Lawyers / Professionals

 
Rodney A. Satterwhite       
Partner
One James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-4030
T: 804.775.1098
F: 804.698.2163
rsatterwhite@mcguirewoods.com
 

Mr. Satterwhite tries employment and intellectual property cases in state and federal court. Most recently, he was trial counsel for DuPont in its trade secret litigation against Kolon Industries, in which the jury awarded DuPont $919.9 million dollars. Best Lawyers in America recognized Mr. Satterwhite in the areas of Employment Law and Technology Law.

Focusing his practice on trade secret and noncompetition laws, federal employment discrimination laws and the Family and Medical Leave Act, he has litigated claims in state, federal and administrative courts, including the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th circuits. He has also represented corporate clients in responding to administrative charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and in managing investigations conducted by that agency. In this context, Mr. Satterwhite advises clients on hiring and termination decisions, drafting and implementing employment policies, and guarding intellectual property through employment agreements and trade secret policies. In all of these areas, he prosecutes or defends client interests in court.

Also experienced with issues relating to technology in the workplace and the courtroom, Mr. Satterwhite advises clients on the legal issues relating to information systems and technology in the workplace, among them issues such as e-mail, social media and Internet privacy. He also helps clients develop effective solutions to the growing risks and costs associated with document retention and electronic discovery. Having served as McGuireWoods Chief Counsel for Knowledge Management for five years, he combines an in-depth understanding of technology with sensitivity to unique business needs and cost concerns.

Mr. Satterwhite also assists clients in the application of technology to litigation management. He participates in the design and development of extranets that enable improved attorney-client collaboration and communication in litigation and transactional work. As a litigator and a former technology consultant, he draws on his experience in both areas to bridge the gap between technology and the practice of law. He can counsel companies on ways to improve efficiency in the delivery of legal services, such as the implementation of case management and litigation support systems.


Practices & Industries
Honors
  • Named One of the "Best Lawyers in America," Woodward/White, Inc., 2009-2012
  • Named a Virginia "Super Lawyer," 2007-2011
  • Senior Law Firm Technology Advisor, The Center for Legal and Court Technology and Courtroom 21 Project, William & Mary School of Law, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2006-Present
  • Named One of Virginia's "Legal Elite," Virginia Business, 2006, 2011

Publications
Seminars
  • "Profitability and the Impact of Knowledge Management on Legal Service Pricing Models," Fourth Annual Knowledge Counsel Forum, New York, New York, March 2006
  • "The Attorney's Honest View of Knowledge Management," Fourth Annual Knowledge Counsel Forum, New York, New York, March 2006
  • "Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law," Greater Richmond Urban League EEO Workplace Symposium, 2003
  • "Look Before You Leap: An Overview of Laws Impacting Termination Decisions," Richmond Bar Association, 2002
  • "Examining the Business Drivers Behind Knowledge Management," Knowledge Counsel Forum, 2002
  • "Defining Knowledge Management for the Legal Space," Knowledge Counsel Forum, 2002
  • "Improving Law Department Efficiency with Extranets," Lex Mundi / ACCA, 2002
  • "Labor & Employment Issues in Cyberspace," Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, 2001
  • "Labor & Employment Issues in CyberSpace," Richmond Human Resource Management Association, 2001
  • "Labor & Employment Issues in CyberSpace," Greater Richmond Urban League, 2000
  • "Top Ten Technology Must-Knows for Paper & Pencil Lawyers", Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, 2000
  • "Labor & Employment Issues in CyberSpace," Cyberlaw, University of Richmond, 2000
  • "Employment Issues in Workplace Technology," Greater Richmond Urban League, 1999
  • "Avoiding the Pitfalls in Labor & Employment Law," Risk Insurance Management Society, 1999
  • "Lawyers and the Internet: How Attorneys Can Use the Internet in the Practice of Law," Richmond Bar Association, 1996
  • "Lawyers and the Internet," Virginia CLE, 1995
  • "Family and Medical Leave Act," Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Annual Meeting, 1995
  • "The Americans With Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act," Virginia Association of Housing Authorities, 1995
  • "The Family and Medical Leave Act: What Every Manager Should Know," McGuireWoods, 1995
  • "Wrongful Discharge and Breach of Contract Claims," NMBA, 1994
  • "Computers in the Courtroom," Richmond Bar Association, 1994
  • "CD-ROM Technology in Law," Richmond Bar Association, 1994

Professional Affiliations
  • Virginia State Bar
    • Vice Chair, Special Committee on Information Technology
 

EDUCATION

University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia, J.D., 1991

The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, B.A., cum laude, 1988

 
 

ADMITTED

Virginia 1991

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

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

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

 

PLACE OF BIRTH

Richmond, Virginia