Atty. Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington

Atty. Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington

As former General Counsel for the Americas of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU), Tom Pennington has extensive experience in the financial services industry and with its regulation, corporate and securities law, and litigation matters.

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Profile Summary

About Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington at a glance

Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington is a government attorney based in Charlotte, North Carolina, practicing at Moore & Van Allen PLLC. Educated at New York University (J.D., 1982). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Administrative / Regulatory Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Aviation Law (2026). Serands clients in Charlotte, NC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • As former General Counsel for the Americas of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU), Tom Pennington has extensive experience in the financial services industry and with its regulation, corporate and securities law, and litigation matters
  • Tom’s focus is on federal regulatory advice, defense and investigations, federal and New York corporate governance, and corporate finance matters
  • Tom represents financial institutions, and also advises fintech start-ups and clients in the investment management sector, with an emphasis on private fund formation and compliance
  • He has led and documented corporate, investment fund, and venture stage finance transactions
  • Tom previously served as General Counsel for BTMU, the corporate and investment banking arm of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the largest financial groups in the world
  • During his time at MUFG, Tom was a key advisor to executive management and various boards of directors
  • He also played critical roles in areas as diverse as risk management, corporate governance, resolution and recovery planning, project management, distressed lending and portfolio management, compliance, media relations, regulatory compliance and relations, and managing investigations both internal and regulatory in nature
  • He was deeply involved in managing and advising on BSA/AML and OFAC matters from both the domestic and international perspectives
  • He was also active in strategic planning during his tenure at MUFG, which was of particular importance during the period of upheaval in the financial services sector following the financial crises in 2008
  • In addition, Tom was responsible for the oversight and management of the BTMU’s legal risk and affairs in the United States, Canada, and Latin America, including legal support for all of the bank’s transactional businesses
  • Tom was a member of the bank’s headquarters for the Americas executive committee, Latin America executive committee, and a number of other management committees including business strategy, risk and capital, and compliance
  • He served as a director of BTMU Leasing & Finance, Inc., BTMU LF Capital LLC, BTMU Securities, Inc., and MUFG Americas Capital Company, BTMU’s merchant banking subsidiary
  • He also acted as corporate secretary and as the primary legal advisor to many of the bank’s other subsidiaries operating in the United States
  • Tom currently serves as a guest lecturer at Duke University School of Law on bank regulation

Practice Areas Explained

Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Government & Administrative Law

Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.

Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington is one of 132,225 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in North Carolina →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in North Carolina

Practicing law in North Carolina. Legal matters in North Carolina are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Charlotte are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate North Carolina state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in North Carolina brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in North Carolina courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional North Carolina attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Charlotte or all attorneys in North Carolina.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington

Where is Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington's law office located?
Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington's law practice is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm is Moore & Van Allen PLLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington handle?
Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington focuses on government. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in North Carolina.
Where did Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington go to law school?
Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington earned their education at (J.D., 1982).
How can I contact Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington for a consultation?
You can contact Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington received?
Thomas A. "Tom" Pennington's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Administrative / Regulatory Law; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Aviation Law; Best Lawyers in America — Banking and Finance Law; Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar.

Education

J.D.
New York University
- 1982

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Administrative / Regulatory Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Aviation Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Banking and Finance Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- 2026

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