Noel Hughes, co-head of Skadden’s European capital markets practice, was featured in Financier Worldwide as part of the Power Players: Debt Capital Markets 2026 Distinguished Advisers report. In an interview, Mr. Hughes discussed his work advising issuers and underwriters on leveraged financings, including high yield debt offerings, acquisition financings and debt liability management transactions, in the European and U.S. markets.
In discussing the qualities essential for building strong client relationships, Mr. Hughes emphasized the role of candor and long-term commitment. “Trust is the foundation of our business and is built on honesty about risks and a commitment to relationships that outlast any single deal,” he said. “Bankers and issuers I worked with more than a decade ago are still calling today because they know I will be candid, steady and focused on their long-term objectives.”
Looking ahead at market developments, Mr. Hughes noted that an increasing share of his work is now in hard assets, including oil and gas, vessels, mining, infrastructure and data centers. He said, “I expect to see more high yield and leveraged finance technology applied to single-asset and hard-asset financings, creating a broader and more sophisticated market for these kinds of assets.”
Read the article: “Power Players: Debt Capital Markets 2026 Distinguished Advisers,” September 2026.