Recognitions
He is recognized in the Euromoney Expert Guides: Guide to the World’s Leading Mergers and Acquisitions Attorneys. He is also named in The Best Lawyers in America, Who's Who in American Law, The International Who's Who of Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyers and other Who's Who publications and is rated AV (highest ranking) by Martindale-Hubbell. He has been named a Washington, DC Super Lawyer and Washington SmartCEO has listed him among its Legal Elite. Jeff is a Fellow of Harris Manchester College, Oxford University.
"Having the support of Jeff Houle, Richard May and the entire DLA Piper team was essential to the success of this transaction. They were able to accomplish a complicated cross-border deal in the middle of a pandemic, worked tirelessly through the holidays with year-end deadlines, demonstrating their exceptional work ethic and deal-making prowess, and we could not be more appreciative of their efforts." - Paul Howarth, CEO of Times Higher Education
"Engaging Jeff and the DLA Piper team to guide us through this important transaction was one of the best decisions I have made in my professional career" - Chris Healey, CFO, Black Diamond Networks
"As a business owner who happens to be deaf, working with an innovative team that is able to easily adapt to the complexities of communication while also managing the many challenges of completing this transaction was very important to me, and DLA Piper went above and beyond my expectations in this regard"- Robert Rice, President and Founder, BayFirst
"The COVID crisis struck early in our preparations to engage potential buyers. Houle and his team’s advice and guidance were spot-on throughout the course of this transaction" - Matt Perl, CFO, Orbis Operations
- Chambers USA
2022 - Band 3, District of Columbia Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
Chambers comments, "Jeffrey Houle is noted for his capabilities in cross-border M&A. His clients include Fortune 500 companies." Clients say, "He is the consummate professional and is available 24/7 for his clients who are going through the most meaningful financial transactions of their lives." "He has incredible depth of knowledge and client service." "Jeff has deep industry expertise which proved to be exceptionally important." "Jeff is very service-oriented and willing to find innovative solutions."
2017-21 - Band 3, District of Columbia Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
2013-16 - Band 4, District of Columbia Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
2012 - Band 3, Northern Virginia Corporate/M&A
- The Legal 500 United States
2014 - Recommended, M&A: Middle Market ($500m-$999m)
Prior Experience
Jeff is a founder and former managing director of Washington Capital Ventures, LP, a distressed asset investment fund, and founder and former president of A.F.I. Investments, Inc., an investment and real estate development company. He has served as a managing partner and chair of the corporate and securities practice for an AM Law top ten law firm and was instrumental in establishing and expanding the firm's presence in greater Washington, DC, Boston and Palo Alto.
Civic and Charitable
Jeff has provided assistance to numerous charitable organizations, including the serving on the Executive Committee of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Center for Public-Private Partnerships, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, National Kidney Foundation, Fight for Children and Children's National Medical Center.
Teaching Experience
Jeff has participated as a member of the adjunct faculty and lecturer at graduate business and law schools of leading universities including Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, Columbia University Business School, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, Tsinghua University (清华大学), Peking University or Beida (北大), University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business, Georgetown University Law Center, the Center for Law and Innovation and Albany Law School.