Paul Hastings LLP, a
major U.S. and global law firm known for its finance and private equity practices, has continued a strategic expansion in one of America’s most competitive banking and finance markets by adding additional senior legal talent from
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. The moves further strengthen Paul Hastings’ fund finance capabilities as it builds out its new Charlotte office and positions itself as a leading legal advisor in the growing lender-side financing sector.
New Partner Appointments Bolster Fund Finance Practice
In early February 2026, Paul Hastings announced the arrival of Olivia Stewart and Brian Kettmer as partners in the firm’s Charlotte office. Both attorneys join the firm’s fund finance practice, bringing experience from their prior roles as counsel at Cadwalader. Their hiring is part of a broader effort by Paul Hastings to develop a comprehensive platform in fund finance a specialized area of corporate law focused on debt and lending solutions for investment funds and institutional lenders.
Stewart and Kettmer join Paul Hastings just weeks after the firm first unveiled the launch of its Charlotte office with an initial slate of lateral partners and lawyers recruited from Cadwalader and Haynes Boone, LLP. That earlier group included veteran partners such as Danyeale Chung from Cadwalader and Holly Loftis from Haynes Boone both recognized for their fund finance expertise along with other senior lawyers Aleksandra Kopec and Mark Nesdill.
Alongside Stewart and Kettmer, Paul Hastings also brought in two of counsel hires Matt Downer, formerly of Mayer Brown LLP, and Meghan O’Reilly from Haynes Boone to further deepen the firm’s bench in Charlotte. These laterals will support both lender-side advisory work and the firm’s broader growth strategy in the U.S. Southeast.
Strategic Charlotte Expansion Amid Competitive Market Moves
Paul Hastings’ recruiting success comes at a moment of intense competition among
major law firms seeking to establish or grow offices in Charlotte one of the United States’ fastest-growing legal markets outside of major East Coast cities. Charlotte is home to major financial institutions such as Bank of America and Truist Financial, making it a key hub for banking, capital markets, and financing work.
Big law firms have increasingly focused on Charlotte as they attempt to capture market share in fund finance, leveraged and private credit practices. For example, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP opened its Charlotte office in late 2025 by recruiting a team of more than 30 finance lawyers from Cadwalader. Earlier, Proskauer Rose LLP also bolstered its presence in Charlotte by hiring a leveraged finance partner team from Cadwalader to launch its new office.
These movements reflect broader trends in
lateral hiring and office growth across U.S. law firms: major practices are tapping established legal talent with deep relationships in fund finance and credit markets to quickly build local capabilities. Many of these lawyers have long track records representing financial institutions, fund sponsors, and lenders on subscription credit facilities, NAV financing, hybrid credit products, partner loans, and other sophisticated financing arrangements.
Fund Finance: A Growing Practice Area
Law firm investment in fund finance talent is not happening in isolation the
global market for fund-related financing solutions continues to expand. According to legal recruitment and industry insights, the fund finance market is projected to grow significantly from its current estimated size (around $1.2 trillion) to more than $2.5 trillion by 2030, driven by rising private capital activity and evolving liquidity needs among institutional investors and private equity firms.
This anticipated growth has made fund finance one of the most sought-after practice areas within corporate law, raising demand for attorneys with expertise in lender-side work and fund level financing. Paul Hastings which already maintains fund finance capabilities in key markets like New York and internationally views its Charlotte expansion as a strategic move to capture more of this rapidly growing segment.
Impact on Cadwalader and the Legal Talent Market
For Cadwalader, the departures to Paul Hastings represent another chapter in a broader wave of lateral exits by fund finance lawyers. Over the past several months, multiple attorneys from Cadwalader have moved to rival firms, including Paul Hastings, King & Spalding, and Sidley Austin, among others, reflecting a dynamic talent market where elite practitioners are highly courted for their specialized skills.
Cadwalader, one of the oldest continuously operating U.S. law firms historically known for capital markets and financial services work, is also undergoing a transformative merger with multinational firm Hogan Lovells, anticipated to create one of the world’s largest legal platforms once finalized.
What’s Next for Paul Hastings in Charlotte
As Paul Hastings continues to onboard additional laterals and build out its Charlotte office, industry observers expect the firm to further leverage this growing team to compete with established players in fund finance, private credit, and related financing areas. The firm’s investment in high-level legal talent positions it to serve lenders and sponsors across the Southeast and beyond, responding to a market that increasingly values deep sector expertise and local presence.
With its expanding footprint in Charlotte now firmly underway, Paul Hastings is well-positioned to become a leading legal advisor in fund finance and broader banking and finance work reinforcing the city’s status as one of the most significant growth markets for
U.S. law firms in 2026.
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