Ballard Spahr Names Thomas Hauser Managing Partner in Baltimore

Thomas A. Hauser—a distinguished real estate and finance attorney with more than 30 years of experience—will become Managing Partner of Ballard Spahr’s Baltimore office, effective October 1, 2023, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today.

Mr. Hauser takes over the role from Jon M. Laria, an attorney known for his work on major real estate development projects, as well as for the depth of his civic involvement. Mr. Laria will retire from Ballard Spahr after more than 12 years as Baltimore office leader and nearly three decades with the firm.

“Tom is exactly the right person to continue our upward trajectory in Baltimore,” Mr. Laria said. “He is an extraordinary lawyer who embodies the very best of Ballard. He’s smart, disciplined, creative, and completely focused on his clients and the community.”

Mr. Hauser represents clients in all aspects of the purchase, sale, financing, and restructuring of real estate assets. He regularly handles large, complex transactions throughout the country that often involve multiple layers of financing and equity interests. He is a Fellow with the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA), and the Past President and Board Member of The Family Tree, a leading authority in Maryland for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

As Managing Partner, Mr. Hauser will serve on the firm’s Expanded Board and oversee operations for its Baltimore office, home base to more than 35 attorneys who advise clients on corporate, real estate, and financing transactions; in regulatory compliance matters; and in litigation. The office also is an epicenter of the firm’s national Real Estate Finance Group, for which he serves as Co-Leader.

“Ballard has been a significant presence here since we opened the office 30 years ago,” Mr. Hauser said. “We represent clients across industries and dedicate considerable resources to causes that improve the City. Jon and those who preceded him deserve tremendous credit for our success. Jon is a preeminent lawyer and a leader at the firm, in Baltimore, and across Maryland.”

Mr. Laria served on the transition teams for Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Comptroller Bill Henry. He chaired the Community Development and Smart Growth Workgroup for Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s transition. He led the mayor's Bicycle Advisory Commission and served as mayoral appointee on Baltimore's Tax Policy Task Force. He chairs the Greater Baltimore Committee’s Transportation & Mobility Committee and has been leading the Campaign for Baltimore’s Transit Future, the business community’s commitment to reform transit throughout the Baltimore region. He is a member of the Futures Council for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a panel of thought leaders who advise the Conservancy on its efforts to develop hiking and biking trails across the country, including the planned Greenway Trail Network in Baltimore.

In addition, Mr. Laria co-chaired the Mayor's Safe Art Space Task Force and served on the Task Force on Drug Treatment Access and Neighborhood Relations and on the Baltimore County Blue Ribbon Commission on Ethics and Accountability. He was founding Chair of the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission and served as a member of the Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission and the Baltimore Transit Funding and Governance Commission. He chaired the Baltimore Chapter of the Maryland Building Industry Association, founded the Baltimore Development Workgroup, and co-chaired the ULI Partnership for Building Reuse. He is Vice Chair of Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc., and previously served as President of Live Baltimore.

For media inquiries, please contact Bill Shralow at 215.864.8195.