James M Peppe

Jim Peppe concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate law, commercial transactions, and estate planning and administration.

In his corporate practice Mr. Peppe serves as outside general counsel to a wide range of companies and senior executives. Mr. Peppe's corporate representation includes drafting and reviewing all types of contracts, corporate governance, leasing, licensing, financing, and structuring and drafting complex limited liability company, partnership, and joint venture agreements.

Mr. Peppe's transactional experience spans all aspects of business transactions including negotiating and drafting the letter of intent, reviewing and completing the due diligence process, negotiating and drafting the purchase agreement, and closing the transaction. He regularly advises and represents clients in mergers, acquisitions, sales, reorganizations, and recapitalizations.

Mr. Peppe also provides a broad range of estate planning and estate administration services to executives, business owners and other individuals, helping them develop and implement estate plans that enable them to transfer their assets to future generations while minimizing estate taxes and other costs and helping maintain family relationships.

Mr. Peppe is actively involved in the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA). He currently serves on the Board of Governors of the MSBA and the Section Council of the Business Law Section. Previously Mr. Peppe was Chair of the Business Law Section's Committee on Unincorporated Business Associations (Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships). Under Mr. Peppe's leadership the Committee drafted and championed the 2011 and 2012 amendments to the Maryland Limited Liability Act. In addition, Mr. Peppe is a past Co-Chair of the Business Law Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County.

Mr. Peppe was recognized as a Rising Star in business and corporate law in the 2009, 2010 and 2012 editions of Maryland Super Lawyers magazine, a distinction that recognizes the top 2.5 percent of lawyers under the age of 40 or those in practice for 10 years or less.

Mr. Peppe received his LL.M. from New York University in 2004; his J.D., cum laude, and his M.A. from the University of Michigan in 2000 and 1999, respectively; and his B.A., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Duke University in 1994. Prior to joining the firm he was with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP. He is admitted to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia.