McGuireWoods

History

1800s–1960s

McGuireWoods traces its origins to two lawyers, Egbert R. Watson and Murray Mason McGuire. In 1834, Watson opened a law office in Charlottesville, VA. In 1870, he formed a partnership with his son-in-law, George Perkins in what would become Perkins, Battle & Minor.

In 1897, McGuire started practicing law in Richmond, VA. He was joined by John Stewart Bryan in 1898 and the two formed McGuire & Bryan. In the 1960s, the firm became McGuire, Woods, King, Davis & Patterson.

1966–2000

In 1966, Charlottesville’s Battle, Neal, Harris, Minor & Williams merged with Richmond’s McGuire, Woods, King, Davis & Patterson to create McGuire, Woods & Battle.

In 1987, the firm merged with Boothe, Prichard & Dudley, a 75-lawyer firm located in Tysons, Virginia, to create McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe. The newly-merged firm became the 33rd largest in the United States at the time. In 1991, McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe merged with Cable, McDaniel, Bowie & Bond, a Baltimore-based law firm.

In 1998, the firm established its affiliate McGuireWoods Consulting to provide consulting services in government and public relations.

2000–present

After a series of mergers in the early 2000s, including with Ross and Hardies (2003), Gordon & Glickson (2006), and Helms Mullis & Wicker (2008), the firm rebranded as McGuireWoods.

In 2009, McGuireWoods opened a London office after a merger with Grundberg Mocatta Rakison.

In 2014, McGuireWoods opened its Dallas, Texas office. In 2015, the firm entered into an alliance with FuJae Partners, a Shanghai-based law firm and opened a second office in Los Angeles. In 2016, the firm opened an office in San Francisco. As of 2019, the firm has 21 offices worldwide.

In December 2017, Richard Cullen stepped down as chairman of McGuireWoods and partner Jonathan Harmon became the firm’s new chairman. In 2019, Richard Davis was hired as the new chief operating officer.

In June 2020, the Open Technology Fund (OTF) asked McGuireWoods, which had been advising it pro bono, for help in a conflict with the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and its then-director Michael Pack. McGuireWoods advised it could not help in the case. OTF learned in December 2020 that the reason for the refusal was that McGuireWoods had decided to investigate OTF on behalf of USAGM and Pack instead. The Government Accountability Project, citing records obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, claimed McGuireWoods had billed USAGM $1.625 million at an average rate of $320 an hour after receiving a no-bid contract to investigate OTF as well as Voice of America employees.

In 2022, Trump's Save America political action committee paid McGuireWoods almost $900,000 in legal fees.

In 2025, McGuireWoods appointed three former U.S. Attorneys with firm histories, among four new managing partners, including Ryan K. Buchanan from the Northern District of Georgia; Michael F. Easley Jr. from the Eastern District of North Carolina; and Eric G. Olshan from the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Notable cases

• In June 2017, Vice President Mike Pence retained Richard Cullen, then-chairman of McGuireWoods, as outside legal counsel related to the special counsel investigation into Russian efforts to interfere with the 2016 election.
• In May 2018, Elizabeth Hutson led the McGuireWoods team that represented human trafficking survivor Kendra Ross. Ross was awarded an almost $8 million judgment, the largest civil single-plaintiff human trafficking award in U.S. history, in the suit she brought against the nationwide regimented cult The Value Creators Inc. (formerly known as The United Nation of Islam).
• McGuireWoods attorneys including Richard Cullen represented Cynthia and Frederick Warmbier when they sued North Korea for having “brutally tortured and murdered” their son, Otto Warmbier. In December 2018, a federal court ordered North Korea to pay the Warmbiers over $500 million.
• In 2018, McGuireWoods attorney Matthew Fitzgerald represented Ryan Collins in the U.S. Supreme Court case Collins v. Virginia. The Court voted in favor of Collins, ruling that the automobile exception to the Fourth Amendment does not permit a police officer to enter the curtilage of a home without a warrant.
• McGuireWoods lawyers were part of the defense team hired to represent Boeing in a federal criminal investigation related to the 737 MAX aircraft. In January 2021, Boeing entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
• McGuireWoods represented mining company Asarco LLC in litigation related to the ongoing cleanup of a former lead and zinc smelting site in western Montana. In May 2021, U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen ruled that Atlantic Richfield Co. must pay Asarco $16 million and 25 percent of future sums to contribute to ongoing cleanup.

McGuireWoods alumni

• George Allen, former U.S. Senator from Virginia
• Richard Cullen, former Attorney General of Virginia and current counselor to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin
• William C. Battle, former U.S. Ambassador to Australia
• Cheri Beasley, former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court and 2022 United States Senate candidate
• Ken Bell, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina
• John N. Dalton, former Governor of Virginia
• Mark Steven Davis, Chief Judge Eastern District of Virginia.
• Frank Donatelli, political consultant
• Michael F. Easley Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina
• Timothy Flanigan, former White House Deputy Counsel
• Leroy R. Hassell Sr., former Chief Justice of Virginia
• Jack McLean, former mayor of Tallahassee, Florida
• Carlos Muñiz, Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
• Robert H. Patterson Jr., attorney and political operative
• Lewis F. Payne Jr., former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Robert E. Payne, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
• Jacob Rooksby, dean of Gonzaga University School of Law
• David L. Richardson, Treasurer of Virginia
• George Terwilliger, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General
• Paul Van den Bulck, former president of Royal Belgian Football Association
• Richard Leroy Williams, former Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Notable current attorneys and consultants

Attorneys

• John Donley Adams, Republican nominee for Attorney General of Virginia in the 2017 election
• Scott Becker, partner in the firm's healthcare department; founder and publisher of Becker's Hospital Review
• Andrew G. McBride, former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia
• Bernard McNamee, former Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Jim Hodges, former Governor of South Carolina
• Robert J. Bittman, partner at the firm and lawyer for Mark Meadows in the Georgia election racketeering prosecution

McGuireWoods Consulting (MWC)

• Laura Fornash, former Virginia Secretary of Education
• Preston Bryant, former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and served as Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources
• William J. Howell, former Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
• G.K. Butterfield, former Member of the U.S House of Representatives

Recognition

McGuireWoods was named one of the most innovative law firms in North America by Financial Times in 2018 and 2019.

References

References

1. (2019-10-01). "McGuireWoods law firm hires new chief operating officer". Richmond Times Dispatch.
2. Hamilton, Katherine. (2023-11-29). "‘National powerhouse’".
3. (22 November 2017). "McGuireWoods (1834)".
4. (26 June 2016). "McGuireWoods".
5. Marcus, Ruth. (2024-08-05). "Two Major Law Firms Join Forces".
6. Marudas, Georgia. (October 3, 1991). "Major Va. law firm coming to Baltimore McGuire, Woods to merge with Cable, McDaniel as of Nov. 1.".
7. (2 June 2008). "Former U.S. Ambassador to Australia William C. Battle dies".
8. "McGuireWoods merger part of 'ongoing strategy'".
9. (2006-01-19). "Gordon & Glickson Merges With McGuireWoods".
10. (2008-04-01). "McGuireWoods LLP Gains Dominant Position in N.C. Market As Merger With Helms Mulliss & Wicker Is Completed".
11. "McGuireWoods to Wed London-Based Law Firm With 36 Attorneys".
12. (2 March 2015). "Why National Law Firms Are Flocking to Texas".
13. "Seeking China Beachhead, McGuireWoods Inks Shanghai Deal".
14. (2 April 2015). "McGuireWoods expands in LA with Integer Law deal".
15. (23 March 2016). "McGuireWoods opening office in San Francisco".
16. "Jon Harmon to lead troops as chairman at McGuireWoods as Cullen steps down from role".
17. (2019-10-01). "McGuireWoods names new COO".
18. (10 March 2021). "'I Was Speechless': Law Firm Investigated Its Own Ex-Client For Trump VOA Chief". National Public Radio.
19. (18 March 2021). "Press Release: Whistleblowers Reveal More Alarming Details About Law Firm Contracts Awarded by Voice of America Overseer to Investigate Federal Employees". Government Accountability Project.
20. Polantz, Katelyn. (February 22, 2023). "Trump leadership PAC spent more than $16 million on legal services in 2022".
21. "Former U.S. Attorneys to Join McGuireWoods in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Raleigh".
22. "McGuireWoods Rotates Leadership Roster, Appointing 4 New Office Managing Partners".
23. (15 June 2017). "VP Mike Pence retains Richard Cullen of McGuireWoods in Russia probe".
24. (2017-06-15). "Vice President Pence hires outside counsel to deal with Russia inquiries".
25. "The cult next door: Debunking five misconceptions about human trafficking".
26. "Parents of Otto Warmbier sue North Korean government over his imprisonment, death".
27. (24 December 2018). "U.S. judge orders North Korea to pay more than $500 million in death of student Otto Warmbier".
28. (2018-05-29). "Collins v. Virginia".
29. (2018-06-05). "Warrant required: Supreme Court ruling in Albemarle case bolsters Fourth Amendment".
30. (2019-06-06). "Boeing turns to high-powered defense attorneys in 737 MAX investigation".
31. (2021-01-08). "Boeing to pay $2.5 billion to settle U.S. criminal probe into 737 MAX crashes". Reuters.
32. (2021-05-27). "ARCO must pay Asarco $16 mln over Superfund". Reuters.
33. "Atlantic Richfield Owes Asarco $16 Million in Montana Cleanup".
34. "Ex-Gov. Allen now 'rainmaker' for Va. law firm".
35. (2023-08-31). "Government {{!}} Politics 2023: RICHARD CULLEN".
36. "Richard Cullen to step down as McGuireWoods chairman but continue law practice".
37. (2 June 2008). "Former U.S. Ambassador to Australia William C. Battle dies".
38. "Lawyer Who Made Case for Clinton Indictment Confirmed as Judge".
39. "USDOJ: United States Department of Justice Archive - Office of Legal Policy".
40. (17 April 2017). "New leadership coming to McGuireWoods Consulting".
41. Bernstein, Adam. (2011-02-09). "Leroy R. Hassell Sr., Virginia's first black chief justice, dies at 55". The Washington Post.
42. Bryan, Scott J.. (June 5, 2019). "Jack Is Back - Former Quincy manager, attorney is back in charge". The Gadsden County Times.
43. (2018-04-19). "Carlos Muniz Confirmed as Education Department General Counsel".
44. "Commending the Honorable Lewis F. Payne.".
45. "WV gov. hires former US acting AG for residency lawsuit".
46. (2013-02-04). "Richard L. Williams, veteran federal judge, dies at age 87".
47. "John Adams, the political opposite of Attorney General Mark Herring, wants his job".
48. "Scott Becker".
49. "McGuireWoods Nabs White Collar Litigator From Perkins Coie".
50. "Bernard L. McNamee".
51. "The 50 Most Influential People In Columbia".
52. Matt Naham. (28 August 2023). "Ken Starr deputy who once grilled Bill Clinton before grand jury is now defending Mark Meadows in Trump RICO case". Law and Crime.
53. "Handshake's latest update lets James Madison University students search for jobs and internships".
54. "McGuireWoods".
55. "VAS Selects McGuire Woods Consulting for Lobbying Representation".
56. (2018-07-15). "Former House speaker joins McGuireWoods Consulting".
57. "G. K. Butterfield".
58. (2019-12-10). "FT North American Innovative Lawyers Awards 2019".
59. (2018-12-12). "FT North America Innovative Lawyer Awards 2018".