Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP‘s finance practice is praised as the ’premier fund finance firm on the lender side of the market’, and is frequently retained to advise commercial and investment banks alongside hedge and venture capital funds. The team is jointly headed by its senior partners, which includes New York head Brian Foster, who co-heads the fund finance group. Meanwhile, Wesley Mission, Jeffrey Nagle and Tim Hicks all jointly head the Charlotte team. Mission is proficient in advising banks and funds in NAV and hybrid facilities. Nagle is experienced in asset-based, project and acquisition financing. Hicks is a port of call for multijurisdictional financing. Important additions to the Charlotte team include Matthew Stempler, a port of call for DIP and distressed financing, and Danyeale Chung who is highly active in subscription facilities. Leah Edelboim, based in New York, is a key operator in syndicated facilities, NAV and management fee loans. Joey Polonsky, Patrick Yingling, Ronald Lovelace and Jared Stanisci all departed the team in September 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'They are one of the original US law firms in the market and have always been a significant market leader. They work well across different teams and offices.'
- 'CWT is the premier fund finance firm on the lender side of the market. They have the best and brightest partners, the best associates and best-resourced teams, and when it comes to market knowledge there is nobody that can match their depth of experience and current insights on the market.'
- 'Wes Misson is a senior statesperson of the industry. There is no scenario he has not experienced, from minor issues all the way to bank collapses.'
- 'Tim Hicks is the hardest working partner in the industry. He is available at all hours of the day and night to his clients and co-counsel, and his direct, no-nonsense approach to law is refreshing in the modern age. His level of experience and skill is unmatched in my opinion.'
- 'Trent Lindsey is a partner that covers many of their most important clients. His commerciality and ability to drive through technical transactions on time for the lenders is impressive, and he always seems to find common ground with opposing counsel with minimal or no friction and drama.'
- 'Brian Foster is a colossus in the NAV world. His technical ability, responsiveness and calm approach to the most technical deals is invaluable to lender clients.'
Key clients
- MUFG Bank, Ltd.
- Laconic Infrastructure Partners Inc.
- Värde Partners, Inc.
- Global Financial Institution
- MUFG Bank, Ltd.
- Laconic Infrastructure Partners Inc.
- Värde Partners, Inc.
- Global Financial Institution
Work highlights
Advised a global financial institution on a transaction that included a forward flow agreement providing for the sale of interests in subscription credit facilities to Värde Partners’ recently launched fund finance platform.
Advised a major bank on a series of new and renewal ABL credit facilities totalling nearly $8 billion in aggregate principal amount.
Represented a commercial real estate brokerage with a $5 billion registered securities offering of Bolivia’s carbon mitigation ambition under the provisions of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Lawyers
Leading Individuals
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Wesley Misson; Tim Hicks; Brian Foster; Jeffrey Nagle
Other key lawyers
Matthew Stempler; Leah Edelboim; Danyeale Chung; Trent Lindsey