Tradition Never Graduates - Taylor Lonas ’15 

Published: April 7, 2025

It’s been only 10 years since Taylor Lonas ’15 graduated from Notre Dame Academy. Since then, she has lived, gone to school, and worked in Columbus, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, and Cincinnati. 

But Taylor will be back home in northwest Ohio next month to provide general legal advice to business owners and entrepreneurs at the 419 Connects: Toledo Networking Exchange.

For her undergrad, Taylor attended the Ohio State University, where she majored in political science and followed a pre-law track. After graduation from OSU, she headed to DC where she worked as a communications intern for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), a semester-long program offered to students who are interested in learning about press and media relations on Capitol Hill. Taylor served as Press and Communications Intern for Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL-8).

“I was part of a cohort of 23 students, and we all lived and worked together on the Hill,” shares Taylor. “This experience produced a lot of fruitful connections for me, both personal and professional.”

Although Taylor originally had both political and legal aspirations, she opted to focus on the pursuit of a legal career and applied to law school. She decided to practice corporate law which would enable her to develop her business acumen, service clients with varying transactional needs, and equip her with the skills needed to aid nonprofits and small businesses as pro bono clients. 

Taylor studied at the University of Houston Law Center, and graduated with her Juris Doctorate degree in May 2024. She was honored with the Distinguished Service Award at commencement, where she was one of just five graduates to receive this award. 

Today, Taylor is practicing corporate law at Squire Patton Boggs in Cincinnati, where she specializes in CTA filings and mergers & acquisitions. Her experience leaves her well-equipped to speak about Business Law Essentials at the 419 Connects event. 

“There are a number of common mistakes business owners often make, such as failing to protect their intellectual property, like logos,” explains Taylor. “I’m happy to be back in my hometown to share what I have learned and give back to a community that has given so much to me.”