Virginia Lawyers Weekly selected retired McGuireWoods partner Anne Marie Whittemore for inclusion in its Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame, an honor reserved for attorneys who made lasting marks on the legal profession throughout the state. Whittemore and her fellow 2021 Hall of Fame honorees were profiled in a special issue published May 29.
Whittemore retired from McGuireWoods in 2018 after a trailblazing career as a litigator, leader and mentor. She was the first woman hired to practice law at McGuireWoods and became the firm’s first female partner in 1977. She led complex commercial litigation matters at the trial and appellate levels, including corporate securities, environmental, product liability and constitutional cases. She was the first woman to serve on McGuireWoods’ executive committee and she chaired the firm’s recruiting committee for many years, attracting hundreds of lawyers who contributed to the firm’s growth and success.
“My greatest professional achievement is mentoring fine young lawyers who view the practice of law as a privilege and service to our clients and society,” Whittemore told Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
In addition to her roles at McGuireWoods, Whittemore has served on numerous corporate, nonprofit and educational boards.
McGuireWoods recognized her many contributions by creating the Anne Whittemore Award for Lifetime Achievement — the firm’s highest honor — which is presented to McGuireWoods lawyers who exhibit the sustained excellence and leadership that were hallmarks of Whittemore’s career.
“Anne Whittemore personifies the values that define McGuireWoods,” said Jonathan Harmon, the firm’s chairman. “Her commitment to excellence, her steady leadership and her unwavering friendship have had a profound impact on all of us. We are proud that she has received this well-deserved honor.”