Stephanie L. Franklin-Suber

Business and Finance, Tax Credits, Corporate and Government Investigations and White Collar Defense, Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs and Contracting, Mergers and Acquisitions/Private Equity, Securities, Transactional Finance

Stephanie L. Franklin-Suber is a partner in the Business and Finance Department and contact partner for the New Markets Tax Credit practice team within the Tax Credits Group. She has considerable experience in complex commercial transactions, commercial finance, corporate and regulatory compliance and governance, mergers and acquisitions, and securities. In addition, she is particularly experienced in economic and community development projects and government contracting. Ms. Franklin-Suber has represented privately held and global public companies in heavily regulated industries, including financial services, pharmaceutical, chemical, aerospace, and retail companies.

Ms. Franklin-Suber has extensive experience in New Markets Tax Credit financing transactions and has worked primarily with financial institutions as investors, lenders, and community development entities in all aspects of the New Markets Tax Credit Program. She advises investors, lenders, and community development entities regarding the New Markets Tax Credit Program and has acted as lead counsel in complex New Markets Tax Credit transactions.

Before joining Ballard Spahr, Ms. Franklin-Suber was one of the highest-ranking women ever to serve in a Philadelphia mayoral administration when she was appointed chief of staff in January 2000 by Mayor John F. Street. As chief of staff, she served as a member of the Cabinet and was responsible for the overall administration of the Mayor's Office and the more than 30 departments, commissions, and agencies in City government.

From 1996 to 1999, Ms. Franklin-Suber served as City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia. She was appointed Acting City Solicitor by Mayor Edward G. Rendell in November of 1996, confirmed as City Solicitor by unanimous vote of the City Council in December of 1996, and officially sworn in to office by Mayor Rendell in January of 1997. As the chief legal officer for the City, she represented the Mayor, the Administration, the City Council, the City Controller, and more than 30 City departments, commissions, and agencies. She was the only woman and the youngest member of Mayor Rendell's Cabinet. As an executive department head, she also managed the Law Department, which had a total workforce of approximately 340 lawyers, legal assistants, analysts, and support staff.

Before her elevation to the position of Philadelphia City Solicitor in 1996, Ms. Franklin-Suber served as chair of the Corporate Group for the Law Department and as a member of the Law Department Executive Committee from 1994 to 1996. In both her capacity as corporate chair and City Solicitor, she served as lead counsel to the City on various significant transactions and litigation matters, including the 2000 Republican National Convention Service Agreements, the USAirways International and Commuter Terminals Project, the Gateway Visitors Center and Liberty Bell Project, the Delinquent Real Estate Tax Lien Sale and Securitization, the HealthChoices Behavioral Health System Agreements, the Curram-Frohmhold Prison Facilities Agreements, and the MarketPlace/Redwood International Airport Concession Agreement.

Before joining the City of Philadelphia Law Department in March of 1994, Ms. Franklin-Suber was a partner in the business department of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, LLP. She joined the firm as an associate in September 1986. In 1992, she became the first woman partner in the business department of this firm and the first African-American woman partner in the history of the firm.

Judicial Clerkships

Hon. Clifford Scott Green, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1985-1986

Hon. A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1983-1985

Professional Activities

American Bar Association, Business Law Section
Member, Negotiated Acquisitions Committee; member, Governance Committee; member, Corporate Compliance Committee; member, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Task Force

Philadelphia Bar Association
Past member, Executive Committee, Business Law Section

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell appointee, Standing Advisory Committee on Minority and Women Business Opportunities

Recognition & Accomplishments

Philadelphia "Influential Leader," 2007, and "Mover & Shaker," 2006, Philadelphia Tribune

The Barristers' Association of Philadelphia Woman of Distinction Award, 2008, given at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast, for her community service and bar association work related to promoting diversity within and outside the legal profession

The Barristers' Association of Philadelphia, Inc., A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Award for Professional Excellence, 2003

The Champions for Social Justice and Equality Award, Black Law Students Association of Rutgers University School of Law, 2002

The Shirley Chisholm Award, Philadelphia Congress of the National Political Congress of Black Women, 1999

The Outstanding Achievement Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., 1997

The Community Service Award, Schnader, Harrison Segal & Lewis, 1997

The Outstanding Young Leader of the Year Award Finalist, The Philadelphia Jaycees, 1995, 1996

Speaking Engagements

Moderator and lecturer at numerous continuing legal education programs for the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the National Bar Association, Half Moon Seminars, and other organizations on business transaction due diligence, corporate compliance and governance, and private equity investments

Community Activities

Active in numerous civic and community associations, member of the National Alumnae Council for The Springside School, and served on the American Red Cross, Philadelphia Chapter, Spectrum Committee; the Advisory Board of the African-American Historical and Cultural Museum; and the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association

Board Memberships

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Member, Executive Committee; member, Steering Committee; member, International Committee; Chair, Human Relations/ Nominating Committee

Philadelphia Bar Foundation
Past member, Board of Governors; past member, Board of Trustees

University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D. 1982)

Vassar College (B.A. 1979)

The Springside School (1975)

Pennsylvania 1982