David Barnett

David Barnett is Vice Chairman at William & Wall, a Scottsdale-based investment banking firm focused on mergers and acquisitions for privately held middle-market companies. William & Wall announced his appointment on December 9, 2025, stating that he would help lead the firm’s growth initiatives and expand its work with founder-led and private equity-backed businesses on complex strategic mandates.

Before William & Wall, Barnett was Managing Director and Partner at Columbia West Capital, where he worked on middle-market advisory transactions. Columbia West and William & Wall profile materials state that he has more than 25 years of experience across investment banking, private equity, and public-sector advisory, with transaction experience involving PebbleTec, Grand Canyon Skywalk, CS Construction, TYR Tactical, Connections Health Solutions, My Sister’s Closet, and SkyMall.

Earlier in his career, Barnett spent more than eight years at Morgan Stanley working with founders and families of closely held enterprises. He also held senior advisory and capital markets roles spanning equity, debt, and cross-border partnerships; Columbia West’s prior bio identified one of those roles as Director of Equity Capital at International Capital Partners.

Barnett holds a B.S. in Political Science from Arizona State University and a Master of Public Policy in Regulatory Affairs from the College of William & Mary. His civic roles include Chairman of the City of Scottsdale Planning Commission, Trustee and Treasurer of the Desert Botanical Garden, and member of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s International Leadership Committee.

• Barnett is best characterized from public sources as an M&A and capital-markets advisor, not as a verified seed-stage angel investor.
• William & Wall’s stated target is cash-flow-positive middle-market companies: “EBITDA above $3M and Revenue below $300M.”
• The firm advises founder-led, family-owned, and privately held businesses on sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, strategic consulting, valuation, and advanced financial modeling.
• William & Wall says it is industry agnostic, while also naming software, healthcare, industrial services, manufacturing, and consumer as sectors it serves.
• The firm’s sale-process model is oriented around competitive buyer outreach to private equity firms, family offices, and strategic acquirers.
• Barnett’s own track record is concentrated in complex liquidity events, capital formation, succession strategies, and middle-market transactions rather than early-stage venture rounds.