Key Takeaways
- • McDermott Will & Schulte appointed Sina Hekmat as a partner in its Capital Markets group in New York, effective September 3, 2026, recruiting him from Hogan Lovells to strengthen cross-border transactional capabilities.
- • Hekmat brings specialized expertise spanning US-European markets, with demonstrated experience in private equity, debt and equity capital markets, structured finance, and M&A—directly addressing client demand for unified cross-border advisory on both sides of the Atlantic.
- • The hire accelerates McDermott's New York expansion and deepens its private capital platform following the firm's 2025 merger with Schulte Roth & Zabel, positioning the combined entity among the city's largest firms with enhanced transactional capabilities.
- • Hekmat's practice includes deep knowledge of German and broader European markets paired with sophisticated US securities law expertise, enabling clients to execute complex cross-border financing and M&A transactions with integrated regulatory and tax guidance.
- • The appointment reflects market demand from issuers and underwriters seeking single-firm advisory teams capable of executing seamless capital raises and transactions across US and European jurisdictions.
Summary
McDermott Will & Schulte has expanded its Capital Markets practice with the addition of partner Sina Hekmat in New York, marking a strategic hire aimed at capturing growing cross-border transaction flows between US and European markets. Hekmat, who joined from Hogan Lovells, brings a specialized practice built at the intersection of US and European capital markets—a capability increasingly central to the firm's positioning as issuers and underwriters pursue capital-raising opportunities spanning multiple jurisdictions.
The hire underscores a deliberate strategy by McDermott to build depth in New York's private capital ecosystem. Hekmat's expertise spans private equity financing, debt and equity capital markets, structured finance, and M&A, complementing the firm's existing finance platform and extending its reach into European regulatory and market dynamics. His background includes substantial knowledge of German and broader European markets, combined with sophisticated US securities law capabilities essential for executing complex cross-border transactions. This combination addresses a specific market gap: institutional clients increasingly require integrated advisory teams that can seamlessly navigate regulatory environments, financing structures, and M&A considerations across both US and European contexts without requiring separate counsel.
The appointment represents a continuation of McDermott's aggressive New York expansion, which accelerated following the firm's 2025 merger with Schulte Roth & Zabel. That combination significantly elevated McDermott's standing among the city's largest firms and expanded its private capital capabilities. Hekmat's arrival adds senior transactional depth precisely when the firm is consolidating its enhanced platform, enabling the combined entity to serve issuers, underwriters, and financial sponsors seeking unified counsel on cross-border capital markets transactions.
Ira Coleman, Chair of McDermott Will & Schulte, framed the hire in explicit client-centric terms: "Our clients are raising capital across borders, and they want one team that moves with them." Harris Siskind, Global Head of the Transactions Practice Group, emphasized that Hekmat's dual-market expertise—fluent navigation of German, broader European, and US securities law—directly addresses demand from issuers and underwriters for integrated platform capabilities. This positioning suggests McDermott is competing actively for high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions where client preference increasingly favors consolidated advisory relationships over traditional bifurcated counsel arrangements.
The hire underscores a deliberate strategy by McDermott to build depth in New York's private capital ecosystem. Hekmat's expertise spans private equity financing, debt and equity capital markets, structured finance, and M&A, complementing the firm's existing finance platform and extending its reach into European regulatory and market dynamics. His background includes substantial knowledge of German and broader European markets, combined with sophisticated US securities law capabilities essential for executing complex cross-border transactions. This combination addresses a specific market gap: institutional clients increasingly require integrated advisory teams that can seamlessly navigate regulatory environments, financing structures, and M&A considerations across both US and European contexts without requiring separate counsel.
The appointment represents a continuation of McDermott's aggressive New York expansion, which accelerated following the firm's 2025 merger with Schulte Roth & Zabel. That combination significantly elevated McDermott's standing among the city's largest firms and expanded its private capital capabilities. Hekmat's arrival adds senior transactional depth precisely when the firm is consolidating its enhanced platform, enabling the combined entity to serve issuers, underwriters, and financial sponsors seeking unified counsel on cross-border capital markets transactions.
Ira Coleman, Chair of McDermott Will & Schulte, framed the hire in explicit client-centric terms: "Our clients are raising capital across borders, and they want one team that moves with them." Harris Siskind, Global Head of the Transactions Practice Group, emphasized that Hekmat's dual-market expertise—fluent navigation of German, broader European, and US securities law—directly addresses demand from issuers and underwriters for integrated platform capabilities. This positioning suggests McDermott is competing actively for high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions where client preference increasingly favors consolidated advisory relationships over traditional bifurcated counsel arrangements.
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