Building Ideas

  Rob is Co-Chair of Taft’s Sports Law Group and Chair of the firm’s Cincinnati Business practice. He is widely recognized as principal counsel to private equity and venture capital funds, growth-oriented companies, sports franchises, and research institutions. His practice focuses on leading equity financings, securities offerings, complex commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives. Rob regularly advises global and national clients on the structuring and execution of significant business transactions. Rob is actively engaged in civic and professional leadership at both the national and local levels. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and is a board member of the FC Cincinnati Foundation. Reflecting the international scope of his practice, he also serves on the Board of Interlex, a global association of leading law firms. In Ohio, Rob is a member of the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and has previously served as Chair of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and President of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Cincinnati. Rob earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. During his undergraduate studies, he completed comparative law coursework at New College, Oxford University. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law, where he also clerked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during his final term. Rob grew up in Kobe, Japan.

President Geoffrey S. Mearns serves as the 17th president of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.   This 21,000 student institution competes at the NCAA Division 1 FBS level in the Mid American Conference.   In addition to its' acclaimed programs in the Estopinal College of Architecture & Planning, the College of Communication Information & Media, Honors College, and the Miller College of Business - the Ball State's Teachers' College is a world-renowned leader in teacher education.   After joining the University in May 2017, President Mearns helped to develop a new strategic plan. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path established a long-range vision for the University that sets priorities across five key areas: undergraduate excellence, graduate education and lifetime learning, community engagement and impact, scholarship and societal impact, and inclusiveness and institutional excellence. A refreshed version of the plan, which upholds these five long-term goals, was approved by members of the Board of Trustees in 2025.    During his tenure, President Mearns has pursued initiatives that have sustained and expanded the University’s enrollment, despite the adverse impact of the pandemic, and increased alumni engagement and fundraising. President Mearns has also strengthened the University’s relationship with the community, most notably through its innovative partnership with Muncie Community Schools and its ambitious plan to revitalize The Village through a $200 million mixed use academic village redevelopment.  During his tenure the University continues to invest in core academic, student life, and athletic facilities.   A former elite collegiate distance running athlete and distinguished attorney and federal prosecutor, he previously served as President at Northern Kentucky University and Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cleveland State University.  He and his wife Jennifer have five adult children and multiple grandchildren.