Key Takeaways
- • Robert Rizzo joins McDermott Will & Schulte as Global Co-Head of the Private Equity Group, bringing 22+ years of sponsor-side M&A experience from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
- • McDermott's New York footprint has expanded roughly tenfold over the past decade, with the firm now ranked among the city's ten largest law firms following its 2025 combination that created McDermott Will & Schulte.
- • The firm recently opened a two-building Midtown Manhattan campus spanning One Vanderbilt and 343 Madison Avenue, positioning itself at the center of the global private capital ecosystem and signaling strategic priority in sponsor-side advisory.
- • Rizzo's appointment reflects intensifying competition for top-tier private equity talent and underscores McDermott's investment in cross-disciplinary capabilities (M&A, financing, tax, regulatory) to serve large-cap and middle-market sponsors on complex transactions.
Summary
Robert Rizzo's appointment as Global Co-Head of Private Equity at McDermott Will & Schulte represents a significant talent acquisition in sponsor-side legal advisory, marking the firm's continued expansion in a core competency area. Rizzo arrives from Wiel, Gotshal & Manges with more than 22 years of experience advising private equity sponsors, funds, and asset managers on complex transactions. His hire underscores the escalating competition for established dealmakers in the private equity space and reflects the firm's strategic positioning within the institutional investment community.
The timing of Rizzo's appointment coincides with McDermott's substantial physical and operational expansion in New York, a critical hub for private capital markets. Over the past decade, the firm has increased its New York presence roughly tenfold, achieving ranking among the city's ten largest law firms. This trajectory accelerated following the 2025 combination that created McDermott Will & Schulte. The firm has invested in a premium two-building Midtown campus—anchored at One Vanderbilt and a prestigious address at 343 Madison Avenue—designed as a connected hub for private capital ecosystem participants.
According to firm leadership, Rizzo's hire directly addresses the demand for top-tier sponsor counsel capable of delivering integrated legal services across disciplines. Harris Siskind, Global Head of the Transactions Practice Group, emphasized that Rizzo provides sponsor clients "direct access to the full breadth of the firm—M&A, financing, tax, regulatory—and the seniority to bring it together on the deals that matter most." Ira Coleman, Chair of McDermott Will & Schulte, characterized private equity as "one of our most important power alleys" and noted that Rizzo's platform-building mindset aligns with the firm's cultural priorities around collaboration and client service.
The appointment signals institutional confidence in dealmaking volumes and complexity within large-cap and middle-market private equity, with the firm leveraging geographic presence, infrastructure, and experienced sponsor-side talent to consolidate market position in an increasingly competitive advisory landscape.
The timing of Rizzo's appointment coincides with McDermott's substantial physical and operational expansion in New York, a critical hub for private capital markets. Over the past decade, the firm has increased its New York presence roughly tenfold, achieving ranking among the city's ten largest law firms. This trajectory accelerated following the 2025 combination that created McDermott Will & Schulte. The firm has invested in a premium two-building Midtown campus—anchored at One Vanderbilt and a prestigious address at 343 Madison Avenue—designed as a connected hub for private capital ecosystem participants.
According to firm leadership, Rizzo's hire directly addresses the demand for top-tier sponsor counsel capable of delivering integrated legal services across disciplines. Harris Siskind, Global Head of the Transactions Practice Group, emphasized that Rizzo provides sponsor clients "direct access to the full breadth of the firm—M&A, financing, tax, regulatory—and the seniority to bring it together on the deals that matter most." Ira Coleman, Chair of McDermott Will & Schulte, characterized private equity as "one of our most important power alleys" and noted that Rizzo's platform-building mindset aligns with the firm's cultural priorities around collaboration and client service.
The appointment signals institutional confidence in dealmaking volumes and complexity within large-cap and middle-market private equity, with the firm leveraging geographic presence, infrastructure, and experienced sponsor-side talent to consolidate market position in an increasingly competitive advisory landscape.
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