Venable expands corporate practice, hires Berman

Further expanding its New York transactional profile, Venable LLP, Alan Berman has joined the firm's local office as of counsel in its corporate practice group. Berman joins from Dewey & LeBoeuf, where he was of counsel. He was previously managing partner of the local office of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP. Over a 45-year legal career, Berman has advised clients across a full spectrum of commercial and financial transactions. He has represented institutional lenders, investors, investment banks, developers, as well as utilities, insurance companies, global construction companies and high-net-worth individuals in transactions in the U.S. and internationally. His arrival reflects a healthy growth spurt at Venable's New York office, which has added a number of attorneys this year. Among them is partner, Peter Koffler, who joined in January from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP to lead the New York real estate group, followed by a six-person real estate group from Dewey LeBoeuf, whose members include former New York City Parks Commissioner Gordon Davis, along with partners Peter Britell and Suzanne St. Pierre. Also joining the New York office as partner this spring was Leonard Gordon, a leading expert in antitrust and consumer protection law who was formerly Northeast Regional Director with the Federal Trade Commission. "We've gotten a huge lift this year with the addition of some outstanding attorneys who also have especially high profiles in New York, including Peter Koffler, Gordon Davis, Peter Britell and Len Gordon. I would definitely add Alan Berman to that group," said Venable's Edmund O'Toole, partner-in-charge of the firm's New York office. "Alan has had a marquee career advising clients in large commercial transactions, from major mergers and acquisitions to headline real estate deals and complex financings," Mr. O'Toole added. "Our business transactions group will benefit tremendously from his presence, both in New York where we continue to gain traction, as well as nationally." Mr. Berman commented, "Venable has impressively raised its New York profile in the past several years, including its work with major financial institutions and investment firms in transactional matters. The firm has formidable litigation and real estate platforms nationally, boasts one of the country's preeminent government affairs and legislative practices, and has become a leader in important areas such as privacy and advertising law. It did not take much convincing for my former Dewey colleagues to persuade me to join them and I'm looking forward to the next phase of my practice as a Venable lawyer." Mr. Berman received his LLB from Brooklyn Law School and his B.I.E. from New York University. He has served as an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law since 1997. # # # Note: An American Lawyer Global 100 law firm, Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in California, 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.