Laura K. Layton, an attorney with a background in corporate and commercial transactions, media, entertainment, and intellectual property, has joined Baker Donelson as a member of its Corporate Group and will focus on the Firm's hospitality and franchising teams.
Joining as of counsel in the Firm's Memphis and Nashville offices, Ms. Layton represents clients in the franchise, distribution, and hospitality industries in franchise programs, branding and advertising, management transactions, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance. She also assists private equity clients with portfolio company acquisition and support work, including purchase agreements and commercial contracts.
Mary Ann Jackson, chair of Baker Donelson's Corporate Group, said, "Laura is an outstanding addition to our Firm. She joins a multi-disciplinary group of attorneys with deep experience serving as trusted advisors in all aspects of franchising and in all areas of the hospitality industry. We're excited to welcome her to Baker Donelson."
Ms. Layton's previous experience includes serving as in-house counsel for a global media company, where she handled risk assessment; drafted myriad digital, international, and trademark licensing agreements and television and publishing agreements; and managed litigation and outside counsel engagements.