PATRICIA O. LOWRY, a partner in the firm's Business and Finance Department and co-chair of the firm's Securities practice, has practiced corporate and securities law with the firm since 1985, with emphasis on the securities laws regulating public corporations. Ms. Lowry has served as company counsel and underwriters' counsel in numerous public offerings of both debt and equity securities, including IPOs and secondary offerings, and as counsel in merger and acquisition transactions. In the ongoing representation of public companies, she assists clients with the preparation of their periodic reports, proxy statements and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; counsels boards of directors and their committees; advises as to disclosure, corporate governance, Section 16 and insider trading matters; and assists with the structuring and preparation of stock-based employee benefit plans. She also teams with other firm attorneys in connection with their work on securities law cases and internal investigations. Ms. Lowry assists private company clients in general corporate matters, including private placements of securities, shareholder agreements, stock plans and employment agreements. She is a member of the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals and the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. Ms. Lowry also is a member of the firm's Professional Women's Resource Group (PWRG). She is admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio and the District of Columbia.