Chapman Syme
Managing Director, Founder of Blackland Advisors
Chapman Syme is the Managing Director and Founder of Blackland Advisors, a boutique advisory firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic financial consulting. With over 26 years of experience spanning investment banking, alternative investments, and entrepreneurship, Mr. Syme brings a rare combination of institutional expertise and hands-on operating experience to his clients.
Prior to founding Blackland Advisors, Mr. Syme served as a Vice President at Greenhill & Co., a global investment bank focused on M&A advisory, restructuring, and capital solutions for financial sponsors. Before Greenhill, he was a Research Analyst at Marblegate Asset Management, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in credit opportunities and special situations. Prior to Marblegate, he served as a Research Analyst at Durham Asset Management, a distressed debt and event-driven global alternative investment platform. Mr. Syme also held investment banking roles at Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), and began his financial career at Bank of America.
Beyond his advisory work, Mr. Syme has extensive direct experience sourcing, negotiating, closing, and operating businesses across multiple sectors, including final-mile and over-the-road transportation, warehousing, foodservice distribution, and specialty retail. He has also demonstrated expertise in the acquisition and asset management of multifamily and industrial real estate.
Mr. Syme holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from the University of Virginia. He is based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he resides with his wife and two children.
Chapman Syme's Areas of Expertise:
Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory
Capital Raising & Financial Sponsor Advisory
Restructuring & Distressed Debt
Business Acquisition & Operations
Multifamily & Industrial Real Estate
View Chapman Syme's profile on LinkedIn:
Interested in discussing a potential transaction or advisory engagement? Schedule a Consultation
Recent Articles by Chapman Syme
The 12-Month Pre-Exit Checklist for Business Founders | Blackland Advisors
The best exits are built long before the first buyer call. This quarter-by-quarter checklist covers exactly what founders need to do in the 12 months before engaging an M&A advisor — and why each step... ...more
Process
May 21, 2026•15 min read
Asset Sale vs. Stock Sale: Tax Implications for Small Business Owners | Blackland Advisors
Asset sales and stock sales produce very different tax outcomes for sellers. Learn how each structure is taxed, why buyers and sellers typically prefer opposite approaches, and how to negotiate the ga... ...more
Process ,Valuation &Underwriting
May 20, 2026•22 min read
What Is an Earnout in a Business Sale? | Blackland Advisors
An earnout makes part of your sale price contingent on future results. Learn how earnouts are structured, when they make sense, and the protections every seller should demand before signing. Chapman S... ...more
Process ,Valuation
May 14, 2026•21 min read
How to Handle an Unsolicited Offer to Buy Your Business: A Complete Guide for Sellers | Blackland Advisors
An unsolicited offer means a motivated buyer — but no competition and no market signal on price. Learn how to respond, protect your leverage, and decide whether to sell or run a broader process. Chapm... ...more
Process
April 27, 2026•21 min read
5 LOI ‘Gotcha’ Clauses That Can Hurt Sellers During Exclusivity | Blackland Advisors
The LOI is non-binding on price but binding where it matters. Learn five gotcha clauses that cost sellers millions after they’ve granted exclusivity. Chapman Syme from Blackland Advisors. ...more
Process
March 31, 2026•17 min read
Eleven Tax Breaks Small Business Owners Miss | Blackland Advisors
From home office to obsolete inventory, discover eleven tax breaks that regularly go unclaimed in small businesses—and why the right ones also improve your valuation before a sale. Chapman Syme from B... ...more
Process
March 20, 2026•24 min read
How to Find the Right Buyer for Your Business | Blackland Advisors
Finding a buyer is easy. Finding the right one takes strategy. Learn how to identify, attract, and evaluate buyers who align with your goals—and what makes the difference between a good offer and the ... ...more
Process
March 09, 2026•23 min read
Private Equity for Business Owners: What You Need to Know | Blackland Advisors
Private equity isn’t just for large companies. Learn how PE works in the lower middle market, what transaction structures are available, and how to evaluate whether a PE buyer is right for your exit. ... ...more
Process
October 22, 2025•21 min read
How to Prepare Your Financials for a Business Sale | Blackland Advisors
Sloppy books cost sellers millions. Learn the five financial preparation steps that build buyer trust, support your valuation, and protect deal momentum from first look to close. Chapman Syme from Bla... ...more
Process
August 15, 2025•24 min read
The Seven Phases of a Successful Business Sale: What to Expect at Every Step | Blackland Advisors
Selling a business takes seven distinct phases — from setting goals and preparing financials to managing due diligence and closing. Here's what to expect at every step and how to protect your outcome.... ...more
Process
March 14, 2025•20 min read
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Blackland Advisors provides M&A and succession planning services to business owners across the Southeast.