The team

Our team combines highly experienced senior bankers with expert corporate finance professionals.

Hines Associates Ltd. is led by its founder, Richard Hines. The team has many years of hands-on experience, advising clients at City and Wall Street banks and many other international financial services businesses.


Broad financial industry expertise, with specialisms in banking, insurance, wealth management, asset management, distribution and financial technology. Able to advise on buying and selling companies, raising capital, financing, corporate strategy, valuations and structuring family assets.

Richard Hines

Richard Hines

Richard is the founder. He has many years of experience in advising financial services clients on transactions and corporate strategy.


Prior to setting up Hines Associates, Richard was Managing Director at Citigroup’s Investment Bank and Co-Head for the European Insurance and Asset Management Groups. He trained as an accountant at PWC and worked at AT Kearney as Partner in their Insurance Practice, as a re-insurer at M&G Re and in various managerial positions at Prudential. Richard’s interests outside work include sports, tennis, fishing, shooting, cars, walking dogs and spending time in Cornwall.

M: +44 (0)7711 416 747

Hubert Brandts

Hubert Brandts

Hubert is a Partner at Hines Associates and joined the firm in 2003. Hubert has over 20 years of corporate finance experience, first at Schroders, then at Citigroup, where he was a member of the European Insurance Group with responsibility for German clients.


Before investment banking, he worked for Marakon Associates, an international strategy consulting firm. Hubert studied Economics at the LSE and graduated with an M.Sc. Outside work, Hubert enjoys running (anything less than marathon distance), and travelling with his family.

M: +44 (0)7770 496 632

Peter Smart

Peter Smart

Peter is a Partner at Hines Associates, re-joining in 2004 the team he had worked with as a Managing Director at Citigroup. He was a corporate financier at Schroders for 17 years, advising clients on M&A, capital raisings and providing general financial advice.


Two secondments to Hong Kong and Warsaw, the latter as co-head, provided valuable international perspective. At Hines, Peter works with clients in wealth management, asset management and general insurance. Outside, family, music and travel help re-charge the batteries.

M: +44 (0)7785 928 874

Jack Stewart

Jack Stewart

Jack is a Partner at Hines Associates. He joined the team in 2008 from Lehman Brothers and has over 17 years of corporate finance expertise.


He gained a D. Phil in law from Oxford University where he played rugby and tennis for the University. Outside work interests include tennis, skiing and music.

M: +44 (0)7590 443 010

Dilipe Arul

Dilipe Arul

Dilipe is a Partner at Hines Associates. Previously, he was an Associate Director within EY’s Transaction Advisory team where he focussed on the insurance sector.


He has extensive experience across the London Market having advised several specialist insurers, Lloyd’s syndicates, MGAs and brokers on both buy and sell-side transactions. Prior to joining EY, Dilipe worked within Enstar’s M&A team and was involved in a number of large, successful run-off deals.

Outside of work, Dilipe enjoys participating in a wide range of sports, travelling and spending time with his family and friends.

M: +44 (0)7701 035 691

Sandy Ritchie

Sandy Ritchie

Sandy is a Director at Hines Associates and joined in Spring 2020. Prior to Hines Associates, Sandy was a manager in EY’s Transaction Advisory Services, specialising in wealth and asset management, specialist lending, insurance and banking transactions.


Sandy trained as an accountant at PWC before joining N+1 Singer in their corporate finance team. Sandy studied History (M.A) and later Finance (M.Litt) at St Andrews University. Outside of work, Sandy enjoys golf and hockey, travelling and spending time with friends and family.

M: +44 (0)7951 628473

Yew Wing Liong

Yew Wing Liong

Wing is an Associate at Hines Associates and joined the firm in 2022. Prior to joining Hines Associates, Wing was an Assistant Manager at EY where he focused on supporting clients in the Banking and Capital Markets sectors, including: Investment banks, retail banks, brokers, credit rating agencies and fintechs.


Wing is a chartered accountant and holds a BSc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE. Outside of work, Wing enjoys a good HIIT workout and participating in team sports such as tag rugby.

M: +44 (0)7598 962 449

David Cariati

David Cariati

David is an Associate at Hines Associates and joined the firm in 2022. Prior to joining Hines Associates, David was an Experienced Assurance Associate at PwC where he focused on supporting clients in a wide range of sectors, including banking and insurance. David also worked as an Analyst at a leading boutique Investment Bank in Toronto, Canada and supported clients through M&A, equity and convertible debt financings.


David successfully passed the Chartered Professional Accountancy and CFA Level One exam and holds an MSc Corporate Finance with distinction from Bayes Business School. Outside of work, he enjoys playing sports, travelling and spending time with friends and family.

M: +44 (0)7493 331 717

Rob Balfour

Rob Balfour

Rob is an Associate at Hines Associates. He joined the firm in the summer of 2022, prior to which he worked in the Business Advisory Group at Saffery Champness. Whilst there, he gained broad sector experience before specialising in FCA regulated entities.


Rob is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of the University of Oxford where he obtained a first class degree in Chemistry (MChem) and represented the University Rugby Club. In his spare time, he enjoys watching and playing a variety of sports including golf, rugby, and cricket.

M: +44 (0)7597 081 848

Maxim McGrigor

Maxim McGrigor

Maxim is an Analyst at Hines Associates. Before joining the firm this year, Maxim worked at Cargill as an analyst in Trade and Structured Finance where he gained exposure to fixed-income trading, debt financing, and completed the CFA Level One exam.


Maxim graduated from Durham University and represented the Hockey Club, achieving a first. Outside of work, he enjoys challenges and has completed triathlons, Everest Base Camp, and the Fastnet Race.

M: +44 (0)7514 284 668