The deal pairs Hogan Lovells' regulatory and corporate expertise with Cadwalader's deep capital markets and finance practice. Miguel Zaldivar, CEO of Hogan Lovells, will lead the combined firm. Cadwalader's co-managing partners Pat Quinn and Wes Misson will join the International Management Committee. Partners from both firms approved the merger in April 2026, following its announcement in December 2025.
One unresolved question concerns a $100 million legal services pledge Donald Trump made to Cadwalader. The original agreements lack standard contractual language addressing how merger-incurred liabilities transfer, leaving unclear whether the merged firm must honor the commitment.
For practitioners, the launch creates a formidable competitor positioned to dominate regulatory and capital markets work across the New York–London corridor. Clients should expect significant integration activity through the remainder of 2026. The Trump pledge issue may also generate litigation if either party disputes the merged firm's obligations under the original agreement.