Stout

Founded by Craige Stout in Detroit in 1991 as a valuation firm, Stout added investment banking in 1997 and its Disputes, Claims, & Investigations practice in 1998. The firm moved its corporate headquarters to Chicago in 2007 and now operates across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Stout advises businesses, private-equity portfolio companies, law firms, and other institutions through valuation, investment banking, transaction advisory, accounting, strategy, ESOP, and specialty advisory services. Its investment-banking work includes M&A and private-capital raising; its litigation practice covers investigations, damages, compliance, and expert testimony.

The firm is particularly differentiated by combining valuation and transaction expertise with litigation and investigative capabilities. That makes it relevant for complex situations requiring defensible financial analysis, such as fairness opinions, disputes, restructuring-related work, due diligence, and business or asset valuation.