Cadwalader has added Robert Hayes, a top advisor to leading financial institutions and non-bank lenders on large commercial lending and middle-market loan transactions, as a partner in its Finance practice.
Bob will initially be resident in Cadwalader’s New York office. Upon the anticipated completion of the merger to create Hogan Lovells Cadwalader in July 2026, he will be resident in the combined firm’s Los Angeles office.
“We’re excited to welcome Bob to Cadwalader,” said Co-Managing Partner Pat Quinn. “His asset-based and sponsor-backed lending capabilities will be highly valuable for our clients as they expand their U.S. presence, as well as to Hogan Lovells Cadwalader as our combined firm seeks to offer enhanced finance services to clients around the globe.”
Bob has nearly 20 years of experience representing leading financial institutions and other lenders in complex commercial lending transactions, with a primary focus in asset-based lending. He is known for delivering practical, commercially focused solutions to sophisticated and highly structured deals, including cross-border credit facilities; public and private debt transactions; acquisition financings; syndicated and bilateral facilities; private equity and sponsor debt facilities; fund finance; cash flow financings; recurring revenue facilities; and restructuring and work-out transactions. Prior to joining Cadwalader, Bob was a partner in the finance practice of a major global law firm.
“Bob is joining us at a transformative moment in our firm’s history,” said Co-Managing Partner Wes Misson, who will work closely with Bob in his future role as Hogan Lovells Cadwalader’s Global Managing Partner for the Finance Practice. “He provides us with an immediate opportunity to add depth to our banking, fund finance, restructuring and related capabilities. Bob’s eventual California location, combined with his expertise in complex ABL and structured transactions, will position him well to help service and further grow our fund finance client base on the West Coast. Additionally, his experience handling cross-border transactions will be valuable to our clients across Europe and Asia in multi-jurisdictional financings on Hogan Lovells Cadwalader’s global platform.”
“I’m thrilled to join the firm and, ultimately, a new one-of-a-kind global platform” said Bob. “I’ve known Wes for over 20 years and have long admired what he and Cadwalader have built – an integrated banking, commercial finance, fund finance, leveraged finance and restructuring group that’s quickly become a market leader. I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running to expand our preeminent finance practice to the West Coast, deepen relationships with top-tier banks, and explore new opportunities within the anticipated global combined firm.”
