London | September 01, 2026 – Drake Star is pleased to announce that James Hill has joined the firm as a Partner based in the firm's London office. James is a highly experienced investment banker with specialist expertise in M&A and corporate finance transactions across Digital Media, Digital Services, Consumer & Retail Tech and Software/SaaS.
Prior to joining Drake Star, James led the media and technology practice at Highstead, a London-based corporate finance advisory boutique specializing in M&A, capital raising and refinancing. Before that, he spent several years at Houlihan Lokey and GCA Altium, where he was part of the global technology team advising founders and investors across a wide range of sectors including Digital Media, AdTech and MarTech, Retail Technology, Digital Marketing Services and the Entertainment Industry and related technology companies. Previously, James was a Managing Director at Stella EOC, a media and technology-focused advisory boutique, and a Director in the Media and Internet and International M&A practice at Jefferies, following its acquisition of LongAcre Partners. James started his advisory career in the TMT team at J.P. Morgan Cazenove, having achieved his ACA qualification with PwC and a degree in Economics from the University of Warwick.
James has advised on more than 60 transactions over two decades across the mid-market, with deal values ranging primarily from US$50 Million to US$500 Million and spanning a variety of media and technology-related sectors and geographies. Notable transactions include:
Majority sale of MSQ (digital marketing and transformation agency) to One Equity Partners,
Sale of Indicia (the brand activation subsidiary of Konica Minolta) to adm,
Majority acquisition of i-media (digital out-of-home) by Mayfair Equity Partners,
Minority sale of adm (brand activation, shopper marketing and marketing execution) to Equistone Partners (now Equacy Capital Partners),
Gregory Bedrosian, Managing Partner & CEO at Drake Star, said: "James is exactly the kind of senior banker we look to add to Drake Star: a proven dealmaker with deep expertise across Digital Media, Digital Services, Consumer & Retail Tech and Software/SaaS. His track record advising founders and investors through some of the most active periods in tech M&A speaks for itself, and having that experience on our team raises the bar for what we can offer clients in these sectors."
Ralf Philipp Hofmann, Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Drake Star, commented: "This appointment reflects our continued strategy of building deep, sector-focused expertise at the senior level. James brings exactly the kind of experience we look for in a Partner: years advising founders and investors across our focus tech sectors, at a moment when demand for specialist advice in these markets keeps growing. That depth of experience is hard to find, and it strengthens our ability to advise clients on the most complex transactions in these spaces even more."
Julian Ostertag, Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Drake Star, added: "His track record of building and leading practices makes James a natural fit for how we're growing Drake Star. Bringing that leadership experience onto the team strengthens our ability to serve clients seamlessly across our global platform, and reflects the kind of senior talent we continue to invest in as we scale."
Eric Ward, Managing Partner at Drake Star, stressed: "I've known James for a long time and worked alongside him earlier in our careers, so I know firsthand what he brings to the table, both in terms of client relationships and deal execution. I'm looking forward to building on that partnership as we grow the team here. His addition deepens our proven London expertise in mid-market technology deals from US$50 Million to US$500 Million, backed by strong relationships with strategic and financial buyers across Europe and the US."
James Hill, Partner at Drake Star, said: "Drake Star's focus and reputation in the sectors I've spent my career advising made this an easy decision. I've always been drawn to working with founders and investors navigating fast-moving, technology-driven markets, and Drake Star's platform and global reach give me the ideal foundation to keep doing exactly that for clients here in London and beyond. I'm looking forward to contributing to the firm's continued growth."
Drake Star continues to invest in regions demonstrating strong technology momentum. With London remaining one of Europe's most active hubs for technology and digital media dealmaking, James's presence will allow the firm to deepen its relationships with founders, investors and strategic acquirers throughout the UK and broader European market. With James's addition, Drake Star continues to build on its momentum as a leading global technology investment bank, distinguished by its senior-led execution model and deep commitment to founder success.
Contact details:
Gregory Bedrosian
gregory.bedrosian@drakestar.com
Ralf Philipp Hofmann
ralf.hofmann@drakestar.com
Julian Ostertag
julian.ostertag@drakestar.com
Eric Ward
eric.ward@drakestar.com
James Hill
james.hill@drakestar.com
About Drake Star
Drake Star is an award-winning global tech investment bank that has completed over 500 transactions since 2003. The Drake Star global team of experienced professionals and senior advisors across offices in New York, Munich, London, Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin, West Palm Beach and Dubai* focuses on mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance services worldwide in Software/SaaS, Artificial Intelligence, HR Tech, Digital Services, FinTech, Digital Media, Industrial Tech, Consumer & Retail Tech and Mobility & Sustainability.
Drake Star is the marketing name for the global investment bank Drake Star Partners Limited and its subsidiaries and affiliates. In the USA, all securities are transacted through Drake Star Securities LLC. In the USA, Drake Star Securities LLC is regulated by FINRA and is a member of SIPC. Drake Star UK Limited (FRN 942020) is an appointed representative of Razlin Ltd (FRN 730805), which is authorized and regulated by the FCA. © 2026 Drake Star Partners Limited.
*Partner Office