HW Legal Group
Bringing decades of service to protect what matters most
Michael Hoard’s memory of thumbing through encyclopedias as a youngster led him to a discovery that shaped his professional journey.
He read about U.S. presidents and thought he would like to become the first African American president. A fellow South Side Chicagoan, Barack Obama, beat him to that, but Michael took away a valuable nugget: Many presidents make their careers as lawyers first.
“I want to be a lawyer,” Michael remembers saying at the time, and today he is. Michael began his career in 1999 and co-founded what is now HW Legal Group, which has consistently been voted among the top law firms in the Charlotte region.
 | Lawrence Wooden (right) joined HW Legal Group in 2025, working closely with Michael Hoard (left) on a broad range of legal services for their clients. |
The firm focuses on bankruptcy law, real estate transactions, estate planning, personal injury and business representation. Lawrence Wooden is a fellow partner and seasoned litigator who came aboard nearly two years ago.
Michael concentrates primarily on real estate transactions and zealously represents his clients, noting, “It’s the first step for people building wealth. It’s important to me to share this principle and help people understand it. I like playing an active part in making that happen.”
Michael’s early career included criminal appellate and criminal defense work. He has been a prosecutor for the Illinois Attorney General, arguing appeals in the Illinois Appellate Court and Supreme Court. Additionally, Michael worked as a corporate attorney at Northern Trust Company, one of the top financial services companies headquartered in Chicago. He left that position to become a sole practitioner.
Weary of Chicago’s cold temperatures, Michael was inspired to start his own firm in Charlotte, where he moved with his wife and two daughters in 2015. It was an unorthodox decision that turned out well. “We really didn’t have any connections here, so we got out and started meeting a lot of people,” he says. “Charlotte welcomed us with open arms, and it’s been great.”
The merger of Wooden and Hoard’s diverse expertise positions the firm to address all the legal concerns of both individuals and companies. Real estate proceedings often call for an expert in bankruptcy and estate planning. The firm offers that.
“Over the course of time, practicing in the various areas of law has made me a multifaceted attorney and increased my ability to represent my clients effectively on real estate transactions,” says Michael, who often spots red flags that surprise opposing counsel.
| Michael Hoard began his career as a prosecutor with the Illinois Attorney General’s office before moving to Charlotte and opening his own firm, HW Legal Group. |  |
The personal touch that HW Legal Group offers its clients is among the reasons Michael enjoys partnering with TowneBank. His initial experience with another bank after his move to Charlotte was impersonal and required too many in-person visits for routine matters.
“They didn’t see me; I was just a number. TowneBank sees me,” Michael says, crediting private banking officer Ana Espinoza for introducing him to business resources he did not know existed.
TowneBank also had the software to meet Michael’s needs in real estate. “They see me and recognize my needs,” he says.
HW Legal Group, now in three locations, will expand further this year by hiring another attorney, a paralegal, and additional support staff.
Giving back locally is also a priority for Michael, recently appointed to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee.
For more information, visit HW Legal Group.