Leveraging an MBA and law degree, with experience representing both international and domestic clients, Laura takes a practical, comprehensive business-focused approach to achieve results for her clients. She guides her clients through the evolving challenges facing domestic and global companies, including corporate and gaming compliance, company formation, corporate governance, contract negotiation, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial lending.
A go-to lawyer on choice of entity, LLC and partnership formation, operation and sale or winding up issues, Laura currently sits on the American Bar Association’s LLC's and Partnership Committee, where she successfully chaired the drafting committee for the ABA's Model LLC Organizational checklist, resulting in publication of the annotated Checklist in the ABA’s Business Lawyer.
She utilizes her legal, business and marketing experience to provide balanced, thoughtful and creative solutions to her clients from start-up to acquisitions to eventual sale of the company. Laura is active with Awesome Inc., a business incubator in Lexington, Kentucky as well as the UK Gatton School of Business and the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, where she has lectured and acts as a mentor in the fellowship and entrepreneur bootcamp program, respectively.
Working as lender’s counsel for national and regional banks and private equity funds, for more than 20 years, Laura's work includes real estate and asset-backed, middle market secured finance, including lending secured by racetracks, gaming facilities and throroughbred bloodstock. She brings experience with Uniform Commercial Code Article 9 compliance and work-outs including loan documentation, inter-creditor agreements, subordination agreements, forbearance agreements and related documents. She is a member of the ABA's Commercial Finance Committee and Secured Lending Committee.
Nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in equine and gaming law, Laura navigates clients through the state and federal regulations that govern the industry. Previously associate general counsel for the Magna Entertainment Corporation (now The Stronach Group) and general counsel to Gulfstream Racetrack, allow her to provide clients with the benefits of her unique perspectives into the operations of racing, gaming and entertainment companies. Her work with leading gaming officials, legislators, and companies across the world enables her to not only stay abreast of new developments and legislation within the gaming industry but also offer proactive insight and counsel to clients to mitigate their risk as they move forward. Her work includes experience in simulcasting contracts, pari-mutuel wagering, online wagering (ADW), fantasy sports contests, handicapping contests, state regulation and licensing, payment processing, legal opinions, charitable gaming, sweepstakes and promotions. Laura is a general member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and the ABA's Gaming Law Committee.
