Sidley Hires Global Finance Partner in Charlotte
The firm adds Glenn Kunkes and three associates to its Charlotte office to expand its private credit and asset-based finance work.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Corporate Finance
Sidley has announced the hiring of Glenn Kunkes as a partner in its Global Finance practice based in Charlotte. Kunkes, who arrives from Mayer Brown, is joined by three associates in the move.
Why it matters
The arrival of Kunkes is intended to strengthen the firm's existing capabilities in private credit and asset-based finance. His expertise is expected to foster integration and synergies across the firm's broader finance teams.
Sidley has added more than 40 partners to its Global Finance group over the last three years. The firm currently employs approximately 2,300 lawyers globally, including 200 within its Global Finance division.
The players
Glenn Kunkes
He is a partner in the Global Finance practice who previously worked at Mayer Brown.
Sidley
This international law firm has 160 years of experience and employs approximately 2,300 lawyers.
Mayer Brown
This is the global law firm where Glenn Kunkes worked prior to joining Sidley.
The details
Kunkes specializes in representing clients during the structuring and negotiation of structured finance asset products. He also counsels various financial institutions regarding bank-funded collateral loan obligations and asset-based lending facilities.
Timeline
October 21, 2026: Sidley announced the hiring of Glenn Kunkes.
Last three years: Sidley added over 40 global finance partners.
Market Dynamics
This move highlights the competitive environment for specialized finance expertise as top-tier firms work to consolidate talent in private credit markets. Sidley is positioning itself to gain further market share by integrating lateral hires into its 160-year-old operational structure.
The expansion of this finance practice signals a broader push to manage complex asset-based facilities for institutional clients. Investors and financial institutions should monitor whether this integration increases the firm's capacity for handling private credit transactions in the region.
The takeaway
The move underscores how established legal firms are scaling their private credit capabilities through targeted talent acquisition. This strategy allows firms to better address the complex needs of clients requiring structured finance and asset-based lending expertise.
Further reading
For more on local market movements, see our Charlotte Corporate Finance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Globallegalchronicle.
