In the US, Rothschild isn't usually on the elite boutique list. In Europe it very much is. By number of deals advised it's regularly near the top of the European M&A league tables, often above the bulge brackets. If you're applying in London it's one of the best places you can start.
Why Rothschild is a European firm first
Rothschild is family-controlled and has been based in London and Paris for two centuries. In practice:
- Lots of mid-sized European deals. A wide spread of transactions, many of them under the very top end, which can mean analysts see more deals than they would at a bulge bracket.
- A strong restructuring and debt advisory practice, as well as M&A.
- Languages matter more here than at an American bank. A team covering French or German clients will notice if you can actually work in those languages.
The route in
| Programme | Who | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Insight / spring programme | First-years | whether it runs this year |
| Summer analyst, Global Advisory | Penultimate-years | Main route in |
| Off-cycle | Some years and offices |
What I'd want to see on a Rothschild CV
- A finance internship with real deal content, even at a small advisory firm.
- Evidence you can write. Advisory analysts draft a lot of documents. A research role, a published article, or a society newsletter you edited is more relevant than people think.
- Languages listed honestly, with level. "French (fluent, two years at a French lycée)" is better than "French (fluent)".
- A clear reason for Rothschild and not a US bank. "European mid-market deals and the chance to see more of them as an analyst" is a real one.