DC Advisory London

Looking to gather some updated insights on the current market dynamics, group standings, and post-SIP hiring environment (specifically across EMEA / London).

Would appreciate any color on the following points:

I. Infrastructure (Infra / Energy Transition): Is Infra currently tier-1 across most top-bracket firms, or is its reputation heavily firm-dependent? How does deal flow, exit ops (specifically to Infra PE vs. Generalist PE), and overall prestige compare to standard coverage/product groups right now?

II. M&A Product Group: How is general M&A holding up in terms of deal flow and learning experience given current market conditions? Are product groups still offering better modeling depth than coverage teams, or has the shift towards integrated coverage execution changed the dynamic?

III. Lateral (FT) & Offcycle Opportunities (Post-SIP): What are realistic prospects right now for post-SIP offcycle positions or full-time lateral moves? Are banks actively recruiting off-cycles for FT conversion, or is the market still primarily focused on absorbing the summer analyst cohort?

Appreciate any recent context, anecdotes, or group-specific insights. Thanks!