Attorney Mina Haque’s unique expertise in blending transactional and litigation law has garnered her recognition from immigration, and product liability to mergers and acquisitions. As the founder and principal attorney of the Washington, D.C.-based Law Office of Mohaimina Haque PLLC, she’s worked alongside policymakers, national and foreign dignitaries and major Fortune 500 companies. More recently, Haque led the successful merger of Tony Romas which led her to be named interim CEO and now permanent CEO.
Haque shares how her experience with corporate law and M&A led her to become the first female CEO at Tony Romas, “Transactions combine comprehensive legal due diligence with a holistic understanding of the business fundamentals. I believe successful M&A work requires close collaboration between legal counsel and financial due diligence partners, typically accounting firms, to provide clients with complete risk assessment and strategic insights. The legal due diligence process involves a systematic review of key business and legal documents, which provides a detailed snapshot of the target company’s operations, governance, and potential risks. This documentation review helps create a roadmap for post-acquisition integration and risk mitigation.” With all of Haque’s M&A work she focuses on corporate governance, operational assessments, financial reviews, human capital and strategic relationships. “What sets my approach apart is the emphasis on understanding the business rationale behind each document and decision. This allows me to identify not just legal issues, but also strategic opportunities and potential synergies for the acquiring company. The goal is to provide clients with actionable insights that inform both the transaction structure and post-merger integration strategy.”
In addition, Haque’s experience with the DOJ has given her a competitive edge over other M&A firms, “My unique background with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division provides me with invaluable insights that directly benefit my clients. Before law school, I served as a paralegal specialist at the DOJ, where I worked on landmark merger cases including American Airlines-US Airways and Ecolab-Permian, as well as high-profile antitrust investigations such as the Apple Inc. case. This federal antitrust experience is invaluable to my M&A practice. At the DOJ, I learned to identify critical competition issues, analyze market dynamics, and understand how consolidation impacts consumer choice and pricing. Working alongside the nation’s leading antitrust attorneys in Washington, DC, I developed a sophisticated understanding of merger review that now informs my due diligence approach,” she shared. “My contributions to these complex cases were recognized when I received the DOJ Assistant Attorney General Award in 2014 as part of the American Airlines-US Airways merger review and litigation team. While mega-mergers are typically handled by large law firms, I bring the same rigorous analysis and attention to detail learned at the DOJ to middle-market transactions. This was demonstrated in my successful handling of the Tony Roma’s acquisition. The combination of federal antitrust experience and private practice gives me a distinct perspective on M&A transactions. I understand both the regulatory landscape and practical business considerations, allowing me to provide comprehensive counsel that addresses both compliance and strategic objectives.”
Haque’s journey from M&A counsel to CEO of Tony Roma’s evolved organically through her demonstrated expertise and trust-building. Initially, she led the acquisition’s legal due diligence process, where she gained deep insights into the company’s operations, challenges, and opportunities. “The thoroughness of my work and strategic approach during this process earned the acquirer’s confidence, leading to my appointment as outside general counsel and trusted advisor to the Board. In this advisory role, I consistently demonstrated not just legal acumen but also strong business judgment and strategic thinking. When the company sought a leader capable of driving revitalization and growth, the Board recognized that my comprehensive understanding of the business, combined with my strategic vision, made me the ideal candidate for CEO. The transition from trusted legal advisor to chief executive was a natural progression built on a foundation of proven expertise and established trust,” Haque explained.
Mina Haque, CEO of Tony Roma’s.
As the permanent CEO, Haque’s strategic roadmap for Tony Roma’s focuses on four key pillars of growth and operational excellence: Strategic Franchise Expansion, Menu Innovation & Optimization, Cost Structure and Brand Revitalization. “These key pillars will include streamlining our menus while preserving iconic dishes, making ownership more accessible to qualified operators and reestablishing Tony Roma’s as a household name by modernizing our marketing while honoring our heritage. Through these initiatives, we’re positioning Tony Roma’s for sustained growth while preserving the authentic experience that has made us a beloved brand for decades,” Haque further shared.
Even with running her law firm and Tony Roma’s, motherhood is the cornerstone of everything Haque does. She credits modern technology, remote work and her husband’s support for being able to manage multiple roles. “The evolution of remote work has been transformational. Technology allows me to draft emails from my children’s school parking lot or handle virtual meetings between school pickups. These moments, which some might see as challenging, I cherish because they allow me to remain present in my children’s lives while advancing my professional responsibilities.The true keystone to making it all work is my husband, Ehteshamul Haque. As a talented technology transaction attorney who also works virtually, he’s not just a spouse but a true partner in every sense. His active involvement in our children’s daily lives, from school dropoffs to activities, creates the foundation that allows me to dream big and execute those dreams. Success in balancing these roles isn’t about doing everything alone – it’s about having the right support system and tools in place, and then having the courage to dream, plan, and execute,” she explained.
Haque’s latest passion project is a comprehensive virtual training program developed with her husband drawing from their combined experience in successfully balancing legal careers with family life. “We’ve created a roadmap for attorneys who want to break free from traditional practice constraints. Our course is designed specifically for lawyers who feel stuck in conventional roles but dream of building their own practices. We’ve distilled our experiences – both successes and challenges – into actionable strategies for launching and growing a thriving law firm while maintaining work-life harmony. What makes ‘Of Course Successful’ unique is that it’s created by two practicing attorneys who live this reality daily. We understand the challenges of balancing firm ownership with family life because we navigate them ourselves,” she explained. “Our collaborative approach brings together perspectives from different practice areas – my M&A experience and my husband’s technology transaction expertise – providing a well-rounded view of modern law firm management. The virtual format makes our training accessible to busy professionals, allowing them to learn and implement strategies while maintaining their current responsibilities. Our goal is to empower other attorneys to create the same kind of flexible, successful practice that has allowed us to prioritize both family and professional growth.”