Key Takeaways
- • McDermott Will & Schulte has named Robert Rizzo Global Co-Head of its Private Equity Group, with Rizzo joining from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where he spent the last four years, and bringing more than 22 years of experience advising private equity sponsors.
- • Rizzo's practice covers leveraged buyouts, M&A, independent sponsor transactions, growth equity, recapitalizations, carve-outs, fund raising, SPACs and cross-border initiatives.
- • The appointment comes as McDermott expands its New York footprint, which has grown roughly tenfold over the past decade, following the 2025 combination that created McDermott Will & Schulte.
- • Ira Coleman, Chair of McDermott Will & Schulte, described private equity as one of the firm's most important practice areas, while Harris Siskind, Global Head of the Transactions Practice Group, said the hire gives sponsor clients access to M&A, financing, tax and regulatory expertise.
Summary
McDermott Will & Schulte has appointed Robert Rizzo as Global Co-Head of its Private Equity Group, according to the firm's announcement. Rizzo joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where he spent the last four years, and brings more than 22 years of experience advising private equity sponsors, funds and related asset managers. He will work out of McDermott's New York office and lead the group alongside the existing co-leadership structure.
The firm framed the hire as part of its broader private equity growth. McDermott has expanded its New York footprint roughly tenfold over the past decade and moved into the city's ten largest law firms, a trajectory that accelerated with the 2025 combination that created McDermott Will & Schulte. The firm recently unveiled a two-building Midtown campus spanning One Vanderbilt and a tower at 343 Madison Avenue, which it positions as a hub for the global private capital ecosystem.
Ira Coleman, Chair of McDermott Will & Schulte, called private equity one of the firm's most important practice areas and said Rizzo has built relationships at leading private equity funds. Harris Siskind, Global Head of the Transactions Practice Group, said the hire gives sponsor clients direct access to M&A, financing, tax and regulatory capabilities across the firm, at a time when competition for sponsor-side talent has intensified.
Rizzo's practice spans leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, independent sponsor transactions, growth equity investments, recapitalizations, complex carve-outs, fund formation, divestitures, SPACs and cross-border initiatives. In his statement, Rizzo cited the firm's combination of attorneys with creative and commercial deal experience, its cross-border culture and its ambition to become the preeminent destination for private equity sponsors. He said New York serves as the center of gravity for financial markets and that the firm intends to compete at the top tier in New York, across the United States and in Europe.
The firm framed the hire as part of its broader private equity growth. McDermott has expanded its New York footprint roughly tenfold over the past decade and moved into the city's ten largest law firms, a trajectory that accelerated with the 2025 combination that created McDermott Will & Schulte. The firm recently unveiled a two-building Midtown campus spanning One Vanderbilt and a tower at 343 Madison Avenue, which it positions as a hub for the global private capital ecosystem.
Ira Coleman, Chair of McDermott Will & Schulte, called private equity one of the firm's most important practice areas and said Rizzo has built relationships at leading private equity funds. Harris Siskind, Global Head of the Transactions Practice Group, said the hire gives sponsor clients direct access to M&A, financing, tax and regulatory capabilities across the firm, at a time when competition for sponsor-side talent has intensified.
Rizzo's practice spans leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, independent sponsor transactions, growth equity investments, recapitalizations, complex carve-outs, fund formation, divestitures, SPACs and cross-border initiatives. In his statement, Rizzo cited the firm's combination of attorneys with creative and commercial deal experience, its cross-border culture and its ambition to become the preeminent destination for private equity sponsors. He said New York serves as the center of gravity for financial markets and that the firm intends to compete at the top tier in New York, across the United States and in Europe.
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