Image of Will Barden

Will Barden

Partner
Boston

Will Barden

Partner

About

Will Barden is a Partner at Grant Thornton Stax in our Boston office. He brings nearly 20 years of experience advising private equity and corporate clients on commercial due diligence, growth strategies, and exit planning. His career spans strategy consulting, private equity advisory, and investment banking. 


As co-leader of Grant Thornton Stax’s exit planning and sell-side practice, Will oversees the firm’s investment banking relationships, actively managing and fostering senior-level connections with investment banks worldwide. In addition to cultivating partnerships with investment bankers, private equity sponsors, and management teams, Will leads a diverse range of client engagements, including commercial due diligence, sell-side projects, and strategy development. His expertise spans commercial engagements within software, education, business services, and industrial services, enabling him to deliver impactful insights across diverse industries. 


Prior to joining Grant Thornton Stax, Will worked in strategy consulting at EY-Parthenon and at Liberty Mutual. Will started his career in investment banking at William Blair.


Will holds an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University.​​

Extracurricular

Beyond work, Will cherishes every moment spent with his wife and four children, who keep him busy. In his limited free time, he indulges in activities like tennis, golf, writing books, and passionately supporting his beloved Chicago Cubs. 

Grant Thornton Stax Advises Equality Asset Management on its Partnership With OptionMetrics
August 5, 2026
Grant Thornton Stax supported Equality Asset Management on its recent partnership with OptionMetrics, a leading options data & analytics provider. Read about the deal here.
Winning in a Buyer-led Market Requires Aligned Sell-side Preparation
By Barret Popst, Roy Lockhart, & Will Barden • May 15, 2026
Today’s M&A environment requires coordinated sell-side diligence. Barrett Popst, Roy Lockhart, and Will Barden share how alignment strengthens narratives and supports valuation.
Show More
Image of Will Barden

Will Barden

Partner
Boston

About

Will Barden is a Partner at Grant Thornton | Stax in our Boston office. He brings nearly 20 years of experience advising private equity and corporate clients on commercial due diligence, growth strategies, and exit planning. His career spans strategy consulting, private equity advisory, and investment banking. 


As co-leader of Grant Thornton | Stax’s exit planning and sell-side practice, Will oversees the firm’s investment banking relationships, actively managing and fostering senior-level connections with investment banks worldwide. In addition to cultivating partnerships with investment bankers, private equity sponsors, and management teams, Will leads a diverse range of client engagements, including commercial due diligence, sell-side projects, and strategy development. His expertise spans commercial engagements within software, education, business services, and industrial services, enabling him to deliver impactful insights across diverse industries. 


Prior to joining Grant Thornton Stax, Will worked in strategy consulting at EY-Parthenon and at Liberty Mutual. Will started his career in investment banking at William Blair.


Will holds an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University.​​

Extracurricular

Beyond work, Will cherishes every moment spent with his wife and four children, who keep him busy. In his limited free time, he indulges in activities like tennis, golf, writing books, and passionately supporting his beloved Chicago Cubs. 

Grant Thornton Stax Advises Equality Asset Management on its Partnership With OptionMetrics
August 5, 2026
Grant Thornton Stax supported Equality Asset Management on its recent partnership with OptionMetrics, a leading options data & analytics provider. Read about the deal here.
Winning in a Buyer-led Market Requires Aligned Sell-side Preparation
By Barret Popst, Roy Lockhart, & Will Barden • May 15, 2026
Today’s M&A environment requires coordinated sell-side diligence. Barrett Popst, Roy Lockhart, and Will Barden share how alignment strengthens narratives and supports valuation.
Show More