Maintaining the firm’s longstanding practice of rotating key leadership positions, McGuireWoods has appointed two new deputy managing partners and three new litigation department chairs, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
Noreen Kelly is the firm’s new deputy managing partner for litigation. Kelly represents financial institutions, broker dealers, investment advisers, and other businesses facing regulatory and criminal investigations and significant litigation risk. She previously chaired the firm’s nationally recognized Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department and has served as managing partner of the firm’s New York office.
Washington, D.C., partner Todd Steggerda, following service as the deputy managing partner for litigation, has been appointed deputy managing partner for strategic development. He previously served as chair of the Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department. Spanning a long tenure in Washington, Steggerda has resolved a range of high-stakes government investigations, regulatory enforcement and litigation matters, including dozens of matters investigated by the civil and criminal divisions of the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and other federal and state agencies and investigative bodies. In the strategic development role, Steggerda succeeds partner Joanne Katsantonis, who served in the position since 2017.
New York and Charlotte partner Jason Cowley succeeds Kelly as chair of the Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department. A former federal prosecutor in New York, Cowley represents financial institutions (including investment funds), corporations, and executives in criminal investigations and trials, regulatory enforcement proceedings and complex civil litigation.
Richmond partner Michael Herring is the new chair of the Commercial Litigation Department. He previously served as managing partner of the firm’s Richmond office. A litigator with extensive jury trial experience, he handles commercial litigation, government investigations, and significant tort claims for individuals and corporations. Herring served for 13 years as the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond, leading an office of over 40 prosecutors, before joining McGuireWoods.
Charlotte partner Robert Muckenfuss is the new chair of the firm’s Financial Services & Securities Enforcement Department. He preceded Herring as leader of the commercial litigation practice. Muckenfuss has a nationwide practice and has represented financial services clients for over 20 years. He handles “bet-the-business” matters and has deep experience managing multifront litigation threats.
“We are grateful to these outstanding lawyers for taking on important leadership roles in the firm,” said McGuireWoods managing partner J. Tracy Walker IV. “Their collective experience and insight will help drive the firm forward and ensure we deliver the highest level of service to clients.”