Director, Industrial Growth Products
James Stephens is a director for William Blair based in the firm’s Chicago office. He joined William Blair’s investment banking team in 2018. Prior to William Blair, he worked for Robert W. Baird.
a portfolio company of GreyLion Partners
has been acquired by
May 2024
William Blair acted as the exclusive financial advisor to MTL Holdings, a portfolio company of GreyLion Partners, in connection with its pending sale to Carlisle Companies, Inc (NYSE: CSL).
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a portfolio company of ShoreView Industries
has been acquired by
April 2024
a portfolio company of
Center Rock Capital Partners
has been acquired by
February 2024
William Blair acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Signature Systems (Signature), a portfolio company of Center Rock Capital Partners, in connection with its pending sale to Myers Industries (NYSE: MYE).
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a portfolio company of Curran Group
has been acquired by
a portfolio company of Paceline Equity Partners
October 2023
a portfolio company of AEA Investors
has been acquired by
March 2022
William Blair acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Pexco, a portfolio company of AEA Investors, in connection with its sale to Odyssey Investment Partners.
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has been acquired by
December 2021
a portfolio company of Platinum Equity
has been acquired by
December 2021
William Blair acted as financial advisor to Orbit Irrigation, a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, in connection with its pending sale to Husqvarna Group (OM: HUSQ B) for approximately $480 million.
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a portfolio company of Grey Mountain Partners
has been acquired by
September 2021
has acquired
August 2021
a portfolio company of Gilde Buy Out Partners
has been acquired by
May 2021
Initial Public Offering
June 2020
has been acquired by
July 2019
Our investment bankers are 100 percent committed to your organization’s sustained success. By drawing on our deep industry and product experience as well as our dedicated global resources, we provide advisory and financing services that allow you to capitalize on today’s opportunities and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges.
More about investment banking at William Blair
High-growth companies, market leaders, and tech-enabled businesses across the industrial landscape count on our knowledge of sector trends and our relationships with leading strategic acquirers and financial sponsors to assist across a range of advisory and financial alternatives. We bring deep expertise into the global trends redefining industrial activity, such as connected buildings and machines (IoT), the development of innovative specialty materials, and production technologies and regulatory changes.
More about our industrial growth products expertise
William Blair is a premier global partnership with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 20 offices worldwide.*
Year William Blair was founded
Employees worldwide
Client assets
Independent and employee-owned
Offices worldwide
Companies under coverage
As of September 30, 2025
*Includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.
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