Lawyers / Professionals

 
R. Trent Taylor       
Partner
One James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-4030
T: 804.775.1182
F: 804.225.5409
rtaylor@mcguirewoods.com
 

Mr. Taylor focuses on defending complex toxic tort and products liability cases. His experience includes representing clients in class actions, MDL coordinated proceedings, nationwide mass tort litigation, and appellate cases in the substantive areas of toxic torts and medical devices. He defends cases involving complex scientific and medical issues, and has concentrated in the defense of novel claims brought by plaintiffs, including public nuisance, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment, and deceptive trade practices.


Practices & Industries
Honors
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Previous Experience
  • Associate, Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C., 1999-2002
  • Judicial Clerk, Judge Harry Wellford, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, 1998-1999

Publications
Speaking Engagements
  • Speaker, 2011 Energy and Environmental Update CLE, Richmond, Virginia, October 12, 2011
  • Panelist, " Diversity Jurisdiction and Removal to Federal Court - Applying the Supreme Court's Nerve Center Test to Complex Corporate Structures and Navigating Nuances of Removal," Strafford Publications Webinar, September 27, 2011
  • Guest Speaker, "Carbon Emissions Litigation: Analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in AEP v. Connecticut and the Fourth Circuit's Decision in NC v. TVA," Minnesota Rural Electric Association Energy Issues Summit, August 11, 2011
  • Panelist, "Shale Gas Drilling and Developments: Why Environmental Contamination Lawsuits Are A Significant Threat to the Energy Industry and How to Defend Against Them," Strafford Publications Webinar, July 19, 2011
  • "Judgment Day for Climate Change Litigation II: Analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in AEP v. Connecticut," McGuireWoods LLP Webinar, June 23, 2011
  • "E pluribus unum: Successfully Navigating Multidistrict Litigation," McGuireWoods LLP, June 14, 2011
  • "Judgment Day for Climate Change Litigation: Post-Game Analysis of U.S. Supreme Court Oral Argument in AEP v. Connecticut," McGuireWoods LLP Webinar, April 26, 2011
  • Co-moderator, "Inside the Supreme Court's Pending AEP v. Connecticut Case: Will A Climate Change Nuisance Cause of Action Survive?" 11th Annual Environmental and Energy Issues Symposium, April 6, 2011
  • "A Preview of the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court Term with an Emphasis on Cases Important to DOE and Government Contractors," Department of Energy Contractor Attorneys' Association (DOECAA) Fall 2010 Conference, October 21, 2010
  • "The Business of the U.S. Supreme Court Is . . . Business! A Preview of the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court Term with an Emphasis on Cases Important to Wall Street and Main Street," McGuireWoods LLP Webinar, October 14, 2010
  • "The 2009-10 U.S. Supreme Court Term in Review and Outlook for 2010-11," McGuireWoods LLP, September 14, 2010
  • Frequent commentator on legal issues. Has been quoted by New York Times, Wall Street Journal, American Lawyer, the National Law Journal, and numerous influential legal blogs, among others. Interviewed on NPR's "All Things Considered" on June 8, 2010, to discuss appellate issues.
  • Panelist, "Climate Change Nuisance Litigation: Emerging Trends and Defense Strategy for Global Warming Claims," Strafford Publications Webinar, June 22, 2010
  • Speaker, "Nuisance: How It Has Become a Chief Threat to Corporate Defendants & How to Defend Against It," McGuireWoods LLP Webinar, May 13, 2010
  • Speaker, "Nuisance Litigation: Past, Present, and Future," Wilmington, DE, February 17, 2010
  • Speaker, "Removal to Federal Court: Beyond the Basics," Virginia CLE Webinar, November 4, 2009
  • Speaker, "The Gathering Storm of Climate Change Litigation & Policy for Corporate America: A Discussion of the Legal & Regulatory Implications of the 2nd Circuit's Recent Decision in Connecticut v. American Electric Power Co.," McGuireWoods LLP Webinar, October 15, 2009
  • Panelist, "Global Swarming: Who Will Recover the Costs Of Climate Change Compliance and 'By-product Liability'?" McGuireWoods LLP's 8th Annual Coal Industry Briefing, September 30, 2009
  • Speaker, "The 2008-09 U.S. Supreme Court Term in Review and Outlook for 2009-10," McGuireWoods LLP, August 2009
  • Panelist, "Common Law & Statutory Damage Theories & the Potential Litigation Agenda in the Era of Climate Change," McGuireWoods LLP's 9th Annual Environmental and Energy Issues Symposium, May 6, 2009
  • Speaker, "Defending Emergent Claims – A Soup and Nuts Approach," Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Annual Meeting, 2008
  • Speaker, "Chief Justice Roberts as Jedi Knight?: The 2007-08 U.S. Supreme Court Term in Review and Outlook for 2008-09," McGuireWoods LLP, August 2008
  • Speaker, "The (Conservative) Empire Strikes Back!: The 2006-07 U.S. Supreme Court Term in Review and Outlook for 2007-08," McGuireWoods LLP, August 2007
  • Speaker, "Plaintiffs' Expansion of Traditional Tort Doctrines – Lessons Learned from the Lead Paint Litigation," Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Annual Meeting 2006

Civic Affiliations
  • Coach, University of Richmond Mock Trial Team
 

EDUCATION

Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, J.D., 1998

Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee, B.A., 1995

 
 

ADMITTED

Virginia 2002

Tennessee 1999

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

 

PLACE OF BIRTH

Dyersburg, Tennessee