Chicago, IL (November 21, 2025) – Venable LLP announced today that Tom Hughes has joined the firm’s Corporate Practice Group in Chicago as a partner. Mr. Hughes brings more than two decades of experience advising public and private companies, private equity firms, sovereign funds, family offices, and independent sponsors on complex U.S. and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and strategic investments.
Mr. Hughes leads major domestic and international transactions, representing clients across a broad range of industries. He has served as first chair M&A counsel on a wide variety of deal types and transaction values, ranging from a distressed sale of a global business valued at $1, to private strategic and private equity transactions ranging in purchase prices from under $20 million to over $2 billion, and numerous multi-billion dollar U.S. and cross-border public company acquisitions. He has successfully advised clients in both winning and defending contested acquisitions. Over the course of his legal career, he has participated as lead counsel in hundreds of transactions, with an aggregate value in excess of $225 billion. In addition to his transactional practice, he advises on corporate governance, securities law, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Hughes previously practiced for over a decade in the M&A group of a top-tier AmLaw 5 firm in New York and remains a New York licensed attorney.
"We are excited to have Tom join our corporate team," said Lisa Tavares, co-chair of Venable’s Business Division. "Tom’s arrival demonstrates our continued success and commitment to grow Venable’s transactional service offerings in Chicago with top talent."
Mr. Hughes joins Chicago Corporate Practice Group partner, Ted Keim, who focuses his practice on transactional and advisory work for a broad range of public- and privately-held companies across a wide spectrum of industries.
"I’m excited to join Venable and partner with Ted and the rest of the outstanding team to establish a premier M&A practice here in Chicago," said Mr. Hughes. "The firm’s cutting-edge IP work, deep governmental and regulatory expertise, and leading corporate, private equity, REIT, and tax practices align perfectly with my experience and allow me to provide even greater value to clients navigating complex transactions. In addition, the firm’s authentic, collaborative culture and focus on continuing to grow in Chicago were important factors in my decision to join."
Mr. Hughes earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a Clarence Darrow scholar and served as a contributing editor of the Michigan Law Review. He holds both a master’s and bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in industrial and operational engineering from the University of Michigan, and he’s a member of the inaugural Engineering Global Leadership (EGL) honors program.
“Tom is a great addition to our Chicago team of attorneys and professionals, and he will help strengthen our ability to meet our clients’ needs,” said Ken Roberts, partner-in-charge of Venable’s Chicago office. “We are excited to continue our steady and deliberate growth in Chicago.
This year, Venable’s Chicago office celebrates its fifth anniversary and the firm’s 125th. Read more about the history and future of the Chicago office here.
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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large- and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 900 professionals across the country, including in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit our website.