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Gaming Transactional and Regulatory Law

Nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in racing and gaming regulatory law, Laura navigates clients through state and federal regulations that impact the industry.  Previously Associate General Counsel to Magna Entertainment Corp (publicly traded)(now The Stronach Group or 1/ST Racing) and General Counsel to Gulfstream Park in Miami, Florida, Laura’s in-house experience provides her clients with unique perspective into the operation of racing, gaming and entertainment companies.  She works with leading gaming officials, legislators and related companies around the globe to stay abreast of new developments and provide specialty and local counsel to racing and gaming companies and the providers that service them.

Laura’s work includes acquisitions and sales, financing, state and federal regulation, payment processing opinions, state licensing of account wagering and sports betting companies, service providers, fantasy sports contests and sports betting compliance advice for a variety of racing and gaming related companies.

Laura is a General Member of the International Masters of Gaming Law organization and recently attended their annual meeting in Rome, Italy.

Equine Law

Laura brings a lifetime of sport horse, racing and industry involvement to her equine work.  Representing horse show competition organizers, riders, owners, trainers, breeders and trade associations, Laura brings her passion for the horse industry to counsel clients on the business of horses including purchases and sales, syndicates, partnerships, licensing of USEF competitions, USEF date disputes, the operations side of commercial horse farms of all sizes (boarding, leases, liability waivers, consignment and breeding agreements), non-profit establishment and governance as well as the purchase and sale of private and commercial horse farm real estate.  Laura also advises public auction companies on conditions of sale, sales and use tax and resolution of sales disputes.  Much of her sport horse work involves assisting family offices in their complex and worldwide operations including business structure, nationality of horses for FEI purposes and review of team and rider agreements with the Global Champions Tour and Major League Show Jumping.

Laura recently completed 6 years as a board member and Board President for the annual 4* and 5* Defender Kentucky Three Day Event and the 4* Kentucky Grand Prix obtaining valuable firsthand experience conducting a world-class event including FEI and USEF licensing, major sponsorships and media agreements.

Business Law

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.

Commercial Lending

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 thoroughbred 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.

Speaking and Writing

Laura is a frequent author and speaker on corporate, gaming and equine law matters. Her recent speaking engagements include the American Law Institute’s Choice of Entity program, the Kentucky Bar Association’s annual meeting, the American Bar Association’s Gaming Law meeting, the National Equine Law Conference, as well as lectures at University of Kentucky’s Gatton School of Business, UK College of Law and UK College of Agriculture. She has been published in Gaming Law Review and Economics, Casino Enterprise Management, Casino Lawyer, Business Lexington and The Blood Horse, and has been quoted in The New York Times, Legal Sports Report, the Toronto Globe & Mail, the Thoroughbred Times, and the Lexington Herald-Leader.