Piper Sandler Launches Infrastructure Debt Advisory Team with Key Nomura Hires

Piper Sandler is launching a dedicated infrastructure debt advisory team in London, led by industry veteran Stewart Robinson. For fintech and investment banking professionals, this move signals a deepening of specialized advisory services in the energy and infrastructure sectors, bridging the gap between M&A and complex debt financing during a period of high capital demand.

What was announced

Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR) is establishing a new infrastructure debt advisory team based in its London office. This team is designed to integrate directly into the firm’s existing energy, power, and infrastructure group. The primary mission of the unit is to provide specialized advice to infrastructure companies regarding debt financing and capital raising transactions, covering the full spectrum of the capital structure and supporting strategic objectives.

The team is led by Stewart Robinson, who joins the firm following a tenure as managing director and EMEA head of debt advisory at Nomura International Ltd. Robinson’s career includes significant roles at Cantor Fitzgerald, Societe Generale, Royal Bank of Canada, and Barclays Capital. Joining him are Hugo Muller and Anish Shah, both appointed as directors. Muller and Shah also transition from Nomura, where they served as executive directors in the debt advisory team.

Together, the new hires bring over 20 years of combined experience in debt financing, specifically within the infrastructure and energy sectors. Their expertise spans various financial instruments, including private placements, project bonds, and structured credit. This expansion allows Piper Sandler to offer a more comprehensive suite of services, linking strategic M&A objectives with the practicalities of complex debt capital markets.

"I am thrilled to join Piper Sandler and to be reunited with Paul and the team. Debt advisory and M&A advisory are symbiotic and the addition of debt advisory expertise will broaden the advisory skill set that the firm can offer to clients. The integration of these advisory services and the culture of collaboration will allow us to deliver outstanding results for our clients,"

Stewart Robinson, Head of Infrastructure Debt Advisory at Piper Sandler Companies.

The companies involved

Piper Sandler Companies is a prominent investment bank, identified on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker PIPR. The firm provides a range of financial services globally, with a significant emphasis on sector-specific expertise. The infrastructure group is led by Paul Leece, who serves as the managing director and global head of infrastructure. The firm’s London office serves as a critical hub for its European operations, now bolstered by the addition of the debt advisory team led by Stewart Robinson.

The leadership within this new unit brings a high level of academic and professional rigor to the firm. Stewart Robinson, the Head of Infrastructure Debt Advisory, holds a master’s degree in engineering, economics, and management from Oxford University. Hugo Muller, a director at the firm, earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Bath, while Anish Shah holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of Manchester. This academic background supports the firm’s focus on technical proficiency in the energy and power sectors. By integrating these specialists, Piper Sandler maintains its position as a specialized advisor capable of navigating the intricate capital requirements of large-scale infrastructure projects.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has previously tracked the strategic expansion of Piper Sandler across the European continent. In September 2026, the firm made a significant move into the French market, as detailed in the report Piper Sandler Launches European Equities Trading with New Strategic Paris Office. That development marked the establishment of a new office in Paris, specifically aimed at launching European equities trading capabilities.

This prior expansion highlights a broader pattern of the firm’s commitment to strengthening its presence in key European financial centers. While the Paris opening focused on equities and trading infrastructure, the current establishment of the London-based debt advisory team represents a parallel growth in the firm’s investment banking and advisory divisions. Together, these moves illustrate a multi-pronged approach to capturing market share in the European financial services sector.

What this means

The move to combine M&A advisory with specialized debt expertise reflects a shifting reality in the infrastructure sector. As projects become larger and more complex, the ability to secure financing is no longer a secondary concern to the deal itself; it is often the primary hurdle. By bringing debt advisory in-house, Piper Sandler is challenging the traditional dominance of bulge-bracket banks that have historically relied on their massive balance sheets to win these mandates. This announcement suggests that specialized, high-touch advisory may be becoming more valuable to infrastructure firms than simple access to capital. The industry will now be watching to see if other mid-market firms follow suit in unbundling these services to compete for high-value infrastructure mandates.