Ardea Partners

Ardea Partners was established in 2016 by four former Goldman Sachs partners, including co-founder and chairman Chris Cole. It operates from New York and London as a private advisory firm focused on complex corporate and strategic decisions.

The firm advises on strategic matters, mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and related financial questions. Its published work shows a particular concentration in financial services, alongside cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Ardea emphasizes independence, confidentiality and long-term client relationships rather than transaction volume. For students, the key distinction is its small-team model: the firm recruits a limited number of analysts for New York and London internships, with exposure to senior professionals and complex advisory work.