WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Saul Ewing LLP is pleased to announce its combination with Ruben & Aronson, LLP, a Bethesda, MD-based boutique business law firm, effective July 1, 2010. With the combination, Saul Ewing welcomes Robert L. Ruben and Louis M. Aronson as partners, Lawrence A. London as special counsel and Jonathan S. Cohen as an associate to its Washington, D.C. office.

The attorneys have stellar reputations for their work in the gaming industry. They have represented operators, applicants, lenders and vendors involved in the casino and "Racino" industries in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Nevada, Minnesota, Michigan and Ohio, providing counsel on matters ranging from licensing, finance and mergers and acquisitions to real estate development, labor and employment and regulatory reporting, disclosure and compliance.

“We are excited to bolster our presence in Washington, D.C. with these terrific attorneys,” said Managing Partner David S. Antzis. “Their well-established experience in the gaming and racino industries is an excellent addition to our practice areas at a time when the gaming industry is rapidly expanding, especially in our market area.”

Ruben described the combination as a strategic fit at the right time. “We are eager to blend our practices with Saul Ewing’s and look forward to being a part of a larger law firm platform, especially one of Saul Ewing’s caliber. The firm’s resources will greatly benefit our clients.”

About the Attorneys:

Robert Ruben was a co-founder of Ruben & Aronson where he headed the firm’s Securities and Gaming practices. He brings more than 20 years of experience counseling clients on obtaining gaming licenses, safeguarding those licenses against legal challenges by competitors or citizens’ groups that frequently ensue in emerging gaming jurisdictions, and complying with gaming laws and regulations once a casino commences operations. He has acted as both lead counsel and special gaming regulatory counsel in connection with mergers and acquisitions, going private transactions, syndicated bank loans, offerings of equity securities and offerings of debt securities pursuant to SEC Rule 144A. From 1995-2002, Ruben was a member of the board of directors of MTR Gaming Group, Inc., and from 1999 to 2002 was licensed as a principal by the Nevada Gaming Commission. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, and a law degree from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, where he was a member of Law Review.

Louis Aronson was a co-founder of Ruben & Aronson and served as the firm’s managing partner. In his 20 years of business transactional experience, Aronson has represented entrepreneurs in the real estate, gaming, venture capital, technology and energy industries. He has focused on two primary sectors of the gaming and racing industry: 1) representing companies in the acquisition, development and disposition of casino, racing and resort properties, and resort properties; and 2) advising the banks, private equity firms and hedge funds that finance gaming ventures. Aronson holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, and a law degree from Syracuse University School of Law, where he was a member of Law Review.

Lawrence London’s practice focuses on corporate and transactional real estate work. He also advises clients on tax matters. As a Certified Forensic Accountant, London provides investigative accounting services to clients involved in regulatory enforcement actions. He has an undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, a JD from Stanford University and an LLM in Taxation from New York University.

Jonathan Cohen focuses his practice on real estate, securities, commercial finance, gaming, corporate and transactional matters. He represents clients in complex real estate transactions involving the acquisition, development or sale of hotels, casinos, shopping malls, residential properties and office buildings. He also has experience providing transactional legal services, on a pro bono basis, to low-income individuals and community groups in financing, purchasing, rehabilitating and preserving affordable housing in Washington, D.C. Cohen has an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.

Saul Ewing LLP is a full service law firm with 250 lawyers in nine offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and the District of Columbia. The firm serves businesses throughout the United States and internationally, including recognizable names in corporate America, exciting start-ups and an array of closely held and privately held companies, as well as nonprofits, governmental and educational entities.

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Source: Saul Ewing LLP