Portrait of Joseph P. Ward
Portrait of Joseph P. Ward

Joseph P. Ward

Principal

Biography

Joseph P. Ward represents businesses, business owners and equity investors in a variety of corporate and securities matters.

His corporate transactional practice includes domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, leveraged buyouts, spinoffs, joint ventures and the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements. Joe regularly represents companies, owners, management teams, sponsors and investors in connection with private capital markets transactions, such as venture capital and other private debt and equity investments, private offerings of securities and the formation of private investment funds. In addition, Joe provides general corporate advice to both private and public companies regarding corporate governance, securities compliance, Maryland corporate law and other general business matters.

Joe also serves as a trusted business advisor to many of his clients, sitting on the advisory boards for several corporate and high net worth individual clients.

Joe served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law for over a decade teaching M&A negotiation strategies to the Transactional Law Team, and continues to teach seminars at the law school and at the University of Maryland, College Park on topics such as M&A, negotiation strategy and early stage investments to law students and MBA candidates.

Education

  • University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., 2003)
    • with Honors
  • University of Maryland, College Park (B.A., 1998)

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland, 2004

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association: Business Law Section
  • Association for Corporate Growth, Maryland Chapter: Board Member (2010-2019)
  • Charles Street Development Corporation: Board Member (2013-2015)
  • The Arc of Baltimore: Board Member (2008-present - emeritus); Secretary (2013-2015); Vice President (2015-2017); President (2018-2019); Past-President (2019-2021)
  • The Manor Conservancy: Board Member (2014-2019)

Special Honors

  • Best Lawyers in America®: Selected for inclusion in the areas of Corporate Law (2021-2027) and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024-2027) - Baltimore
  • Law School Awards: Order of the Barristers; William P. Cunningham Award; James F. Rosner Award for Advocacy
  • Baltimore Magazine "Top Lawyer" for Securities (2026)
  • Legal 500 Baltimore Elite: Corporate and M&A (2026)
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Reviewed
  • The Arc Baltimore: Volunteer Service Award (2019)
  • The Arc Maryland: Chapter Volunteer of the Year (2019)
  • Maryland Super Lawyers® - Rising Stars Edition: Selected for inclusion in the area of Business/Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities & Corporate Finance (2009-2012); Business/Corporate (2013-2015); Mergers & Acquisitions (2016-2018)
  • SmartCEO’s Centers of Influence Award (2016)
  • SmartCEO Magazine: Selected as one of Maryland's Legal Elite (2009)

Recent Matters

View All

Advised on Sale of Auto Action Operations

Represented a regional financial services holding company in the sale of two auto auction operations in Maryland and Florida to a global automotive services and technology provider. The transaction involved...

Advised Conglomerate on $1.5B in Credit Facilities

Represented national food service conglomerate in approximately $1.5 billion of working capital, equipment, real estate and subordinated debt facilities over a multiyear engagement, including a $700 million syndicated financing closed...
Highlights
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