McGuireWoods has been named a finalist for best energy and healthcare practices in The American Lawyer’s inaugural Corporate Departments of the Year honors. The national awards spotlight the best of the best — firms clients should call with their critical corporate work, Am Law noted.
Only three finalists were selected in each of the energy and healthcare categories. McGuireWoods is honored for excellence based on the firm’s transactional work in the two sectors. Winners will be announced at a Jan. 14, 2021, virtual ceremony as part of the Am Law Industry Awards, which recognize exceptional work in categories across the legal services spectrum.
“This recognition is a testament to the strength of our industry teams and our lawyers’ commitment to providing business-focused solutions to help clients achieve their goals,” said Richard W. Viola, deputy managing partner of the firm’s corporate practice.
The firm’s cross-discipline, cross-practice energy industry team advised clients on strategic M&A, bankruptcy and restructuring transactions and debt financings, including two of the biggest deals recorded over the past two years.
Led by Joanne Katsantonis, the firm’s deputy managing partner for development, McGuireWoods advised longtime client Dominion Energy in the pending $9.7 billion sale of substantially all of the company’s natural gas transmission and storage business to an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway. It was the largest deal announced this year for U.S. energy assets and Berkshire Hathaway’s biggest acquisition in four years. McGuireWoods also represented Dominion Energy in its $13.4 billion merger with South Carolina-based SCANA Corp. in 2019, culminating years of work by the firm’s transactional and regulatory lawyers and strategists on McGuireWoods Consulting’s state government relations and grassroots advocacy teams.
McGuireWoods represents clients along the entire energy spectrum, including financial institutions; leading sponsors and developers of solar, wind and thermal generation; conventional oil and gas investors and operators; and a significant portion of the nation’s utilities. While the COVID-19 pandemic slowed deal activity in some sectors, the firm’s lawyers have been especially active across the renewable, thermal and midstream value chain, assisting clients with optimization of mature assets, restructuring of distressed projects, and assisting with the development of early-stage solar, energy storage and offshore wind projects.
“Whether advising clients on billion-dollar deals, assisting clients mitigate risk associated with project development or incident to purchasing or restructuring distressed energy assets, our team consistently demonstrates why McGuireWoods is a go-to firm for helping energy clients push forward in a rapidly changing industry,” said Brian Kelly, leader of the firm’s energy industry team.
McGuireWoods’ Healthcare Department is nationally recognized for its experience representing hospitals and other healthcare institutions in major corporate transactions. The firm recently advised Novant Health, a leading North Carolina health system, in negotiating the purchase of New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Once completed, the $4.8 billion deal will be the largest hospital transaction in North Carolina’s history.
In addition, McGuireWoods is a dominant player in private equity deals involving physician practices, hospitals, outpatient and urgent care providers, pharmacies, medical device manufacturers and distributors and other vital healthcare services. The firm also distinguished itself by guiding clients through issues related to federal pandemic relief programs and launching new thought leadership initiatives.
“At a time when our clients face unprecedented challenges, our team’s experience and policy insight are more valuable than ever,” said Amber McGraw Walsh, chair of the firm’s Healthcare Department. “We are proud to be recognized for the results we achieve for our clients.”