Venable Executive and Leadership Team

Matt Whelan, the Chief Financial Officer at Venable, manages the firm's fiscal health and long-term capital allocation strategies. Overseeing financial reporting, budgeting, and revenue forecasting, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that the firm maintains the resources necessary to support sophisticated litigation and corporate practice groups. This leadership role involves analyzing market trends to optimize profitability across the firm's diverse sectors, including media, healthcare, and financial services. By implementing rigorous financial controls, Matt Whelan directly impacts the firm's ability to scale operations and invest in talent acquisition. Ultimately, Whelan secures the financial stability required to navigate intricate regulatory frameworks and high-stakes commercial disputes. The Chief Financial Officer collaborates with the executive team to align fiscal objectives with the firm's overarching growth strategy, ensuring that every investment supports the delivery of premium legal services to clients operating within complex, globalized business environments.

Jane Koehl, the Chief Operating Officer at Venable, executes the firm's operational strategy and manages day-to-day business functions. Overseeing the alignment of administrative processes with the firm's legal practice groups, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that resources are deployed effectively to support complex litigation and corporate transactions. This leadership role involves streamlining internal workflows to enhance productivity across the firm's various offices and practice areas. By optimizing operational frameworks, Jane Koehl directly impacts the firm's capacity to handle high-stakes disputes and regulatory compliance matters. Ultimately, Koehl secures the operational excellence required to maintain the firm's reputation for delivering high-quality legal counsel. The Chief Operating Officer works closely with other C-suite leaders to implement policies that foster a collaborative environment, ensuring that the firm remains agile and responsive to the evolving needs of clients in the technology, manufacturing, and entertainment industries.

Malke Kramer, the Chief Technology Officer at Venable, directs the firm's digital transformation and cybersecurity initiatives. Overseeing the integration of advanced legal tech platforms, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that all data protection protocols align with the firm's high-stakes litigation and intellectual property requirements. This leadership role involves architecting scalable cloud infrastructure to support remote collaboration across diverse legal teams. By optimizing internal software ecosystems, Malke Kramer directly impacts the efficiency of document management and case research workflows. Ultimately, Kramer secures the firm's technological edge, enabling attorneys to navigate complex regulatory environments with precision and speed. The Chief Technology Officer maintains constant vigilance over emerging digital threats, ensuring that the firm's intellectual property protection remains robust against evolving cyber risks while supporting the broader mission of providing top-tier legal counsel to Fortune companies and emerging enterprises alike.

Laura Sandifer, the Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff at Venable, coordinates cross-functional initiatives and facilitates executive decision-making processes. Overseeing the implementation of strategic projects, the Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff ensures that operational goals remain synchronized with the firm's broader mission of providing expert legal guidance. This leadership role involves managing complex internal communications and ensuring that the firm's leadership team remains focused on key business priorities. By bridging the gap between operational execution and strategic planning, Laura Sandifer directly impacts the firm's ability to navigate intricate regulatory environments. Ultimately, Sandifer secures the alignment of resources across the firm's diverse practice groups, including government affairs and environmental regulation. The Vice President and Operations Chief of Staff drives efficiency by refining internal processes, ensuring that the firm's professional staff and legal teams operate with maximum cohesion and strategic clarity.

Tara Potashnik, the Chief of Staff & Partner at Venable, bridges the gap between executive leadership and the firm's legal practice. Overseeing the integration of strategic firm-wide initiatives with daily legal operations, the Chief of Staff & Partner ensures that the firm's commitment to excellence remains consistent across all client engagements. This leadership role involves advising on firm governance and managing high-level projects that impact the firm's market position in corporate law and litigation. By fostering collaboration between partners and administrative leadership, Tara Potashnik directly impacts the firm's ability to deliver comprehensive legal solutions. Ultimately, Potashnik secures the firm's strategic direction by ensuring that legal expertise is effectively leveraged to meet client needs. The Chief of Staff & Partner maintains a focus on long-term growth, ensuring that the firm's internal culture and professional standards continue to support the delivery of sophisticated counsel to clients across diverse industries.

Michael Barnes, the Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer at Venable, manages the firm's administrative infrastructure and support services. Overseeing facilities, human resources, and internal support systems, the Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer ensures that the firm's physical and organizational environment supports the high-performance needs of its legal teams. This leadership role involves optimizing administrative workflows to enhance the delivery of legal services in areas such as intellectual property and entertainment law. By maintaining a robust administrative foundation, Michael Barnes directly impacts the firm's operational efficiency and employee engagement. Ultimately, Barnes secures the infrastructure necessary for the firm to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and high-stakes litigation. The Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer collaborates with the executive team to ensure that all administrative functions align with the firm's strategic goals, providing the essential support required for attorneys to focus on delivering exceptional results for clients.