Paul Hastings has officially entered the fast-growing Charlotte, North Carolina legal market with the launch of a new office built around a high-profile fund finance team recruited from rival law firms
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and Haynes Boone.
The move positions Paul Hastings to compete more aggressively in one of the
most active financial services hubs in the United States, as major banks, private equity firms, and institutional lenders continue to expand their presence in the Southeast.
The firm announced that four experienced fund finance partners will anchor the new Charlotte office: Danyeale Chung, formerly of Cadwalader, and Holly Loftis, Aleksandra Kopec, and Mark Nesdill, who previously practiced at Haynes Boone.
According to Loftis, the founding group expects approximately 15 additional lawyers from their former firms to join Paul Hastings in Charlotte in the coming months, significantly expanding the firm’s local footprint shortly after launch.
Strategic Push Into a Key Financial Services Market
Charlotte has emerged as one of the nation’s most important banking and financial centers, home to major institutions such as Bank of America and Truist, along with a growing concentration of private credit funds, asset managers, and Fortune 500 companies.
This expansion reflects a broader trend among
large law firms seeking to deepen relationships with lenders and financial sponsors by establishing offices closer to where capital markets and fund activity are increasingly concentrated.
“There are a lot of lenders here, and there are a lot of Fortune 500 companies,” Loftis said in an interview. “It’s definitely an investment that many firms are making and have made over the past several years.”
By launching in Charlotte, Paul Hastings joins a growing list of national firms that have recently made similar moves to strengthen their presence in the region.
Fund Finance as a Growth Engine for Big Law
Paul Hastings has built a strong reputation on the lender side of the fund finance market, advising major banks and direct lenders on complex financing structures. The firm’s existing platform was cited by the incoming partners as a key factor in their decision to join.
Firm Chair Frank Lopez said the Charlotte launch is part of Paul Hastings’ strategy to expand its market share in the rapidly growing fund finance sector, which is estimated to represent more than $1 trillion in assets globally and is projected to continue expanding significantly in the coming years.
The firm’s broader funds practice is led by Eric Schwitzer and spans major financial centers including New York, California, Texas, London, and Paris.
Intensifying Competition for Fund Finance Talent
Charlotte’s appeal has led to intense competition among
major law firms for experienced fund finance lawyers, particularly those with established relationships with lenders and institutional clients.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe opened a Charlotte office in October with a 37-lawyer team recruited from Cadwalader. Proskauer Rose also expanded into Charlotte in 2025 by hiring leveraged finance partners from Cadwalader.
Other firms, including Akerman, Greenberg Traurig, and Michael Best & Friedrich, have also opened offices in Charlotte since 2022, underscoring the city’s growing importance as a legal and financial services hub.
The continued movement of fund finance teams highlights the premium firms are willing to pay for specialized expertise in this high-demand area.
Cadwalader and Haynes Boone Respond to Departures
Cadwalader, long considered one of the dominant players in fund finance, acknowledged that competition for talent remains strong. A spokesperson said the firm’s fund finance team remains the largest in the market and noted that Cadwalader hired more than 20 fund finance lawyers in 2025.
Haynes Boone also emphasized its continued leadership in the space. Albert Tan, the firm’s global head of fund finance, said in a statement that the firm continues to “lead the market,” pointing to ongoing interest in its attorneys from competitors.
These statements reflect the broader industry reality that fund finance has become a
focal point for lateral hiring and strategic expansion among elite law firms.
Merger Talks Add Another Layer of Industry Change
The timing of the Charlotte launch also coincides with significant changes at Cadwalader, which announced in December that it is exploring a proposed merger with Hogan Lovells.
If completed, the combination would create a global firm with approximately 3,100 lawyers and an estimated $3.6 billion in annual revenue. A partnership vote on the merger is expected later this year.
The potential merger has added another dynamic to the competitive landscape, as rival firms look to capitalize on uncertainty and recruit senior talent.
Paul Hastings Positions for Long-Term Growth
For Paul Hastings, the Charlotte office represents more than a geographic expansion. It reflects a broader strategic focus on financial services, private capital, and fund-related practices that continue to drive growth for large law firms.
With lenders and asset managers increasingly active in the Southeast, the firm appears positioned to leverage its expanded fund finance team to win new mandates and deepen relationships with existing clients.
As Charlotte continues to attract investment and financial institutions, Paul Hastings’ move signals confidence that the city will remain a key battleground for Big Law firms seeking to capture a larger share of high-value finance and private capital work.
Explore top law firm and legal finance career opportunities on LawCrossing. Stay ahead in your legal career by accessing exclusive attorney jobs, fund finance roles, and private capital positions at leading law firms nationwide.
Visit LawCrossing today to find your next legal opportunity.
