Moore & Van Allen Practice Areas & Market Reputation

Dear Stephen L.,

Charlotte's Banking and Financial Services Powerhouse

Moore & Van Allen (MVA) stands as Charlotte's flagship regional firm, and its reputation is inextricably tied to the city's status as America's second-largest banking center. With Bank of America and Wells Fargo headquarters driving the local economy, MVA has built formidable expertise in banking law, financial services regulation, and corporate transactions that serve these industry giants.

The Charlotte market has experienced explosive growth, making it a rapidly growing legal market in the Southeast. This expansion has benefited established players like MVA, which leverages its deep local relationships and specialized knowledge to compete effectively against national firms expanding into the region.

Core Practice Area Strengths

Banking and Financial Services: This is MVA's crown jewel. The firm handles complex regulatory matters, lending transactions, and compliance issues for major financial institutions. Their banking team works on significant credit facilities and regulatory matters.

Corporate and M&A: MVA's corporate practice benefits from Charlotte's robust business environment, handling middle-market transactions and serving as local counsel on larger deals. They're particularly strong in healthcare, energy, and manufacturing sectors that define the regional economy.

Commercial Real Estate: MVA has a strong presence in Charlotte's commercial real estate market, representing developers, REITs, and institutional investors in major projects throughout the Southeast. This practice area has been especially active given the region's population and business growth.

Litigation: MVA maintains a respected commercial litigation practice, handling complex business disputes, employment matters, and regulatory enforcement actions. Their litigators frequently appear in state and federal courts across the Carolinas.

Market Position and Competitive Landscape

Within the Charlotte market, MVA competes primarily with Robinson Bradshaw, Parker Poe, and expanding offices of national firms like K&L Gates. What sets MVA apart is its deep institutional knowledge of local markets and long-standing relationships with Charlotte's business community.

The firm has successfully defended its market position against national firms by emphasizing its regional expertise and cost-effectiveness. While associate salaries in Charlotte are generally lower than major markets like New York, the cost of living advantage and quality of life factors make the market increasingly attractive to lateral candidates from major markets.

Recent Market Dynamics

Charlotte's legal market has experienced significant lateral recruiting activity in recent years. Like many regional firms, MVA participates in the competitive lateral market, particularly seeking to strengthen practices that serve the region's growth sectors including fintech, energy, and healthcare.

The firm appears positioned to compete regionally while handling sophisticated matters. This positioning allows MVA to offer challenging work with better work-life balance than national firms, making it attractive to attorneys seeking alternatives to BigLaw environments.

Growth Areas and Future Outlook

MVA has been expanding its capabilities in emerging areas like fintech regulation, ESG compliance, and healthcare transactions. The firm's proximity to major financial institutions positions it well to capitalize on regulatory changes and new financial products emerging from Charlotte's innovative banking sector.

For attorneys considering MVA, the firm offers the opportunity to work on sophisticated matters while building deep expertise in specific industries that drive the regional economy. The combination of complex work, reasonable hours, and Charlotte's growing prominence as a business center makes MVA an increasingly attractive option for lateral candidates evaluating alternatives to traditional BigLaw careers.