LongAcre Partners, the London corporate finance boutique, celebrates its anniversary this month. It has been in operation for a year and in that short time it has already made an acquisition, executed five deals and become profitable.

Many bankers would balk at the idea of building up a boutique focused on the technology, media and communications sectors at a time when the markets are suffering so badly. However, Jonathan Goodwin, co-chief executive of LongAcre, remains undeterred, and his enthusiasm is barely tempered by the difficulties.