Forget the buzz about Austin and Miami. The real gravitational pull for elite law firms is happening in North Carolina. Charlotte is booming. Big Law is planting its flag. And they’re not being subtle about it.
Top-tier firms are flooding the Queen City. They’re chasing an absolute gold rush in finance, private equity, and fintech work. This isn’t a gradual shift. It’s a land grab.
Just look at the recent moves.
In 2025, Orrick and Proskauer opened up offices in Charlotte. They’re building teams to service the city’s massive private equity, banking, and finance clients. They see what’s happening.
Go back to last year. In 2024, multiple large law firms launched or expanded their Charlotte offices. They’re targeting the city’s deep financial services industry and growing tech sector.
What’s the draw? A single, undeniable fact: Charlotte is the second-largest banking center in the United States. It’s Wall Street South. That means a critical mass of high-value, sophisticated work for lawyers in fund finance, real estate capital markets, and private equity.
It’s also a talent magnet. The city offers a quality of life that is pulling lawyers and bankers from the Northeast. Firms need that talent to service the clients who are already here. It’s a powerful formula.
The legal press loves to talk about emerging tech hubs. But the real money follows the money. The influx of elite firms is fundamentally reshaping Charlotte’s legal landscape. The competition for talent is white-hot. The rate wars have begun.
This is the new command center for Big Law’s finance practices. It’s happening right now. And it’s a story you need to be watching.