competes for the largest mandates where balance-sheet, distribution, and headcount advantages matter most.
• KPMG Australia (Deals Advisory): Big Four firm's Australian Deals Advisory and M&A practice competes for independent advisory mandates, especially for mid-cap transactions and government privatizations, offering a broader service portfolio.
• Ernst & Young Australia (Strategy and Transactions): Big Four advisory practice offering M&A and corporate finance services in Australia. Competes on a wider range of deal sizes and brings broader consulting capabilities, though with potential conflict concerns.

Emerging players

• Quay Advisory: Australian boutique advisory focused on M&A, capital raising, and strategic advice for ASX-listed and emerging companies. Smaller and more emerging than Flagstaff but addresses a similar client segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flagstaff-partners

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 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 Flagstaff Partners