The American Lawyer, Law360, Bloomberg Law, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Business North Carolina, the Triangle Business Journal and the Pittsburgh Business Times were among the national and regional media outlets covering McGuireWoods’ announcement that former U.S. Attorneys Ryan Buchanan, Michael Easley Jr. and Eric Olshan would join the firm.
Buchanan, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, joined McGuireWoods’ Atlanta office on March 17, 2025, returning to the firm where he began his private practice career in 2006.
Easley returned to the firm March 14, 2025, in Raleigh, where he handled complex civil, criminal and regulatory matters for 11 years before his confirmation as U.S. Attorney in 2021.
Olshan, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, will join McGuireWoods in the coming weeks.
Noreen Kelly, McGuireWoods’ deputy managing partner for litigation, told The American Lawyer that the additions of the former federal prosecutors align with the firm’s strategy of recruiting “in a very careful, opportunistic way” to attract and hire partners who exhibit “excellence,” strengthen the firm’s bench and meet client needs.
“All three of them certainly square with that,” Kelly said.
Buchanan told The American Lawyer he was impressed by the growth of McGuireWoods’ Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department since 2010, when he left the firm to serve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Buchanan said his experience leading large-scale investigations as a federal prosecutor will be an asset when he works with private clients who are the subject of investigations or civil litigation.
“That’s a skill set and a knowledge base that I think will be beneficial to the firm’s existing clients and, as I make this transition, it will be effective with new clients,” Buchanan said.
In an interview with Law360, Olshan said McGuireWoods “has a proven track record” of recruiting lawyers from government service “to give the firm powerhouse litigation experience.”
Easley discussed his move to McGuireWoods in a March 4, 2025, Business North Carolina profile that focused on his interest in fixing cars and his friendship with Jennings “Tiger” Strickland, who runs a repair shop near the state Capitol in Raleigh.
Easley said of his return to the firm: “I hope we can bring a tough investigation practice to help North Carolina businesses navigate risk.”