McGuireWoods has selected 21 lawyers for partnership effective Jan. 1, 2018 — its largest-ever class of new partners. The 2018 class spans nine of the firm’s U.S. offices and McGuireWoods London, and includes lawyers in 13 litigation and corporate practice areas.
“This class of new partners reflects the tremendous depth of talent in our litigation and corporate practices,” said Tom Cabaniss, McGuireWoods’ managing partner. “These lawyers have distinguished themselves with their abilities and their commitment to client service excellence, and we are proud to welcome them as partners.”
The lawyers selected for partnership are:
Scott E. Adams (Real Estate & Land Use – Tysons) focuses on land use and development issues in Northern Virginia and Maryland, assisting developers and landowners in navigating the land use entitlement process. He has been involved in the re-planning of Tysons Corner, Virginia, into a transit-oriented community.
Michael H. Barker (Tax & Employee Benefits – Richmond) represents high-net-worth individuals and families and closely-held businesses in tax, estate planning, and trust and estate administration matters. He also represents public charities, private foundations and charitable trusts in obtaining tax exemptions and advises exempt organizations in governance, tax and compliance matters.
William J. Boddy (Business & Securities Litigation – London) focuses on cross-border commercial litigation, shareholder disputes and insolvency litigation. In addition to his litigation practice, he advises clients on general commercial and compliance matters.
E. Brett Breitschwerdt (Regulatory & Compliance – Raleigh) represents energy clients and other regulated industries in complex litigation before the North Carolina Utilities Commission and other state agencies and advises clients on regulatory and policy issues affecting utilities and other regulated industries.
Thomas William Bruno (Public Finance – Richmond) acts as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel or issuer’s counsel in governmental bond issues, and serves as bond counsel and bank counsel in bank loans or other private financings to governmental entities or nonprofits.
Bryan P. Bylica (M&A, Corporate Transactions & Technology – Chicago) advises clients on international transactions, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and securities and corporate finance.
Phillip C. Chang (Business & Securities Litigation – Washington) handles business litigation, business torts, contractual disputes and employment law. He represents financial institutions in single-plaintiff and class action disputes arising from federal and state consumer finance and banking statutes.
J.D. Costa (M&A, Corporate Transactions & Technology – Charlotte) practices corporate law with a concentration on complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, recapitalizations and joint ventures. He also negotiates and drafts complex commercial contracts and advises clients on corporate governance matters.
Robert A. Crawford (M&A, Energy & Private Equity – Charlotte) advises public and private companies on corporate matters, including structuring and forming business enterprises, mergers and acquisitions, early- and late-stage equity investments, and mezzanine and senior debt investments.
Becky H. Diffen (M&A, Energy & Private Equity – Austin) represents developers, private equity firms, investment banks, and other public and private companies in the renewable energy, energy storage, power generation, and oil and gas industries in complex transactions, including the acquisition, development, joint venture, financing and sale of energy projects and companies.
Felicia M. Gardner (Tax & Employee Benefits – Charlotte) advises employers on the legal aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation matters arising under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. She also negotiates employee benefits and executive compensation matters related to M&A and other corporate transactions.
Jeffrey M. Hanna (Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation – Richmond) represents clients in complex trial and appellate matters arising from government, regulatory, and criminal and corporate internal investigations.
Nellie E. Hestin (Financial Services Litigation – Pittsburgh) handles litigation and alternative dispute resolution for financial industry clients. She represents major financial institutions in matters related to Ponzi schemes; affiliated mutual fund investments; derivatives; mortgage lending and servicing; auto finance, securities lending programs and investment losses; and consumer class actions.
Sylvia J. Kim (Labor & Employment – San Francisco) represents clients in employment and commercial litigation, wage-and-hour consumer class and collective actions, and labor management disputes. She handles claims related to unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation, wrongful termination, leave and accommodation, wage-and-hour issues, ERISA, arbitration, false advertising, consumer fraud and unfair competition.
S. Virginia Bondurant Price (Product & Consumer Litigation – Richmond) handles product liability, consumer class actions, and commercial litigation matters as a member of the firm’s appellate practice team. She also advises healthcare providers in medical malpractice actions and on regulatory issues.
Susan C. Rodriguez (Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation – Charlotte) defends clients in government enforcement actions by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission, among others. She manages third-party and pre-litigation matters for a large financial services client.
Elaine Sanderlin Ryan (Regulatory & Compliance – Richmond) devotes her practice to energy and utility regulation, primarily before the Virginia State Corporation Commission. She represents utility clients in complex regulatory litigation, including proceedings involving base rate and rider cost recovery, acquiring certificates of public convenience and necessity, and other matters.
Mark E. Shaffer (Complex Commercial Litigation – Tysons) concentrates his practice on eminent domain, construction, commercial litigation, contract disputes, financial services and landlord/tenant disputes. He also handles business/partnership disputes, land use issues, and trust and estate disputes.
Elizabeth M.Z. Timmermans (Financial Services Litigation – Raleigh) represents business clients in mortgage, banking and commercial litigation, as well as complex class actions and multidistrict litigation. She represents several large financial institutions in individual lawsuits and class actions involving mortgages, reverse mortgages and automobile loans.
Lucy Jewett Wheatley (IP Litigation/Patents – Richmond) focuses on trademark litigation, enforcement and counseling as well as disputes involving franchises, anti-counterfeiting, false advertising, patent infringement, trade secrets and copyright. Her clients include clothing brands, luxury goods manufacturers, consumer products manufacturers and franchisors across industries.
Thomas E. Zahn (M&A, Corporate Transactions & Technology – Pittsburgh) represents public and private companies and private equity funds in a transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, control and minority investments, recapitalizations, commercial transactions and corporate governance matters.