We chose to name our firm Polestar to reflect the similarities in our role as advisors to founders, senior managers, and PE funders with those of a maritime pilot. While never actually steering the ship, a pilot is responsible for guiding her through difficult waters, ensuring safe passage, and liaising with the crew and tugs until the ship is safely docked. As the International Maritime Pilots’ Association states, pilots “are highly trained experts in ship navigation in specific waters and possess extensive knowledge of local conditions.”
We guide clients through transactions by listening, applying our deep understanding of what drives the various counterparties, our technical knowledge, and understanding of market conditions. Pilots board the vessel some distance from port; likewise, we often sit alongside clients before they start a transaction to ensure their companies are properly prepared to avoid unseen hazards and achieve the desired result.
We enjoy our work; it is fulfilling to help clients through some of the most rewarding aspects of their lives, and we take this responsibility seriously. We lead, support, and guide, giving pragmatic, practical advice and ensuring that clients understand where they are at all times. While the reasons for a transaction are numerous, the one constant in all deals is the need for an independent view that is not afraid to challenge or take responsibility for direction while the owners focus on their business.
Each of our senior team members has over a quarter of a century of expertise. Whilst over this time a great deal has changed, much remains the same. We enjoy our work because of this intriguing mix of constancy and progress. No two deals or clients are the same, so our curiosity is frequently challenged as our knowledge grows.
There is little more satisfying than helping a client achieve a major milestone for their business or family. As a client recently told us: “You really love doing this, don’t you?”
