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Williams Trading
Williams Trading: David "Tiger" Williams founded this equities execution and investment banking firm in 1997 after trading at Tiger Management.
Williams Trading
David Williams launched Williams Trading in 1997, a year after leaving Tiger Management where he traded domestic equities as an Associate Director. His background includes stints at E.F. Hutton, First Boston, Needham & Co., and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette. The firm is headquartered in Los Gatos, California, with additional offices in Boston, San Francisco, Westport, New York, and London. Williams Trading provides equities and options execution, commission management, securities lending, equity research, investment banking and capital markets services, and a private secondaries business. The firm serves hedge funds, mutual funds, endowments, and family offices across the US, Europe, and Asia. Its private secondary desk, run by Stefan Pollmann, uses the firm's network to source liquidity for clients. The firm employs about 24 professionals, including traders based in London and Asia. Beside trading, Williams Trading operates a capital introduction desk run by Michael Fitzsimmons, which helps fund managers connect with investors. The firm also offers custody and fund administration through partners. Williams Trading operates as a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser, structurally distinct from a family office or asset manager. It holds multiple securities licenses across its team and provides independent research without a proprietary balance sheet. This agency-trading model allows it to execute for competing fund managers.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1997
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Los Gatos
Corporate office
Los Gatos, CA, United States
Additional offices
Boston · San Francisco · Westport, CT · New York · London
Principals
David "Tiger" Williams
Founder & Managing Member
Ralph Williams
Principal / Head of US Trading
Matthew Mooney
Principal / Head of Equity Derivatives
Lance Marciano
Principal, Chief Operating Officer
Jonathan Naga
Senior Managing Director, Head of Business Development
Stefan Pollmann
Principal & Head of Private Secondary Trading
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Williams Trading?
David "Tiger" Williams, founder and Managing Member, oversees the firm. Trading desks are led by Ralph Williams (Head of US Trading), Matthew Mooney (Head of Equity Derivatives), Julien Libaire and Tim Gale (Co-Heads of European Trading), and Michael O'Donnell (Head of Asia Trading).
How does Williams Trading source proprietary deal flow?
Williams Trading sources capital markets and private secondary opportunities through its investment banking and capital introduction teams, led by Jonathan Naga and Stefan Pollmann, leveraging relationships with hedge funds, mutual funds, and family offices.
Is Williams Trading structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Neither. Williams Trading is a broker-dealer and RIA providing equity execution, capital markets, and fund services. It is not a family office or asset manager.
Does Williams Trading participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Williams Trading operates as an agent, not a principal. It executes trades on behalf of clients and does not make fund commitments or direct investments with its own balance sheet.
What investment stages does Williams Trading typically target?
Williams Trading focuses on liquid public equities and options across growth, value, and event-driven strategies through its execution platform. Its private secondary desk sources blocks of private company shares, but the firm does not target a specific stage.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth origin of David Williams is not publicly disclosed beyond his prior employment at Tiger Management. He is the sole named founder.
Does Williams Trading maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The firm does not publicly disclose a philanthropic foundation. As a regulated broker-dealer, its operations are separate from any personal charitable activity.
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