Laura Skowronski Bouyea

Representative Matters

• Represented lenders in dozens of commercial foreclosures and receiverships of high-rise office buildings, hotels, shopping centers, multi-family properties, and industrial complexes, navigating complex property and statutory issues, including successfully defending appellate challenges to foreclosures
• Represented new business owner in connection with the lease of assets of a bankrupt debtor, the subsequent purchase of the assets at UCC sales, obtaining financing and leasing of real property, all leading to successful launch of a new business
• Represented Chapter 11 trustees and liquidating agents in numerous Chapter 11 bankruptcies, including, as part of a team, representing a Chapter 11 trustee in involuntary bankruptcies involving a $27 million Ponzi scheme, which culminated in the sale of 18 high-rise apartment buildings in Harlem, New York, including a key role in drafting plan and managing claims resolution
• Represented government entities in various Chapter 11 bankruptcies, including a key role in Venable’s representation of Maryland in bankruptcy involving the Preakness Stakes
• Represented purchaser of substantially all assets of a business in defending a fraudulent transfer action in the seller’s subsequent bankruptcy proceeding, resulting in favorable settlement for the client
• Represented special servicers of commercial mortgage-backed securities in bankruptcy cases, including obtaining dismissal of a single-asset real estate bankruptcy case filed to delay foreclosure, negotiation of turnover of real estate as part of dismissal of a single-asset bankruptcy case, and filing and negotiating lender claims related to 62 commercial properties in bankruptcy of TIC sponsor
• Represented lenders in defending lender liability actions, including obtaining summary judgment in favor of client

Education

• J.D. with honors University of Maryland School of Law 2003
• • William P. Cunningham Award (Given in recognition of exceptional achievement and service to the University of Maryland School of Law)
• B.S.B.A. Accounting cum laude University of Richmond 1999

Bar Admissions

• Maryland
• Delaware

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
• U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware

Clerk Experience

• Honorable James F. Schneider U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland 2003 - 2005

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Co-chair, Partners’ Retreat Steering Committee, Venable LLP, 2023
• Member, Baltimore Hiring Committee, Venable LLP, 2021 – present
• Women Attorneys at Venable (WAVe), Venable LLP
  
  • Co-chair, Baltimore Office
  • Member, Steering Committee, 2019 – present
• Member, COVID-19 Task Force, Venable LLP
• Workouts, Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Committee of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, American Bar Association
  
  • Chair, 2022 – present
  • Vice-chair, 2021 – 2022
• Member, International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation
  
  • Chairperson, Greater Maryland Network, 2016 – 2018
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Greater Maryland Network, 2012 – present
• Member, Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association, 2005 – present
  
  • Assistant treasurer, 2023 – present
  • Member, Board of Trustees, 2019 – present

• The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyer, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2023 – 2024
• Super Lawyers, Maryland, 2023
• Chambers USA
  
  • Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Maryland, 2022 – 2023
  • Up and Coming, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Maryland, 2020 – 2021
• The Daily Record, Top 100 Women, 2022
• My Sister’s Place Women’s Center, Woman of the Year, 2018 (Awarded for work in fostering the values of commitment and support of women and children in need)
• Community Law Center, Outstanding Service Award (Presented in recognition of a commitment to provide neighborhoods and nonprofits with access to legal services)

Pro Bono

• Represented multiple community associations in the bankruptcy of an out-of-state owner of hundreds of vacant houses in Baltimore City – the collaborative effort of a team of Venable lawyers in state court, bankruptcy court, and federal district court resulted in a favorable settlement for the community associations, including the abatement of nuisances within the boundaries of the community associations
• Through the House of Ruth, represents victims of domestic violence at protective order hearings
• Represents various nonprofit organizations in bankruptcy and other wind-downs when resources are otherwise insufficient to obtain counsel

Volunteerism

• Board member, Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2023 – present
• Graduate, The Leadership (a Greater Baltimore Committee Program), 2022
• Member, Mercy High School COVID Task Force, 2020
• Board member, The IMAGE Center of Maryland, 2018 − present
• My Sister's Place Women's Center
  
  • Member, 2014 − present
  • Chairperson, Women's Leadership Council, 2015 − present
• Lawyers' Campaign Against Hunger
  
  • Member, Executive Committee, 2007 − present
  • Attorney chairperson, 2013, 2014, 2017 (30th anniversary) statewide campaigns
• V-LINC
  
  • Former board member and secretary
  • Board member, 2016 − 2018
  • Secretary, 2018