U.S. legal directory includes Michael J. Baader, Robert J. Bolger Jr., Jill B. Deal, Thomas W. France, and Elizabeth R. Hughes, citing firm's work in capital markets, M&A, and advertising law; guide based on survey of general counsel and law firm peers
WASHINGTON (May 1, 2007) – Five Venable partners have been selected by Legal 500, a UK-based legal rankings publication, for their work in capital markets, M&A, and advertising practices. This year marks the first year the publication is ranking leading U.S. attorneys. Michael J. Baader, Robert J. Bolger Jr., Jill B. Deal, Thomas W. France, and Elizabeth R. Hughes are included in the guide.
Messrs. Baader and Bolger were cited for their active DC and Baltimore-area merger and acquisition practices. Mr. Baader, Partner-in-Charge of Venable’s Baltimore office, was also highlighted for his work with several private equity firms in the region. Ms. Hughes, head of Venable's Business Transactions Group, and Mr. France were cited for the firm’s representation of issuers and underwriters in capital markets transactions. And Ms. Deal was singled out for her successes advising the pharmaceutical industry in marketing and advertising law.
“We’re pleased at the recognition that all of our attorneys and our practice groups have received from an independent source such as Legal 500,” said Karl A. Racine, Venable's Managing Partner.
Commenting on Venable’s M&A practice, Legal 500 noted that the “Washington DC and Baltimore branches house some of the most active figures in this practice area.” Legal 500 also cited the firm’s number of NASDAQ-listed clients including longstanding client SafeNet, in addition to other clients such as Kimco Realty and Mercantile Bankshares.
In capital markets, Legal 500 points to Venable’s “expertise in industries including financial services, technology and life sciences” as well as the firm’s “strong links with private equity.” Recent Venable equity deals highlighted include representation of the underwriters in the $82 million IPO of Harbor Acquisition Corporation and the $75 million IPO involving the units of JK Acquisition, as well as representation of the issuer in the $84 million SafeNet public offering.
“Venable's Business Transactions Group proves itself daily with its committed work in the M&A market and representation of underwriters and issuers,” said Mr. Racine. “Our firm's longstanding reputation for outstanding client service continues to produce great relationships with companies based in the expanding Baltimore- Washington area even as the firm expands out of the mid-Atlantic with the recent opening of offices in New York and Los Angeles.”
Legal 500 also cited Venable for its “strong reputation in Washington, DC [which] gives the firm significant clout in advising clients on regulatory aspects of marketing and advertising law, particularly for clients from heavily-regulated industries such as cosmetics, drugs, food and telecoms.”
Jill Deal, a partner in the firm’s Food & Drug and Advertising, Marketing and New Media groups who advises the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, was highlighted in the Advertising and Marketing category by the guide. It states that she was "particularly recommended by clients for her advertising and marketing advice to clients in the cosmetics and drug industries."
“Jill has a richly faceted practice combining sophisticated food and drug counsel with experience in the full range of issues related to advertising, marketing and new media,” Mr. Racine noted.
This year marks the first year Legal 500 is ranking U.S. attorneys. For more than 18 years the guide has published editions for the UK , Europe , Africa , Middle East and Asia Pacific markets. Rankings are derived from staff surveys of general counsel, as well as public company filings and commentary from law firm peers on areas of interest to potential clients including quality of service, responsiveness to needs and value delivered.
One of the American Lawyer’s top 100 law firms, Venable LLP has attorneys practicing in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property and government affairs. Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia.