Top Justice Official Joins McGuireWoods

May 19, 2009

Former Assistant Attorney General to Strengthen Government Investigations Practice

McGuireWoods LLP announced today that Patrick Rowan, former Assistant Attorney General for National Security with the Department of Justice, has joined the firm as a partner in the firm’s Government Investigations Department. Rowan will work out of the Washington, D.C. office, where his practice will focus on representing a wide variety of clients before various governmental agencies, including the Department of Justice.

Rowan joins McGuireWoods after an 18-year career with the DOJ. As the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the DOJ’s National Security Division, Rowan led the coordinated nationwide counterterrorism enforcement program and managed the government’s practice before the highly-classified Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He also oversaw the DOJ’s review of foreign acquisitions of United States companies through the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Rowan previously served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division. In both positions, Rowan was responsible for supervision of the DOJ’s national security prosecutions, including all export violations. He directed the launch and implementation of a nationwide export enforcement initiative, which is an ongoing inter-agency effort to target the illegal export of sensitive technology and weapons components. Prior to his service at Main Justice, Rowan served as an Assistant United States Attorney for more than ten years at the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia.

“I’m very excited that Pat has joined the firm,” said Richard Cullen, Chairman of McGuireWoods. “He is an extremely talented lawyer who has done nothing but deal with the most sensitive national security matters that have faced our country in the post-9/11 world. He has the experience and judgment our clients expect from McGuireWoods and we are anxious to put his talents to use.”

“When it came time to leave government service, I wanted to join a firm that not only had a top-notch group of attorneys, but also a place that fosters the sort of collegial atmosphere that I enjoyed at the Department of Justice. I am fortunate to have found that at McGuireWoods,” said Rowan. I look forward to working with my talented colleagues to help our clients respond to government investigations and other enforcement matters.”

Rowan received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He received his under graduate degree from Dartmouth College in 1986, graduating cum laude. After receiving his law degree, Rowan previously served as an associate at a Washington, D.C. law firm.