Ralph Hardy (corporate) and Stephanie Loughlin (tax) advise clients on business transactions and tax planning, as well as government relations; join Venable’s Washington office
Washington, DC (October 10, 2013) – In a boost to its business transaction profile for privately held companies, Venable LLP announced that corporate attorney Ralph W. Hardy, Jr. and tax attorney Stephanie M. Loughlin have joined as partners in the firm’s Washington, DC office.
The two lawyers join from the DC office of Dow Lohnes, where they both served as partners and often worked alongside one another in deal assignments.
Ms. Loughlin, who also led Dow Lohnes’s tax planning practice, handles a wide range of tax matters, including advising businesses in structuring joint ventures, acquisitions and other transactions. She represents closely-held businesses and their owners in handling succession issues, estate planning, and charitable objectives.
Her work includes handling audits and other tax controversies with the IRS and in federal courts. Ms. Loughlin regularly counsels companies and individuals in the cable, broadband, broadcast, media, entertainment, education and hotel sectors. She also often represents private equity investors in fund formation, as well as in portfolio investments and add-on transactions.
Mr. Hardy advises on all aspects of complex transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. He has especially been active in the technology, energy, pulp and paper industries. Mr. Hardy also counsels clients on government relations matters, making regular trips to Capitol Hill and appearing before federal agencies.
“Our transactions group is getting a pair of extremely talented and versatile deal advisers in Stephanie Loughlin and Ralph Hardy,” said Charles J. Morton, Jr., who co-chairs Venable’s Corporate practice. “Their experience in handling sophisticated corporate matters for closely held businesses, along with advising on intricate tax structures and pressing legislative and other government matters, makes them a valuable addition to our Washington practice.”
Ms. Loughlin noted that she and Mr. Hardy have worked with Venable attorneys in a number of settings, including longtime joint assignments with Venable senior partner, Jeffrey Kurzweil, for clients in the hospitality and other segments.
“Ralph and I have developed substantial working relationships with Venable over the years and have seen up close the high level of combined skill in corporate transactions, tax work and government relations that match up so well with our practice,” Ms. Loughlin said.
“Venable has one of the country’s best government affairs practices, which is naturally appealing to our clients, and the firm’s transactional profile has grown tremendously in recent years,” Mr. Hardy added. “This is a great move for us and we look forward to helping Venable further advance its deal work on multiple fronts, including the private equity sector.”
Ms. Loughlin received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and her B.A. from Catholic University of America. Mr. Hardy received his J.D. from the University of California Berkeley and his B.S. from the University of Utah.
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Note: Venable is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm serving clients globally. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in California, Delaware, Maryland, New York and Virginia, Venable LLP lawyers and legislative advisors serve the needs of our domestic and global clients in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property, regulatory, and government affairs around the globe.