QUICK SPARK: DLA Piper Makes Its Private Credit Move With Three Senior Latham Hires

October 13, 2026 - 01:59

DLA Piper has moved to strengthen its private credit and capital solutions practice by bringing on three senior lawyers from Latham & Watkins. The hires signal a broader push by the firm to capture a growing share of work in private credit, an area that has drawn heavy interest as borrowers look beyond traditional bank lending.

Seung-Ju Paik and Preeta Paragash both worked as counsel at Latham before making the move. They are joined by a third senior lawyer from the same firm, rounding out a group with deep experience in direct lending, structured finance, and capital solutions. Their arrival gives DLA Piper additional bench strength at a time when demand for private credit advice continues to rise across dealmaking, refinancing, and fund formation.

Private credit has become one of the most competitive corners of the legal market. Law firms are racing to build teams that can handle complex financing arrangements for sponsors, lenders, and borrowers alike. DLA Piper's decision to recruit from a rival with a strong finance platform suggests it sees room to grow in a segment where clients increasingly want speed, commercial judgment, and sector knowledge.

The new hires are expected to work across the firm's global network, supporting transactions that span multiple jurisdictions. Their experience at Latham, where they advised on a range of financing matters, should help DLA Piper deepen relationships with existing clients and attract new ones. The firm has not disclosed further details about the third hire or the timing of the appointments.

For DLA Piper, the move reflects a familiar strategy: invest in lateral talent to scale a practice quickly rather than build entirely from within. Whether the hires translate into a larger share of private credit mandates will depend on how well the team integrates and how aggressively the firm markets its expanded capabilities.