Steve Lugerner 06C

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary
Tao Group Hospitality 
New York, New York 

Steve Lugerner currently leads the legal department at Tao Group Hospitality. Following his undergraduate studies, he worked as a paralegal and consultant, gaining valuable professional experience. He then pursued his juris doctor degree at Columbia Law School.

After completing his legal education, Lugerner joined Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as a corporate associate within the mergers and acquisitions group. During his time at Paul, Weiss, he played a significant role in representing the principal owners of Tao Group Hospitality during its majority sale to The Madison Square Garden Company in 2017. This pivotal transaction ultimately led to his transition to an in-house counsel position at Tao Group Hospitality.

Since joining Tao, Lugerner has been actively involved in shaping the company's business development strategy. This includes the acquisition of Hakkasan Group, the opening of new venues in Las Vegas, New York, Miami, and London, and the recent sale of Tao Group Hospitality from Madison Square Garden to Mohari Hospitality in 2023. Beyond his professional duties, he also serves as a director of the Tao Cares Relief Fund, which provided $1.75 million in financial relief to employees who faced hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.