Key Takeaways
- • Robert Rizzo joins McDermott Will & Schulte as global co-head of private equity, bringing more than 22 years of experience from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where he advised sponsors across leveraged buyouts, M&A, growth equity, and cross-border transactions.
- • Rizzo's appointment reflects McDermott's aggressive expansion strategy in New York, where the firm has grown its footprint roughly tenfold over the past decade and now ranks among the city's ten largest law firms.
- • The hire follows McDermott Will & Schulte's 2025 combination, which created a platform with over 1,700 lawyers across more than 20 global offices, positioning the firm to compete for large institutional private equity mandates.
- • Rizzo will operate under Harris Siskind, global head of the transactions practice group, within a firm chaired by Ira Coleman, underscoring McDermott's commitment to strengthening its transactions and sponsor coverage capabilities.
Summary
McDermott Will & Schulte has appointed Robert Rizzo as global co-head of its private equity group, marking a significant leadership addition as the firm consolidates its position in a competitive market for institutional legal services. Rizzo, who spent his most recent tenure at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, brings over 22 years of experience advising private equity sponsors, funds, and asset managers across the full investment lifecycle. His practice encompasses leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, independent sponsor transactions, growth equity investments, recapitalizations, carve-outs, fundraising, divestitures, SPAC transactions, and cross-border deals—a broad mandate that positions him to serve McDermott's expanding sponsor client base.
The appointment underscores McDermott's strategic focus on New York, a critical hub for private equity and transactions work. The firm has expanded its New York footprint roughly tenfold over the past decade, establishing itself among the city's ten largest law firms. This growth trajectory accelerated following McDermott's 2025 combination, which created a consolidated platform now spanning more than 1,700 lawyers across more than 20 offices globally. By naming Rizzo as global co-head of private equity, McDermott signals confidence in scaling its sponsor advisory practice to capture market share among institutional investors and alternative asset managers.
Rizzo operates within McDermott's broader transactions ecosystem, led by global head Harris Siskind, under the oversight of firm chair Ira Coleman. This organizational structure reflects a deliberate effort to integrate sponsor coverage with transactional execution capabilities, a critical competitive advantage as large private equity firms seek law firms capable of managing complex, multi-jurisdictional deals. The hire represents a typical market dynamic: elite law firms compete aggressively for senior laterals with deep institutional relationships and specialized expertise. For hedge fund managers, family offices, and institutional investors that rely on legal counsel for due diligence, deal structuring, and governance, McDermott's reinforcement of its private equity bench signals expanded capacity and deepened sponsor relationships that may influence deal execution timelines and legal cost structures in the market.
The appointment underscores McDermott's strategic focus on New York, a critical hub for private equity and transactions work. The firm has expanded its New York footprint roughly tenfold over the past decade, establishing itself among the city's ten largest law firms. This growth trajectory accelerated following McDermott's 2025 combination, which created a consolidated platform now spanning more than 1,700 lawyers across more than 20 offices globally. By naming Rizzo as global co-head of private equity, McDermott signals confidence in scaling its sponsor advisory practice to capture market share among institutional investors and alternative asset managers.
Rizzo operates within McDermott's broader transactions ecosystem, led by global head Harris Siskind, under the oversight of firm chair Ira Coleman. This organizational structure reflects a deliberate effort to integrate sponsor coverage with transactional execution capabilities, a critical competitive advantage as large private equity firms seek law firms capable of managing complex, multi-jurisdictional deals. The hire represents a typical market dynamic: elite law firms compete aggressively for senior laterals with deep institutional relationships and specialized expertise. For hedge fund managers, family offices, and institutional investors that rely on legal counsel for due diligence, deal structuring, and governance, McDermott's reinforcement of its private equity bench signals expanded capacity and deepened sponsor relationships that may influence deal execution timelines and legal cost structures in the market.
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