Alexander Hohl ('12)
Alex Hohl has carved an impressive path in the legal world in mergers and acquisitions for the New York-based firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Yet, the former varsity football quarterback remains grounded by his Beachwood roots and the enduring friendships of his formative years.
The seeds of his legal career were planted during Alex’s senior year of high school, thanks to mentors who were lawyers themselves. They highlighted the versatility and potential that a legal education could offer. The Beachwood grad’s legal aspirations took shape at the College of Wooster, where he excelled academically and graduated in 2016 with a bachelor of arts degree in urban studies and economics.
Before embarking on his legal journey, Alex took a detour after college to gain practical work experience. He spent two years in Washington, D.C., working in consulting and finance before transitioning to the tech industry as a go- to-market strategist in advertising technology for Google. Alex’s experience in the corporate world was characterized by professional growth and personal fulfillment, beginning at Black-owned regulatory compliance firm, Compliance Technologies, Inc. Compliance Tech is where Alex says he cut his teeth and “grew up” through the training and mentorship of firm founders Michael Taliefero and Maurice Jourdain-Earl.
In 2020, Alex enrolled in law school at Columbia University, where he recently graduated with honors in 2023. He knew early on that his passion lay in transactional law, where he could offer strategic legal and business advice to companies undergoing transformative changes. Alex’s firm, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, works on a number of high- profile deals, recently including IBM’s acquisition of Polar Security and ESPN’s partnership with PENN Entertainment to launch ESPN BET.
What Alex loves most about transactional legal work is being a team player and strategic advisor – skills he cultivated leading the Bison football team as quarterback. “Mergers and acquisitions lawyers are the quarterbacks of the transaction,” he says, “often coordinating between sub-practice groups such as tax, intellectual property, and executive compensation and benefits.”
Beachwood Schools: A Foundation for Success
Alex’s journey from Beachwood to New York is underscored by the lasting impact of his time at Beachwood Schools. One of his proudest moments is winning “Company of the Year” as a senior in Greg Perry’s Junior Achievement/Marketing program. Alex served as the CEO of a student-run venture called the Green Dream. Alongside his classmates, he organized an eco-friendly business expo that featured 130 green-technology vendors. The event drew 4,500 people and raised $70,000 in sales and sponsorships. Proceeds from the event helped create the Ultimate Green Classroom at Beachwood High School.
Today, Alex is passionate about offering career guidance and mentorship to young people of color, especially those aspiring to attend law school. He’s dedicated to boosting the presence of underrepresented groups in fields like law, business, and consulting, a commitment he’s held since high school. “I want young students of color at Beachwood to believe in themselves and realize their potential,” he says.
His advice to current students? “Hard work and determination can really get you far,” he says. “Set lofty goals, believe in yourself, and be willing to work for what you want.”