WASHINGTON — Sept. 24, 2026 — The BTI Litigation Outlook 2027 has again listed BakerHostetler as one of the country’s leading litigation firms, highlighting its strength in cybersecurity, generative AI, product liability, class action defense, commercial litigation, securities and finance, labor and employment, and intellectual property. The rankings include Powerhouse rankings for cybersecurity, class action litigation and intellectual property.

BTI Consulting surveyed legal leaders at more than 350 large companies with at least $1 billion in revenue to determine which law firms are best suited to meet their most critical litigation needs. In all 10 categories, up from seven last year, BakerHostetler attorneys are among the best in the nation.

“Corporate counsel report that BakerHostetler is offering a more potent approach to litigation,” says Michael B. Rynowecer, president of The BTI Consulting Group and director of the 25^th annual BTI Survey of Corporate Counsel. “Clients see the firm as ready to help with some of the most difficult litigation they face.”

Digital assets and data management

For the seventh year in a row, the Digital Assets and Data Management Practice Group earned the elite Powerhouse designation on the BTI list, placing it in the top 2% of firms nationally for cybersecurity litigation. For the first time, BakerHostetler also was recognized for generative AI, earning a Leader commendation that honors the top 5% of firms nationwide.

“Seven consecutive years as a BTI Cybersecurity Litigation Powerhouse speaks to the trust our clients place in us when the stakes are highest and the depth of talent across our team,” said Ted Kobus, BakerHostetler’s DADM Practice Group chair. “That same commitment to understanding our clients’ businesses shapes how we help them adopt new technologies and manage the risks that come with them. The recognition of our initiatives focused on artificial intelligence, reflects the strength of the team we have built to help clients pursue innovation with confidence.”

Litigation

BakerHostetler’s Litigation Practice Group was listed in five categories, including a Powerhouse ranking for the firm’s Class Action Defense team, which places it in the top 3% of all firms. The Product Liability and Toxic Tort team was recognized in the Leader category, as was the Commercial Litigation team for Commercial Litigation and Complex Commercial Litigation. The Securities and Governance Litigation team also earned Distinguished marks for Securities & Finance Litigation.

“Clients come to us when the stakes are high and they need a team that can move quickly, think strategically and be ready to fight when necessary. This recognition reflects the strength of our national litigation platform and the trust clients place in our lawyers to help them navigate complex, business-critical disputes,” said Steve Dettelbach, chair of BakerHostetler’s national Litigation Practice Group. “As we continue to execute on our strategic plan, we are focused on building elite, trial-ready teams across the country so we can be there for clients from the first call through trial and appeal.”

Labor and employment

BakerHostetler’s Labor and Employment Practice Group placed in the Leader category for Complex Employment Litigation and Employment Litigation, which both honor the top 5% of firms nationwide. BTI notes that firms in these categories help clients anticipate employment risks, navigate complex jurisdictions, develop tailored avoidance strategies and move quickly when workplace disputes arise.

“This recognition reflects the depth, judgment and practical focus our labor and employment attorneys bring to high-stakes workplace disputes across the country,” said Amy Traub, BakerHostetler’s Labor and Employment Practice Group chair. “Clients rely on us not only to defend complex employment litigation but also to anticipate emerging risks and develop strategies that align with their business goals.”

Intellectual property

The Intellectual Property Practice Group moved up three levels for IP Litigation, from Standout to the top ranking of Powerhouse, which represents the top 2% of firms nationwide. BakerHostetler’s IP litigators pair technical insight with courtroom experience and a practical understanding of clients’ business priorities to help companies protect, defend and advance intellectual property in the U.S. and global markets.

“Earning BTI’s top recognition for IP Litigation is a testament to the talent, technical depth and strategic focus of our national intellectual property team,” said Mark Tidman, BakerHostetler’s IP Practice Group chair. “Our lawyers work closely with clients to protect their innovations, resolve complex disputes and pursue enforcement and licensing strategies that support their broader business objectives.”

BTI Litigation Outlook 2027

The BTI report is based on interviews with top legal decision-makers who are asked to identify the firms best suited to meet their most pressing litigation needs. Based solely on in-depth telephone interviews with leading legal decision-makers for litigation services between March and September, the annual analysis draws on more than 30,000 corporate counsel client interviews conducted over 25 years.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups — Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation and Tax — and more than 1,000 lawyers coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.

Key takeaways

• Daniel Passage has joined BakerHostetler’s Los Angeles office as of counsel in the firm’s Business Practice Group and a member of the Debt Finance team.
• Passage, who joins from an Am Law 50 firm, brings more than three decades of experience representing issuers, underwriters and financial institutions in securitizations, structured finance, public offerings and private placements.
• The addition advances BakerHostetler’s strategic investment in its corporate and finance practice and continued West Coast growth, following the arrival of partner Christopher Raidy in Los Angeles in July.

Why this matters

From New York to Los Angeles, BakerHostetler’s Debt Finance team advises clients across industries on domestic and cross-border financing transactions. Passage brings extensive experience to the group, having assisted clients with hundreds of securitizations, structured financings and forward flow transactions involving standard and esoteric asset classes. Before joining BakerHostetler, he held senior practice leadership roles at major international law firms, including as head of a debt finance practice and, earlier, as head of a securitization practice.

Key quote

“Dan’s impressive background in structured finance further strengthens the capabilities of our growing Debt Finance team. His arrival reflects our continued investment in experienced lawyers who can help clients navigate sophisticated financing transactions with practical, business-focused counsel,” said John Allotta, chair of BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group.

About Passage’s practice

Passage works with asset originators, investment banks, fund managers and institutional investors to structure programs for the origination, financing and securitization of novel asset classes. He also advises issuers and underwriters in public offerings and private placements of equity, debt and convertible securities, including offerings listed on European and Asian securities exchanges, transactions denominated in foreign currencies and offerings involving offshore entities.

Passage has structured programs for the financing and securitization of billions of dollars in property-assessed clean energy assets and has facilitated several billion dollars in consumer and small-business loan securitizations through marketplace lending platforms. His deals span a wide range of sectors, including insurance products, residential and commercial clean energy financing, copyright and patent royalty receivables, and digital cinema receivables.

Passage received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.

Key quote

“Dan’s arrival underscores the momentum we are building in Los Angeles and adds another highly experienced finance lawyer to our West Coast team. We are delighted to welcome him to BakerHostetler,” said Bridget McCabe, managing partner of BakerHostetler’s Los Angeles office.

BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group handles thousands of corporate transactions each year. The full-service team, consisting of more than 280 business attorneys in offices across the U.S., has extensive experience closing a wide variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, real estate, debt finance, capital markets and securities, healthcare and regulatory, restructuring and bankruptcy, emerging companies and venture capital, commercial transactions, and other matters central to a company’s success. A national group with global reach, BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group is consistently named a go-to firm by both Chambers USA and The Legal 500. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com/services/business/. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @BakerHostetler, @JohnAllotta, @BridgetMcCabe or @DanielPassage, or on X at @BakerHostetler.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups: Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax, and more than 1,000 attorneys coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.

WASHINGTON — Aug. 26, 2026 — BakerHostetler unveiled today the development and continued advancement of its Practice Intelligence Center, known as PIC, a first-of-its-kind firm-built platform that connects enterprise data, legal knowledge, attorney experience and artificial intelligence-enabled workflows in a secure, governed environment. Among its first capabilities is Matter Research+, a research tool developed through BakerHostetler’s collaboration with Clio’s Vincent AI. Matter Research+ brings together the firm’s proprietary matter intelligence and AI-powered legal research while safeguarding client data.

BakerHostetler’s investment in PIC reflects its broader commitment to innovation as part of client service and long-term strategy. The firm’s collaboration with Clio’s Vincent AI builds on that approach to provide attorneys with an AI platform to enhance client service. 

“The legal industry is evolving quickly, and our responsibility is to make sure BakerHostetler continues to provide clients with outstanding service in an increasingly complex environment,” said Paul Schmidt, chair of BakerHostetler. “Practice Intelligence Center represents a long-term investment in how we connect information, support our attorneys and deliver value to clients.” 

“The goal of Practice Intelligence Center is simple: Make it easier for our attorneys to access the right information at the right time,” said Katherine Lowry, chief information officer at BakerHostetler and executive sponsor of PIC. “By connecting matter intelligence, research capabilities, firm resources and AI, we are strengthening the quality and depth of the insights available to our attorneys. This helps them make more informed decisions, draw on the firm’s collective experience and better serve clients. Matter Research+ is one early example of that vision in action.”

The complex orchestration of AI from both BakerHostetler and Clio’s Vincent AI creates a simplified experience for attorneys, bringing together research guidance, firm insights, and validated results in one place to support faster, more informed decision-making.

“BakerHostetler has a clear vision for how legal intelligence and AI should work together,” said Dan Hoadley, senior director, product management at Clio. “Our collaboration demonstrates what is possible when powerful research capabilities are integrated directly into attorney workflows rather than operating as standalone tools. Together, we are helping create a more connected and dynamic matter management experience.”

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups — Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax — and more than 1,000 lawyers coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @KatherineLowry or @PaulSchmidt or on X at @BakerHostetler. 

WASHINGTON — Aug. 18, 2026 — BakerHostetler announced today the launch of its Crypto Asset Disputes team, a dedicated team focused on litigation and arbitration involving crypto assets, blockchain technology and emerging digital markets. Born out of the firm’s existing Chambers-ranked Web3 and Digital Assets team, which launched in 2018, this new team formalizes and expands the firm’s long-standing work in complex litigation at the intersection of digital assets, disputes and market infrastructure. BakerHostetler is the first Am Law 100 firm to establish a dedicated Crypto Asset Disputes team.

The team will be led by Joanna F. Wasick, a seasoned litigator and founding member of the firm’s Web3 and Digital Assets team. “Crypto disputes are no longer an emerging issue; they are a core business risk for market participants across the digital asset ecosystem,” Wasick said. “BakerHostetler has been litigating and arbitrating crypto asset disputes for years, across commercial, regulatory, insolvency and enforcement matters. This team provides a formal platform for those capabilities and brings together BakerHostetler’s deep litigation bench, technical fluency and practical experience in digital assets to help clients navigate disputes that often move quickly, cross borders and involve novel questions of law and technology.”

The Crypto Asset Disputes team targets matters involving commercial and tort disputes, securities and commodities litigation, government investigations and enforcement actions, asset tracing and recovery, bankruptcy-related disputes, cross-border proceedings, and other matters arising from blockchain-enabled business models and transactions.

Ted Kobus, who leads the firm’s Digital Assets and Data Management Practice Group, said the new Crypto Asset Disputes team marks another step forward in BakerHostetler’s dedication to being at the center of legal issues involving the data life cycle, which includes crypto assets. “Simply understanding cryptocurrency is not enough. Clients need advisers who understand how digital assets intersect with data, technology, regulation and enterprise risk. These teams bring those capabilities together under one roof, allowing us to provide practical, business-focused counsel from prevention through resolution.”

The firm also announced that Isabelle Corbett Sterling will lead its Digital and Innovative Markets team, which she helped launch. It was the first team of its kind at an Am Law 100 firm and focuses on the convergence of traditional financial services, digital assets and other emerging financial technologies. The team advises market participants on regulatory, enforcement, product development, transactional and market structure issues involving traditional and innovative financial products and platforms.

“Digital assets are increasingly intertwined with traditional financial markets, as clients frequently operate in both. Clients need counsel who understand both the technology and the regulatory architecture that govern financial markets,” Corbett Sterling said. “The Digital and Innovative Markets team is built to help clients develop, evaluate, adopt and defend traditional and innovative market structures and products while navigating a fast-changing legal and regulatory environment.”

BakerHostetler’s Crypto Asset Disputes and Digital and Innovative Markets teams will be fully integrated with the firm’s nationally recognized Web3 and Digital Assets team, led by BakerHostetler Partner Robert A. Musiala Jr. “Our Web3 and Digital Assets team has grown and evolved alongside the market from its earliest stages,” Musiala said. “The launch of the Crypto Asset Disputes team and the continued development of the Digital and Innovative Markets team reflect BakerHostetler’s continued commitment to investing in and expanding in step with new technologies to support clients across the full digital asset life cycle.”

Comprising more than 100 attorneys and technologists, BakerHostetler’s Digital Assets and Data Management Practice Group unites key service offerings and technologies intersecting with the life cycle of data. The group is a globally recognized leader whose roster includes attorneys practicing in this space for more than two decades, former federal prosecutors, veteran in-house counsel and past government agency leaders. With more than 10 top-tier rankings by Chambers USA and Legal 500, the DADM Practice Group is considered a go-to firm for cybersecurity, privacy, advertising, data governance and emerging technologies. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com/DigitalAssetsDataManagement. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @BakerHostetler, @TedKobus, @JoannaWasick, @IsabelleCorbettSterling or @Rob Musiala or on X at @BakerHostetler.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups — Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax — and more than 1,000 lawyers coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.

Key takeaways

• Christopher Raidy has joined BakerHostetler’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the firm’s Business Practice Group and a member of the Debt Finance team.
• Raidy, who joins from an Am Law 50 firm, advises borrowers and lenders on complex private equity, private credit and other financing transactions.
• He is the fourth lateral arrival on the West Coast this year, advancing the firm’s efforts to enhance its full-service platform across Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco and Seattle.

Why this matters

BakerHostetler’s debt finance attorneys represent a wide range of clients, including private credit and bank lenders and private equity and strategic borrowers, in all types of financing transactions. Raidy expands the presence of the Debt Finance team in Southern California and strengthens a group that provides sophisticated, experienced counsel and attentive client service informed by deep knowledge of market norms and expectations.

Key quote

“Chris brings impressive experience and knowledge on complex financing transactions, and his arrival further strengthens our capacity to support clients on the West Coast and nationwide. We are excited to welcome him to BakerHostetler as we continue expanding our ability to deliver practical, market-informed counsel to clients navigating high-stakes financing matters,” said John Allotta, chair of BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group.

About Raidy’s practice

Raidy advises businesses across industries on sophisticated debt financing matters worldwide, including transactions involving acquisition finance, recapitalizations, restructurings, secured and unsecured debt, domestic and cross-border transactions, leveraged buyouts, restructurings, debtor-in-possession financings, and exit financings. His clients include private equity firms, private credit funds, public and private companies, hedge funds, borrowers, and issuers.

Raidy received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Order of the Coif) and his B.S. from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.

Key quote

“We are delighted to welcome Chris to our Los Angeles office. His deep finance experience and strong Southern California ties make him a terrific addition to our team and to the clients we serve here and across the country. Chris’ arrival reflects our momentum in Los Angeles and along the West Coast as we continue to grow with talented lawyers who share our commitment to sophisticated, client-focused service,” said Bridget McCabe, managing partner of BakerHostetler’s Los Angeles office.

BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group handles thousands of corporate transactions each year. The full-service team, consisting of more than 280 business attorneys in offices across the U.S., has extensive experience closing a wide variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, real estate, debt finance, capital markets and securities, healthcare and regulatory, restructuring and bankruptcy, emerging companies and venture capital, commercial transactions, and other matters central to a company’s success. A national group with global reach, BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group is consistently named a go-to firm by both Chambers USA and The Legal 500. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com/services/business/. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @BakerHostetler, @JohnAllotta, @BridgetMcCabe or @ChristopherRaidy, or on X at @BakerHostetler.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups: Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax, and more than 1,000 attorneys coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.

Key takeaways

• Kenneth Racowski has joined BakerHostetler’s Philadelphia office as a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and as a member of the Antitrust and Competition and Commercial Litigation teams.
• At BakerHostetler, Racowski will lead the firm’s private civil antitrust practice.
• He is a highly regarded antitrust trial lawyer with a proven record of defending and trying disputes across the U.S.

Why this matters

Racowski joins from an Am Law 50 firm where he was co-chair of its antitrust team. Chambers-ranked for the past six years, Racowski boosts BakerHostetler’s nationally recognized Antitrust and Competition team, one of the few antitrust teams in the country that successfully handles large-scale class action antitrust matters, including taking those cases to trial. His arrival also strengthens the firm’s Commercial Litigation team and its presence in Philadelphia, adding depth to a team that handles every stage of commercial disputes — from initial claims investigation, document collection and pleadings through fact and expert discovery, trial, appeal and alternative dispute resolution.

Key quote

“Ken offers an attractive combination of first-chair trial experience, deep antitrust insight and practical business judgment that clients need when facing complex disputes,” said Justin Murphy, leader of BakerHostetler’s Antitrust and Competition team. “We are thrilled to welcome him to the team and know his leadership will further strengthen our ability to guide clients through their most pressing antitrust challenges.”

About Racowski’s practice

Racowski counsels businesses through complex, high-stakes antitrust, class action and commercial litigation, serving as lead counsel in sophisticated disputes at the forefront of antitrust law. His work spans prominent matters involving artificial intelligence, algorithmic price-fixing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare consolidation and agriculture. Racowski is especially adept at defending against emerging claims based on alleged algorithm-driven price-fixing.

Businesses across industries turn to Racowski for counsel on their most significant legal and business challenges. He also represents companies in investigations by federal agencies and state attorneys general, and provides guidance on corporate compliance, internal investigations, media strategy and negotiations with customers and suppliers.

Racowski received his B.A. from Villanova University and his J.D. from University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Key quote

“Ken strengthens our Philadelphia office at a time when clients are facing increasingly complex antitrust and commercial litigation challenges. His national reputation and deep antitrust knowledge further position BakerHostetler as a destination litigation practice in Philadelphia,” said Dan Goettle, managing partner of BakerHostetler’s Philadelphia office.

With more than 420 litigators in offices across the United States, BakerHostetler’s Litigation Practice Group represents market-leading clients in virtually every type of case and proceeding nationally and around the world. The group’s roster of litigators includes former prosecutors, veteran civil trial attorneys and former enforcement officials from various government agencies. BakerHostetler is recognized as a go-to law firm for its deep bench, commitment to client needs and tenacity and has been named by BTI for five consecutive years as “Most Feared in Litigation,” and its Litigation Practice Group successfully protects clients in and out of the courtroom. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com/Litigation. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @BakerHostetler, @JustinMurphy, @DanGoettle or @KenRacowski or on X at @BakerHostetler.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups — Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax — and more than 1,000 lawyers coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.

Key takeaways

• Sean Knowles has joined BakerHostetler’s Seattle office as a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and a member of the Securities and Governance Litigation team.
• Knowles joins from an Am Law 100 firm, where he served as the firmwide chair of the securities litigation practice.
• He has vast experience representing clients in securities class action litigation, shareholder derivative lawsuits, mergers and acquisitions litigation and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement proceedings and investigations.

Why this matters

With a career spanning nearly 30 years, and nationally recognized by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in America, Knowles is adept at defending securities class actions and shareholder derivative actions against public companies of all sizes in a wide range of industries. His hiring also further demonstrates BakerHostetler’s commitment to strategic growth and to strengthening client service with top-tier legal talent along the West Coast, where the firm has added more than 120 attorneys since 2020.

Key quotes

“Having led his prior firm’s national securities litigation practice, Sean will be a tremendous addition to our Securities and Governance Litigation team. He is a seasoned attorney with the type of sophisticated judgment, experience and strategic focus clients need when the stakes are highest. His arrival boosts our Seattle team and advances our strategy of investing in more top talent on the West Coast,” said Steven Dettelbach, chair of BakerHostetler’s firmwide Litigation Practice Group.

“Sean’s arrival strategically enhances the depth and profile of our Securities and Governance Litigation team. He is a standout securities litigator with a strong track record in high-stakes matters, and his addition strengthens our position as the go-to securities and governance litigation team,” said Doug Greene, leader of BakerHostetler’s Securities and Governance Litigation team.

About Knowles’ practice

Knowles helps public companies, officers and directors navigate high-stakes shareholder and regulatory matters. Clients turn to him to defend securities class actions, shareholder derivative litigation, merger and acquisition disputes, SEC enforcement actions and investigations and claims under the Washington State Securities Act, as well as to provide practical guidance on corporate governance issues.

Knowles has significant experience defending securities class actions in federal court, including matters arising from the mortgage-related financial crisis, and representing clients in SEC and state attorneys general investigations, shareholder books-and-records demands and FINRA inquiries. He also advises on corporate governance and compliance matters, helping clients manage risk and respond effectively to complex legal and regulatory challenges.

Knowles began his career in New York. Since 2007, he has been based in Seattle and defends litigation and represents clients around the country. 

Knowles received his A.B. from Brown University and his J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Key quote

“Sean’s arrival is a meaningful investment in our Seattle office and in a market where companies need sophisticated counsel on fast-moving securities and governance matters. He brings a strong record in bet-the-company litigation and regulatory proceedings, and his presence strengthens our ability to serve clients in Seattle, across the broader Pacific Northwest and the West Coast,” said Timothy D. Casey, partner-in-charge of BakerHostetler’s Seattle office.

With more than 420 litigators in offices across the United States, BakerHostetler’s Litigation Practice Group represents market-leading clients in virtually every type of case and proceeding nationally and around the world. The group’s roster of litigators includes former prosecutors, veteran civil trial attorneys and former enforcement officials from various government agencies. BakerHostetler is recognized as a go-to law firm for its deep bench, commitment to client needs and tenacity and has been named by BTI for five consecutive years as “Most Feared in Litigation,” and its Litigation Practice Group successfully protects clients in and out of the courtroom. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com/Litigation. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @BakerHostetler, @SteveDettelbach or @TimothyCasey or on the social platform X at @BakerHostetler.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups — Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax — and more than 1,000 lawyers coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.

Key takeaways

• Nicholas Carson has joined BakerHostetler’s Chicago office as a partner in the firm’s Business Practice Group and a member of the Community Development team.
• Carson joins from an Am Law 200 firm, where he was a partner in the tax credit group, focusing on tax-advantaged investing transactions in historic, new markets, energy and affordable housing tax credits.
• This is the second straight week a partner was added to BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group in Chicago, as Mary Waller joined on June 22.

Why this matters

BakerHostetler’s Community Development team brings together more than 25 attorneys from across the country who have affordable housing and tax credit transaction capabilities. The addition of Carson bolsters the dynamic group that offers a one-stop destination for clients looking for counsel on all types and forms of federal, state and local tax credit or governmental financing options, including affordable housing tax credits and incentives, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, and renewable energy tax credits.

Key quote

“Nick brings a strong track record advising clients on tax credit-driven investments and transactions that advance community development, affordable housing and renewable energy projects. His sophisticated experience across historic, new markets and renewable energy tax credits makes him an excellent addition to our multifaceted team and a valuable resource for clients navigating complex financing structures,” said John Allotta, chair of BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group.

About Carson’s practice

Carson’s practice centers on structuring and advising on investment and financing transactions involving federal tax incentives, including renewable energy credits, historic tax credits and new markets tax credits. He works with corporations, financial institutions and syndicators on equity investments, tax credit transfers and acquisition transactions, and he counsels developers and lenders on financing for tax credit‑driven projects.

Recognized this year by The Best Lawyers in America as “One to Watch” in both Tax Law and Real Estate Law, Carson is at the forefront of the tax credit and incentive industry and has vast experience navigating complex financing transactions.

Carson received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, his M.A. from Savannah College of Art and Design and his B.A. from Purdue University.

Key quote

“Nick is a terrific addition to our Chicago office and further strengthens the robust business and tax credit capabilities we offer clients in this market and nationwide. His experience helping clients structure investments that support community development and renewable energy projects will be a valuable asset to the team,” said Leif Sigmond, partner-in-charge of the Chicago office.

BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group handles thousands of corporate transactions each year. The full-service team, consisting of more than 280 business attorneys in offices across the U.S., has extensive experience closing a wide variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, real estate, debt finance, capital markets and securities, healthcare and regulatory, restructuring and bankruptcy, emerging companies and venture capital, commercial transactions, and other matters central to a company’s success. A national group with global reach, BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group is consistently named a go-to firm by both Chambers USA and The Legal 500. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com/services/business/. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @BakerHostetler, @JohnAllotta, @LeifSigmond and @NicholasCarson or on the social platform X at @BakerHostetler.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups — Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax — and more than 1,000 attorneys coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.

Key takeaways

• Mary Waller joins BakerHostetler in Chicago as a partner in the firm’s Business Practice Group and a member of its Healthcare team.
• Waller’s practice focuses on healthcare transactions involving hospitals, health systems and academic medical centers, as well as private equity investors in the sector.
• She joins from an AmLaw 20 firm and brings a healthcare practice that includes both provider-side transactions and private equity-backed deals.

Why this matters

Waller’s arrival further strengthens BakerHostetler’s capabilities in healthcare transactions, including for both health systems and private equity sponsors. She advises academic medical centers and universities, health systems, hospitals and other healthcare providers, as well as private equity firms and their portfolio companies, on complex transactional and regulatory matters. Waller’s practice spans mergers and acquisitions, affiliations, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations and physician practice management arrangements, with strength in both hospital- and private equity-backed deals.

Key quote

“Mary brings a rare combination of sophisticated transactional experience and deep insight into the healthcare industry, particularly in the academic medical center and health system space. Her ability to navigate complex deals while delivering practical corporate and regulatory guidance makes her an outstanding addition to our team and a tremendous asset to our clients,” said John Allotta, chair of BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group.

About Waller’s practice

Waller focuses her practice on advising academic medical centers and universities, health systems, hospitals and other healthcare providers on complex transactional and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience with M&A, strategic affiliations, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations and physician practice management arrangements, with an emphasis on academic medical center/health system growth strategies and health system/physician alignment.

She also represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies in healthcare transactions, including platform investments, divestitures and physician practice management arrangements. This hybrid practice gives her experience advising on both hospital- and private equity-backed deals across the healthcare sector.

Waller delivers practical, nuanced corporate and regulatory guidance to healthcare clients navigating complex compliance landscapes, including facility licensing, reimbursement and corporate practice of medicine considerations. Her integrated approach helps clients address the legal, operational and business challenges that arise in today’s evolving healthcare environment.

Waller received her J.D. from the University of Michigan and her B.A. from the University of Southern California.

Key quote

“Mary is a fantastic addition to our Chicago office and further strengthens our presence in one of the country’s most dynamic healthcare markets. She brings an impressive combination of transactional skill and industry insight, and we’re excited to welcome her to our collaborative team advising leading healthcare organizations across the country,” said Leif Sigmond, partner-in-charge of the Chicago office.

BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group handles thousands of corporate transactions each year. The full-service team, consisting of more than 280 business attorneys in offices across the U.S., has extensive experience closing a wide variety of transactions, including M&A, private equity, real estate, debt finance, capital markets and securities, healthcare and regulatory, restructuring and bankruptcy, emerging companies and venture capital, commercial transactions and other matters central to a company’s success. A national group with global reach, BakerHostetler’s Business Practice Group is consistently named a go-to firm by both Chambers USA and The Legal 500. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com/services/business/. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @BakerHostetler, @JohnAllotta, @LeifSigmond and @MaryWaller or on the social platform X at @BakerHostetler.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups — Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax — and more than 1,000 attorneys coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.

Key takeaways

• Richard L. Slowinski and Stefanie E. Kavanagh have joined BakerHostetler’s Washington office as Partners in the Tax Practice Group and members of the International Tax team.
• They both join from an Am Law 50 firm and their practices focus on transfer pricing, advance pricing agreements, cross-border tax planning and tax controversy for domestic and international businesses.
• Slowinski has advised companies across a broad range of industries for more than 30 years, while Kavanagh also counsels privately held and publicly traded real estate investment trusts on tax matters tied to transactions and capital markets activity.

Why this matters

The addition of Slowinski and Kavanagh strengthens BakerHostetler’s continued investment in high-value practices that help clients navigate increasingly complex global business and regulatory challenges. Their depth of experience in transfer pricing, advance pricing agreements, cross-border tax planning and tax controversy advances key priorities in the firm’s strategic plan, including expanding sophisticated, multijurisdictional capabilities; deepening industry-focused counsel; and delivering the practical, business-minded guidance clients need to grow and compete worldwide.

Key quote

“Richard and Stefanie add meaningful depth to our team at a time when clients need practical guidance on increasingly complex cross-border matters. Their experience in transfer pricing, international tax planning and controversy further strengthens our ability to help multinational businesses structure transactions, manage risk and navigate global markets with confidence,” said Paul M. Schmidt, chair of BakerHostetler and former Tax Group chair and International Tax Team leader.

About Kavanagh and Slowinski

With more than three decades of experience, Slowinski advises clients on tax planning and controversy, with a particular emphasis on transfer pricing. He helps multinational companies resolve complex transfer pricing issues and design, implement and defend tax-efficient cross-border structures. His practice spans industries including transportation, finance, hospitality, electronics, food and beverage, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, luxury, e-commerce, technology, and retail. He routinely guides clients through obtaining IRS and foreign tax authority approval for tailored transfer pricing methodologies and cross-border structures.

Slowinski received his B.A. from Bucknell University, his J.D. from The Catholic University of America and his LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center.

Kavanagh also concentrates on transfer pricing and tax planning and structuring for domestic and international businesses. She counsels multinational corporations on cross-border tax matters, including advance pricing agreements and competent authority relief before the IRS and foreign tax authorities. Her practice also includes advising privately held and publicly traded real estate investment trusts on a range of tax issues, as well as supporting taxable and nontaxable acquisitions and dispositions and public offerings of equity and debt securities.

Prior to entering private practice, Kavanagh was an intern in the Financial Institutions and Products Division of the Office of Chief Counsel at the IRS and at the U.S. Tax Court. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Westminster College, her J.D. from Vanderbilt University and her LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center.

Key quote

“We are pleased to welcome Richard and Stefanie to the firm and to our Tax Practice Group. Their proven track record helping clients with advance pricing agreements, transfer pricing matters and cross-border tax controversy makes them exceptional additions to our team and reinforces our commitment to serving multijurisdictional tax clients,” said Jeff Paravano, chair of BakerHostetler’s Tax Practice Group and managing partner of the firm’s Washington office.

With more than 80 tax attorneys serving companies in every major industry, BakerHostetler’s Tax Practice Group is one of the legal profession’s strongest. Members of the Tax Practice Group have served in senior positions at the Department of the Treasury, the IRS, the Department of Justice and the Joint Committee on Taxation, as well as on Capitol Hill and with state taxing authorities, developing the experience and insight to help clients resolve significant tax disputes, navigate complex tax planning issues and minimize global tax costs. BakerHostetler’s tax attorneys are focused on driving client innovation and growth, and the group is regularly named one of the nation’s leading law firms by Chambers USA, The Legal 500 and BTI Consulting Group. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com/services/tax. Connect with us on LinkedIn at @BakerHostetler, @JeffParavano, @StefanieKavanagh and @RichardSlowinski or on X at @BakerHostetler.

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About BakerHostetler

BakerHostetler helps clients around the world address their most complex and critical business and regulatory issues. Our highly ranked attorneys deliver sophisticated counsel and outstanding client service. We have six core practice groups: Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation and Tax, and more than 1,000 lawyers coast to coast. For more information, visit bakerlaw.com.