Holland & Knight defense role sees Firm open office in 'Rocket City' Alabama. Holland & Knight announced on August 6, 2026, the opening of the Firm's new office in Huntsville, Alabama, its 36th location worldwide. Intellectual Property attorney Ryan Letson will lead the Huntsville office as executive partner, and International Trade attorney Andrew Tuggle joins him as a founding member. Holland & Knight Chair and Chief Executive Officer Bob Grammig spoke with the Daily Report about the move to the Rocket City, saying its status as a hub for defense, aerospace, technology and manufacturing companies was the impetus for opening the new location and the Firm's global platform will help connect the local business community with a full suite of resources. "From our perspective, in the world of defense and technology and related areas [and] national security, Huntsville is ground zero for everything," he explained. "When you look at where things are developing and where the entrepreneurs are going to be, having the boots on the ground and access to the support of the entire network that we have I think is going to be a differentiator for us in Huntsville." Ryan, a well-known figure in the Huntsville defense, technology and business sectors, agreed with Bob's assessment, sharing that national security and defense have played a foundational role in Huntsville's growth, from to the launch of Redstone Arsenal in the late 1940s and to the opening of the Marshall Space Flight Center in 1960. By planting its roots in Huntsville, Holland & Knight cements its commitment to the defense industry, initiated by the establishment of a designated National Security & Defense Industry Sector Group in 2025, and enables clients to access key capabilities for research, development and expansion. "Huntsville right now is really one of the tech centers of the country," Bob said. "It is the No. 1 place to be in a lot of ways." LawFuell's editors select and publish the most relevant and up-to-date information about lawyers and law firms for LawFuel on a daily basis from the most reputable and independent sources available.

Holland & Knight opens Huntsville, Alabama, office. Firm strengthens its commitment to the Defense Industry with second location in Alabama. Huntsville, Ala. (August 6, 2026) - Holland & Knight has officially opened its new office in Huntsville, Alabama, the Firm's second in the state. Founding members of the office include Ryan Letson, who serves as the office executive partner, and Associate Andrew Tuggle. The office is Holland & Knight's 36th worldwide. "Alabama continues to be an important growth market for the Firm, and Ryan's depth of national security and defense experience, combined with his strong ties to the Huntsville business and legal communities, make him the ideal leader for our new office," said Holland & Knight Chair and Chief Executive Officer Bob Grammig. "Building on the Firm's longstanding focus on the sectors core to Huntsville's economy and the extensive resources and capabilities of our global platform, we are significantly increasing our capabilities to serve clients operating in, and expanding to, Huntsville." "As a hub for sophisticated defense, aerospace and technology companies, Huntsville has become a key destination for our clients and an area of growing significance in the national security space," said National Security & Defense Industry Sector Group Chair Jason Klitenic. "Both Ryan and Andrew have extremely valuable experience in the national security and defense sectors and have quickly become integral members of our client teams." Mr. Letson joined Holland & Knight earlier this year from the Huntsville office of a major regional law firm, where he served as chair of its intellectual property (IP) practice group. He represents defense, aerospace, technology, manufacturing and university clients across the full spectrum of IP law, including federal IP litigation, Patent Trial and Appeal Board and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, technology transactions, licensing, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) due diligence. He began his professional career as a systems engineer at Boeing, where he worked on border security systems within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Secure Borders Initiative program. Mr. Letson is a leader in the Huntsville business, technology and defense communities. He currently serves as chair of the Mayor's AI Task Force Law and Ethics Committee and is a member of the Huntsville Bar Association executive committee and Huntsville Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, as well as a former member of the Huntsville Committee of 100 Board of Directors. "It has been a unique opportunity to join a firm with the extensive resources and geographic reach required to serve the comprehensive needs of clients in Huntsville," Mr. Letson said. "I have already seen clients benefit from the capabilities of Holland & Knight's platform, from counsel on complex national security and defense matters and trade and tariff issues to lobbying efforts and corporate services. I appreciate the Firm's commitment to Alabama and look forward to contributing to the Firm's success across the state and filling our Huntsville office with the most talented and entrepreneurial lawyers in the city." Mr. Tuggle, who joined Holland & Knight in April from an international law firm, focuses his practice on export controls, foreign investment and government contracting. His past experience includes working for a multinational hardware manufacturer, a small engineering design startup and in academic research funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects (DARPA) and the Group of Eight (G8) Industrialized Nations. Holland & Knight's two Alabama offices (Birmingham and Huntsville) are home to 20 attorneys who focus on financial services litigation and white collar criminal defense, national defense and security, bankruptcy disputes, litigation, loan workouts and restructuring, as well as healthcare operations, regulatory compliance, technology and transactional matters. The Firm's Huntsville office is located downtown in the Big Spring Summit office tower at 100 Church Street SW, Suite 301. Related professionals. Related practices. Related industries. Related office. Media Contacts Olivia Hoch

Experienced tax partner Megan Jones joins Holland & Knight's Global Wealth and Family Office Practice Group in Century City. LOS ANGELES (August 4, 2026) - Tax attorney Megan Jones has joined Holland & Knight's Century City office as a partner in the Global Wealth and Family Office Practice Group. Ms. Jones helps individuals, family offices and businesses navigate complex tax issues successfully. She was previously a shareholder at Vedder. Ms. Jones' practice encompasses tax-efficient entity structuring, partnership and digital asset planning, and guidance through pre- and post-liquidity events. Startups, founders and established businesses rely on her for tax guidance on investments, cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and going public. She helps clients manage complex holdings, private capital and multi-jurisdictional structures, advises on evolving tax regulations, and guides them from the startup phase through going public, domestic and international compliance, tax minimization and wealth preservation strategies. Ms. Jones is well-versed in the technology and energy sectors, with extensive practical experience. She advises on energy taxes and credits and novel issues and tax considerations involving emerging technologies, including digital assets, blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). "Megan's arrival strengthens our wealth planning and tax capabilities in Southern California at a time of significant growth for our national team," said Joshua Husbands, leader of the Global Wealth and Family Office Practice Group. "Her sophisticated mix of private client and corporate transactional tax experience, combined with her diverse business and individual client base, deepens our ability to serve high-net-worth and family office clients and collaborate with other practices across the Firm. Her experience with tax matters involving emerging startups will be exceptionally valuable in the Southern California market." Ms. Jones also brings meaningful business-side experience from her prior work as a management consultant and investment banker, including roles with International Business Strategies, Lazard Freres & Co. and Needham & Company. "Holland & Knight's platform provides an incredible opportunity to grow my practice and work collaboratively with a deep bench of talented attorneys across multiple disciplines," Ms. Jones said. "I look forward to leveraging the Firm's resources to deliver even greater value to my clients, particularly my family office and high-net-worth clients with sophisticated and multifaceted needs." Ms. Jones received J.D. and LL.M. degrees from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and a B.S. degree from Pepperdine University. She is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Digital Asset Tax Task Force and is admitted to practice in California, the District of Columbia, New York, Texas and Wyoming. She is also a California Certified Income Tax Specialist. Related professional. Related practices. Related offices. Media Contacts Dipali Pathak