In the latest of a series of high-level additions to its global network, DLA Piper has rehired Jason Harmon as a corporate partner based in Baltimore.

Harmon joined Piper & Marbury, the Baltimore-based legacy member of what is now DLA Piper, in 1996, and practiced law there for two decades before taking a hiatus from Big Law in 2016. Now Harmon rejoins the firm where he said he gained broad experience in the representation of corporate clients in the technology and life sciences sectors doing mergers, acquisitions, public and private debt and equity offerings, corporate governance and regulatory compliance matters.

“What I realized, after two years, was that I missed doing deals. Given the opportunities I have had over the years, returning to DLA Piper made the most sense for me,” Harmon said.

Jason Harmon

Besides greater price competitiveness compared with some of the Wall Street firms and the presence of many esteemed colleagues at DLA Piper, Harmon said he enjoys working in Baltimore and sees no drawbacks compared with more lawyer-saturated markets such as New York and Washington.

“I get to do the deals here that I would work on if I were at a New York law firm, but we can do it at a slightly lower price point. I think that fifteen years ago, it may have been a challenge working remotely, but with technology today, it's pretty seamless whether you're working with someone across the street or across the country,” Harmon said.

On the same day that it announced Harmon's return to the firm, DLA Piper announced the hiring of Fonda Duvanel from Schulte Roth & Zabel as a real estate counsel in New York. Duvanel advises clients on property purchases and sales, joint ventures, debt and equity financing, loan servicing, project development and landlord/tenant law.

On Nov. 19, DLA Piper announced the hiring of Christine Walchuk, a former Goodwin Procter attorney, as a partner in the firm's corporate practice in Northern Virginia. Walchuk advises public and private companies in the life sciences realm on mergers, acquisitions, spinouts, financings, public offerings and licensing arrangements.

The announcement of Walchuk's hiring came just days after DLA Piper's Nov. 14 announcement that David Markman, who was previously with Greenberg Traurig, had become co-chair of DLA Piper's entertainment transactions practice in Los Angeles. Markman represents clients in the media and entertainment and sports sectors on a vast range of matters including financings, distribution, sales, joint ventures and interparty negotiations.