Venable Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

Venable has 5 executives leading key functions including corporate strategy, technology infrastructure, operational management, administrative oversight, and executive coordination.

Committed to excellence in complex legal challenges, Venable delivers sophisticated counsel across corporate, litigation, and intellectual property sectors to drive client success in highly regulated global markets.

Leadership Roles at Venable

  • Chief Executive Officer - Charles Venable
  • Chief Technology Officer - Malke Kramer
  • Chief of Staff & Partner - Tara Potashnik
  • Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff - Laura Sandifer
  • Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer - Michael Barnes
  • Charles Venable - Chief Executive Officer

    Charles Venable, the Chief Executive Officer at Venable, directs the overarching strategic vision and long-term growth trajectory of the firm. By aligning corporate practice groups with evolving market demands, the Chief Executive Officer ensures the firm maintains a competitive edge in high-stakes litigation and complex regulatory environments. Charles Venable oversees the integration of diverse legal disciplines, fostering collaboration between intellectual property teams and government affairs specialists to provide comprehensive client solutions. This leadership role involves managing relationships with Fortune companies and emerging enterprises, ensuring consistent delivery of premium legal services across the technology, healthcare, and financial sectors. Through rigorous oversight of firm-wide performance metrics, the Chief Executive Officer optimizes resource allocation and strengthens the firm's market position. By championing innovation in legal service delivery, the Chief Executive Officer secures the firm's reputation as a premier advisor for intricate commercial disputes and sophisticated business transactions on a national scale.
    Charles Venable

    Malke Kramer - Chief Technology Officer

    Malke Kramer, the Chief Technology Officer at Venable, architects the digital infrastructure necessary to support secure, high-stakes legal operations. By implementing advanced cybersecurity protocols, the Chief Technology Officer protects sensitive client data across intellectual property and corporate litigation matters. Malke Kramer drives the adoption of legal technology tools that streamline document review, patent prosecution, and trademark management for diverse industry clients. This role involves collaborating with the firm's administrative and legal teams to ensure seamless integration of digital platforms that enhance efficiency in complex regulatory compliance tasks. By modernizing the firm's technological capabilities, the Chief Technology Officer enables attorneys to navigate intricate legal frameworks with greater speed and precision. The Chief Technology Officer maintains a focus on scalable solutions that support the firm's expansion into new media and technology markets, ensuring that all digital assets remain resilient against evolving cyber threats while facilitating robust communication across the firm's national footprint.

    Tara Potashnik - Chief of Staff & Partner

    Tara Potashnik, the Chief of Staff & Partner at Venable, coordinates executive initiatives and facilitates high-level decision-making processes across the firm. As a key partner, the Chief of Staff & Partner bridges the gap between administrative strategy and legal practice execution, ensuring alignment with the firm's core mission. Tara Potashnik manages complex internal projects, including the oversight of government affairs advocacy and regulatory compliance programs. This leadership role involves advising on firm governance and supporting the integration of new legal talent into the firm's specialized practice groups. By streamlining communication between the partnership and operational departments, the Chief of Staff & Partner enhances organizational agility during high-stakes litigation and corporate mergers. The Chief of Staff & Partner drives initiatives that improve operational efficiency, allowing the firm to maintain its focus on delivering sophisticated counsel to clients in the healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries while upholding the highest standards of professional excellence.

    Laura Sandifer - Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff

    Laura Sandifer, the Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff at Venable, manages the day-to-day operational workflows that sustain the firm's full-service legal practice. By optimizing internal processes, the Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff ensures that resources are effectively deployed to support complex litigation and entertainment law matters. Laura Sandifer oversees the coordination of administrative support teams, facilitating the smooth execution of production agreements and rights acquisition projects for media organizations. This role involves monitoring operational performance across the firm's diverse practice areas to identify opportunities for increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By aligning operational capacity with the needs of the firm's corporate and intellectual property clients, the Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff supports the firm's ability to handle high-volume regulatory enforcement cases. The Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff maintains a focus on operational excellence, ensuring that the firm's infrastructure remains robust enough to support sophisticated legal counsel across all sectors.

    Michael Barnes - Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer

    Michael Barnes, the Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer at Venable, directs the administrative functions and business services that underpin the firm's legal practice. By managing the firm's physical and human capital, the Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer ensures that all departments possess the necessary support to deliver high-quality legal counsel. Michael Barnes oversees financial administration, facilities management, and internal policy development, creating a stable environment for attorneys handling complex commercial contracts and appellate matters. This leadership role involves implementing administrative strategies that support the firm's growth in the healthcare and financial services sectors. By streamlining administrative workflows, the Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer enables the firm to focus on its core mission of navigating intricate regulatory frameworks for clients. The Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer drives initiatives that enhance organizational culture and professional development, ensuring that the firm retains top-tier talent capable of addressing the most challenging legal issues in the modern business landscape.

    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Venable Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Venable?
    Venable is led by Charles Venable (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Malke Kramer (Chief Technology Officer) and Tara Potashnik (Chief of Staff & Partner).
    Who is part of Venable’s executive team?
    The executive team of Venable includes leaders such as Charles Venable (Chief Executive Officer), Malke Kramer (Chief Technology Officer), Tara Potashnik (Chief of Staff & Partner) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Venable have?
    Venable has 5 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Venable’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Venable includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief of Staff & Partner, Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff, Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer.