Leveraging a thorough understanding of gaming and equine law with extensive experience representing international and domestic clients and a lifetime in the industry, Laura takes a practical, measured approach to find resolutions for her clients. She also has substantial experience acting as lender’s counsel on equine and commercial secured lending matters.
Working as lender’s counsel, Laura has closed over one billion dollars worth of transactions for bank clients, including secured transactions, asset-based lending and work-outs. She has guided a number of clients through LLC and racing partnership formation, and currently sits on the American Bar Association’s LLC and Partnership Committee, as well as chairing a drafting committee on LLC formation.
In addition to her business acumen, Laura also has a thorough knowledge of gaming law, enabling her to effectively steer clients through the myriad of evolving regulations that govern the industry. She previously served as associate general counsel for the Magna Entertainment Corporation and as general counsel to Gulfstream Park, allowing 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 and companies across the world, enable her to not only stay abreast of new developments and legislation within the gaming industry, but also to offer proactive insight and counsel to clients to mitigate their risk as they move forward.
In addition to her work with the pari-mutuel and gaming industry, Laura has substantial experience in equine law matters. Representing owners, breeders and trainers, as well as account wagering companies and racetracks, Laura draws on her passion for the industry to counsel clients toward effective resolutions. She handles a variety of matters for clients, including the structuring of racing partnerships, syndication and sale of stallions and other bloodstock interests, and the acquisition and sale of commercial horse farms. She also guides international and domestic clients through the evolving challenges facing account wagering companies and simulcast agreements, including licensing renewal, compliance and contract negotiation. She recently helped establish simulcast agreements between clients in South America and the United States, using a keen business sense to guide the negotiations through the cultural and philosophical challenges to reach a successful resolution.
Laura is a frequent author and speaker on gaming and equine law. She has been published in Casino Enterprise Management, Casino Lawyer, Business Lexington and The Blood Horse, and has been quoted in The New York Times, the Toronto Globe & Mail, the Thoroughbred Times, and the Lexington Herald-Leader. She is the chair of the National Equine Law Conference.