Hogan Lovells announces new Office Managing Partner changes in Washington, D.C. and New York

“Ajay and Michael bring a tremendous amount of energy and vision, and take the leadership reigns at a time of growth, both for our flagship Washington, D.C. office, and in New York, a strategic market for the firm,” said Richard Lorenzo, Hogan Lovells Regional Managing Partner for the Americas. “I want to thank Michele and Mike for their tremendous contributions over the past several years. We are very appreciative of their efforts, particularly in helping to steer these offices though the pandemic.” 

Kuntamukkala, who joined the firm as a summer associate in 1999, co-leads the firm’s International Trade & Investment practice, advising clients on complex national security matters involving economic sanctions, export controls, and compliance with government licenses and authorizations, as well as advising on federal investigations and enforcement proceedings. He served as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Commerce between 2003-2005 and became partner in 2008.  He has held a number of leadership roles at the firm, including as a member of Hogan Lovells’ D.C. leadership team, co-chair of the D.C. office Recruitment Committee, and co-lead for the Asian American & Pacific Islander Affinity Group.

“I am excited to have been appointed to this position as we continue to build on our proud legacy as one of Washington’s leading law firms,” Kuntamukkala said. “Our strengths as a regulatory hub, a litigation powerhouse, and one of the few firms to have a strong corporate practice in Washington, place us at the intersection of government and business in many of the most complex, high-profile matters our clients face across industries that include financial institutions, life sciences, technology, media and telecoms, mobility, and energy.”

Kuntamukkala continued: “I am grateful to Michele for her leadership during the last three years. Under her stewardship, the Washington, D.C. office has achieved its most successful financial results in the firm’s history, weathering unprecedented challenges, including the effects of Covid-19, increased economic uncertainty, and historically high competition in Washington, D.C.’s legal market.” 

Kuh joined Hogan Lovells in 2019 as a Corporate & Finance partner in the firm’s New York office. He is a senior partner in the firm’s top-ranked Sports, Media & Entertainment practice, and brings nearly two decades of knowledge and experience working with leading sports teams and major international ventures. Kuh’s corporate practice includes the representation of clients in private equity, M&A, and venture capital transactions. 

“I am honored to have been entrusted with the leadership of the New York office at an exciting time of growth for our office,” Kuh said. “In recent years, we have significantly expanded our corporate practice in areas that include M&A, tax, and private equity. On the disputes side, clients count on us for a broad array of support in areas that include international arbitration, product liability, commercial litigation, investigations and defense of white collar and fraud claims, and business restructuring and insolvency. I am grateful to Mike for his guidance and leadership, and look forward to building on his momentum.” 

Stoick, an M&A Partner who joined Hogan Lovells in 1999 and became a partner in 2008, will become Administrative Partner for the Washington, D.C. office, in addition to continuing in her role as Northern Virginia Office Managing Partner. Stoick holds a number of leadership roles at the firm, including as head of the firm’s Aerospace and Defense M&A Group, member of the firm’s Global M&A Leadership Team, Americas Professional Development and Diversity Partner, and member of the firm’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Farquhar will join the firm’s Americas Leadership team as the region’s Performance partner, replacing Tim Aragon, who recently left the firm to become General Counsel of the Denver Broncos, in addition to continuing with her practice. DeLarco will remain in his role as head of the firm’s Labor and Employment practice in the Americas.