Key Takeaways
- • McDermott Will & Schulte hosted its 35th Annual Private Capital Forum on February 3, 2026, convening top investors, executive management teams, and legal experts to address market trends and regulatory priorities in private capital markets.
- • Forum programming addressed critical 2026 private markets themes including regulatory priorities, private equity and credit strategies, digital assets, emerging technologies, retail 401(k) access, prediction markets, and AI oversight in the investment space.
- • Private equity market recovery appears underway in 2026 following a period of elevated interest rates and weak deal activity; falling borrowing costs, reopening IPO markets, and improving sentiment suggest the beginning of a more durable recovery cycle.
- • McDermott's investment management leadership, including Partner and Global Head Marc Elovitz, provided strategic insights on sector-shaping trends and the role of next-generation investors in reshaping private capital markets.
- • The forum featured breakout sessions and main-stage panels addressing both traditional deal mechanics and forward-looking considerations including digital asset strategies and regulatory evolution in private markets.
Summary
McDermott Will & Schulte held its 35th Annual Private Capital Forum in February 2026, establishing itself as a premier gathering for institutional investors, private equity operators, and legal professionals navigating an evolving market landscape. The event convened leading investors and executive management teams to examine near-term opportunities and structural shifts in private capital markets as the sector emerged from a prolonged period of elevated borrowing costs and constrained deal activity.
The forum's programming reflected the complexity of 2026's private markets environment. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions spanning regulatory priorities, private equity and credit strategies, digital assets, and the integration of emerging technologies into private capital operations. Key themes included retail 401(k) access expansion, prediction markets, and AI oversight—signaling that institutional investors face both regulatory adaptation requirements and technology-driven competitive pressures. Marc Elovitz, McDermott's Partner and Global Head of Investment Management, featured prominently in discussions about how emerging technologies and next-generation investor cohorts are reshaping private capital strategies.
Market fundamentals appear positioned for recovery in 2026 following a sustained downcycle. After prolonged exposure to higher interest rates, reduced distributions, and weak deal flow, institutional participants and legal counsel observed early signs of stabilization. Declining borrowing costs, a gradually reopening IPO exit market, and improving market sentiment collectively suggest the potential for a more durable recovery cycle beginning in 2026—a critical inflection point for capital deployment and portfolio performance.
The forum's structure—combining informative breakout sessions with insightful main-stage panels—provided attendees with both tactical guidance and strategic perspective on private markets evolution. McDermott's positioning as host reflects its role as both legal counsel to the sector and strategic observer of market dynamics, with the firm signaling continued engagement through planned 2027 programming.
The forum's programming reflected the complexity of 2026's private markets environment. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions spanning regulatory priorities, private equity and credit strategies, digital assets, and the integration of emerging technologies into private capital operations. Key themes included retail 401(k) access expansion, prediction markets, and AI oversight—signaling that institutional investors face both regulatory adaptation requirements and technology-driven competitive pressures. Marc Elovitz, McDermott's Partner and Global Head of Investment Management, featured prominently in discussions about how emerging technologies and next-generation investor cohorts are reshaping private capital strategies.
Market fundamentals appear positioned for recovery in 2026 following a sustained downcycle. After prolonged exposure to higher interest rates, reduced distributions, and weak deal flow, institutional participants and legal counsel observed early signs of stabilization. Declining borrowing costs, a gradually reopening IPO exit market, and improving market sentiment collectively suggest the potential for a more durable recovery cycle beginning in 2026—a critical inflection point for capital deployment and portfolio performance.
The forum's structure—combining informative breakout sessions with insightful main-stage panels—provided attendees with both tactical guidance and strategic perspective on private markets evolution. McDermott's positioning as host reflects its role as both legal counsel to the sector and strategic observer of market dynamics, with the firm signaling continued engagement through planned 2027 programming.
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