Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft is the oldest continuously operating law firm on Wall Street, founded in 1792, the same year George Washington won his second term. With approximately 410 attorneys based primarily in New York, Cadwalader has maintained its relevance across more than two centuries by developing some of the most specialized and sophisticated practices in structured finance and capital markets.

Cadwalader's securitization and structured finance practice is widely regarded as the number one team in the market. The firm advises investment banks, issuers, funds, and private equity sponsors on CLOs, CMBS, ABS, RMBS, and whole loan transactions, and was named CLO Law Firm of the Year at the 2025 European Securitization Awards. The firm's capital markets, financial services, and litigation practices complement this core strength with depth across the financial sector.

The culture at Cadwalader reflects its focused approach, lean, specialist, and intellectually demanding. Associates work closely with partners on complex transactions and develop deep expertise in structured products relatively early in their careers. The firm's compact size creates genuine accessibility to senior leadership.

Cadwalader's summer program uses a free-market system with approximately 30 summers. PPP is approximately $3.2 million, reflecting the premium economics of its specialized practice. The firm recruits from top law schools, with a focus on candidates who bring quantitative aptitude and genuine interest in financial products and capital markets. Note that in late 2025, Cadwalader announced an intent to combine with Hogan Lovells, which may reshape the platform going forward.