Chambers and Partners recognized McGuireWoods lawyers 165 times and firm practice areas 80 times in the 2025 edition of the Chambers USA guide.
The firm earned 22 nationwide practice rankings, including Band 1 rankings — Chambers’ highest — in Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Public Finance. McGuireWoods also received nationwide rankings in the following practice areas: Antitrust: Cartel; Banking & Finance; Cannabis Law; Climate Change; Corporate Crime & Investigations; Corporate/M&A; Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation); Energy: Electricity (Transactional); Environment; Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement); Food & Beverages: Regulatory and Litigation; Healthcare; Higher Education; Insurance: Dispute Resolution (Policyholder); Labor & Employment; Occupational Safety & Health; Product Liability & Mass Torts; Projects: Power & Renewables (Transactional); Sports Law; and Transportation: Rail (for Railroads).
McGuireWoods earned Band 1 regional practice rankings in Banking & Finance; Bankruptcy/Restructuring; Corporate/M&A; Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation; Energy & Natural Resources; Healthcare; Insurance; Intellectual Property; Labor & Employment; Litigation: General Commercial; Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations; Product Liability & Toxic Torts; Public Finance; and Real Estate.
Clients interviewed by Chambers researchers lauded McGuireWoods’ corporate and litigation practices and the firm’s industry-focused approach to client service.
“They have a deep understanding of the market and advise in a constructive and commercial manner,” a banking and finance client said. “They have been able to creatively address any problem I have brought to them.”
An M&A and private equity client said: “McGuireWoods combines a personable yet professional approach with the reach of a national firm, setting them apart from others in the space. They provide significant value to our company.”
The firm earned plaudits for its healthcare capabilities and industry knowledge. “The firm is able to move quickly, be creative and leverage the breadth of its experience to provide a one-stop, comprehensive solution,” a client said.
Clients also praised the firm’s approach to commercial litigation. “What stands out to me is their creativity — they are solution-oriented creative legal minds,” a client proclaimed. “Also their engagement and communication — they are the most responsive law firm we work with.”
The firm’s government investigations and white collar litigation team earned acclaim. “McGuireWoods works closely with clients to understand their business needs and find solutions that fit,” a firm client said. “The team is proactive, always looking ahead to spot risks before they become problems.”
Individually, 35 lawyers earned Band 1, “Star” or “Eminent Practitioner” rankings as leaders in their respective practices and industry areas.
The Chambers USA honors follow McGuireWoods’ nationwide rankings in Chambers’ annual fintech and high-net-worth guides.
Practice Rankings
McGuireWoods earned state recognition in the following practices.
- Antitrust (Illinois)
- Banking and Finance (North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, California, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds)
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds, Illinois, Texas)
- Corporate/M&A (North Carolina: Charlotte & Surrounds; Southern Virginia; Maryland; Texas; New York)
- Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds; Illinois)
- Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (North Carolina, Virginia)
- Energy & Natural Resources (North Carolina, Pennsylvania)
- Environment (Virginia, North Carolina, District of Columbia)
- Healthcare (Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina, California)
- Healthcare: Pharmaceutical/Medical Products Regulatory (District of Columbia)
- Insurance (Georgia, North Carolina)
- Insurance: Policyholder (California)
- Intellectual Property (Southern Virginia, Texas)
- Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (Texas)
- Labor & Employment (California, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Illinois, Texas)
- Litigation: General Commercial (North Carolina, Virginia; Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Virginia, District of Columbia)
- Product Liability & Toxic Torts (Virginia)
- Public Finance (Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia)
- Real Estate (Southern Virginia, North Carolina, Southern California)
- Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (Northern Virginia).
Individual Rankings
McGuireWoods lawyers were recognized in the following categories.
Antitrust
Illinois – Amy Starinieri Gilbert, Amy Manning, Angelo Russo and Sarah Zielinski of Chicago
Antitrust: Cartel
Nationwide – Brent Justus of Richmond; Amy Manning of Chicago
Appellate Law
Nationwide – Jonathan Ellis of Raleigh
Banking & Finance
California – Dayan Rosen of Los Angeles; Peter Szurley of San Francisco
Georgia – Art Gambill, Christopher Greene and Gerum Yilma of Atlanta
Illinois – Donald Ensing, Yuan-Ying Hsu and Philip Perzek of Chicago
North Carolina – Christian Brose, Kevin McGinnis, Raj Natarajan and W. Kent Walker of Charlotte
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds – Peter Butcher and Penny Zacharias of Pittsburgh
Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Illinois – Aaron McCollough of Chicago
North Carolina – Trey Rayburn of Charlotte
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds – Frank Guadagnino and Mark Freedlander of Pittsburgh
Texas – Cassandra Sepanik Shoemaker of Dallas; Demetra Liggins of Houston
Virginia – Sarah Boehm, Dion Hayes and Elizabeth Sieg of Richmond
Climate Change
Nationwide – Allison Wood of Washington
Construction
District of Columbia – Christopher Thatch of Washington
Virginia – Michael Dingman of Tysons
Corporate/M&A
Maryland – Heather Welch Arbogast, Brian Kelly and Cecil E. Martin III of Baltimore
New York – Jeffrey L. Rothschild of New York
North Carolina: Charlotte & Surrounds – Chris Scheurer and David B. Whelpley Jr. of Charlotte
Southern Virginia – Brian Hager, Joanne Katsantonis and Michael Woodard of Richmond
Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds – Benjamin Hantz, David Hornyak and Thomas Zahn of Pittsburgh
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
North Carolina – Taylor French and Allison Tanner of Charlotte
Virginia – Robert Wynne of Richmond
Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation)
Nationwide – David Martin Connelly, Julia English, Katlyn Davis Farrell, Todd Mullins and Noel Symons of Washington
Energy: Electricity (Transactional)
Nationwide – Brian Kelly of Baltimore and Joanne Katsantonis of Richmond
Energy & Natural Resources
North Carolina – James H. Jeffries IV of Charlotte; Kristin Athens (associate to watch), Brett Breitschwerdt, Mary Lynne Grigg and Andrea Kells of Raleigh
Pennsylvania – Anthony Carna and Gregory Krock of Pittsburgh
Environment
District of Columbia – Aaron Flynn, Makram Jaber and Allison Wood of Washington
Georgia – Adam Sowatzka of Atlanta
North Carolina – David Franchina and Matthew Giordano (associate to watch) of Charlotte; W. Dixon Snukals (associate to watch) of Raleigh
Virginia – Heather Stevenson of Richmond
West Virginia – Jennifer Hughes
Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance)
Nationwide – John Ayanian of Washington
Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Enforcement)
Nationwide – Cheryl Haas of Atlanta and Elizabeth Hogan of Washington
Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation
Nationwide – James Neale of Charlottesville and Trent Taylor of Richmond
Healthcare
California – Trey Andrews of Century City
Georgia – Kristen McDermott Woodrum of Atlanta
Illinois – Scott Becker, Holly Buckley, Timothy Fry and Amber McGraw Walsh of Chicago
North Carolina – Kayla McCann Marty and Bart Walker of Charlotte
Virginia – William Clayton Landa and Thomas Stallings of Richmond
Healthcare: Pharmaceutical/Medical Products Regulatory
District of Columbia – Kevin Madagan of Washington
Higher Education
Nationwide – Farnaz Farkish Thompson of Washington and Sarah Wake of Chicago
Insurance
Georgia – Joseph Englert, Shelby Guilbert and Anthony Tatum of Atlanta
Pennsylvania – Emma R. Leonelli (associate to watch) of Pittsburgh
Insurance: Dispute Resolution (Policyholder)
Nationwide – Kirk Pasich of Los Angeles and Anthony Tatum of Atlanta
Insurance: Policyholder
California – Shaun Crosner and Kirk Pasich of Los Angeles
Intellectual Property
Southern Virginia – David E. Finkelson, Janet P. Peyton, Brian C. Riopelle, Robin Cooke Vance and Lucy Jewett Wheatley of Richmond
Texas – Darren Collins and Jason Cook of Dallas
Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets
Texas – Yasser Madriz of Houston
Labor & Employment
California – Sabrina A. Beldner of Century City Illinois – Michael Phillips and Joel Spitz of Chicago
Maryland – Elena Marcuss and Adam T. Simons of Baltimore
North Carolina – Brian Barger, Paul Navarro and Meredith Pinson of Charlotte
Texas – Joel Allen of Dallas; Meghaan Madriz of Houston
Virginia – Amy Morrissey Turk of Norfolk; David Greenspan of Tysons
Litigation: Appellate
North Carolina – Jonathan Ellis of Raleigh
Virginia – Matt Fitzgerald and Robert W. Loftin of Richmond
Litigation: General Commercial
Maryland – Ava Lias-Booker of Baltimore
North Carolina – Bradley R. Kutrow of Charlotte
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds – Bryan Brantley of Pittsburgh
Texas: Houston & Surrounds – Thomas Farrell of Houston
Virginia – Jonathan Blank and James Neale of Charlottesville
Litigation: Medical Malpractice Defense
North Carolina – Mark Anderson of Raleigh
Litigation: Securities
Georgia – Cheryl Haas of Atlanta
Litigation: Trial Lawyers
Nationwide – Steven McCool of Washington
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
District of Columbia – Julia Coleman and Steven McCool of Washington
Illinois – Christina Egan of Chicago
North Carolina – Jason Cowley of Charlotte
Virginia – Benjamin Hatch of Norfolk; John Adams and Laura Colombell Marshall of Richmond
Private Equity: Buyouts
Illinois – Geoffrey C. Cockrell of Chicago
Product Liability & Toxic Torts
Virginia – Andrew F. Gann Jr., Samuel L. Tarry Jr. and J. Tracy Walker IV of Richmond
Product Liability: Toxic Torts
Nationwide – Samuel L. Tarry Jr. of Richmond
Projects: Power & Renewables (Transactional)
Nationwide – Michael Woodard of Richmond
Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy
Nationwide – Timothy P. Callahan of Chicago
Public Finance
District of Columbia – Robert Kaplan of Washington
Georgia – Kenneth Neighbors and Isaac Yilma of Atlanta
Maryland – Alan Cason and Anna Horevay of Baltimore
New York – John Semeniak of New York
North Carolina – Lisa Williams of Charlotte; Kristen Kirby and Mary Nash K. Rusher of Raleigh
Virginia – Thomas Bruno and Anne Curtis Saunders (associate to watch) of Richmond; Michael W. Graff Jr. of Tysons
Real Estate
Florida: North & Central – Christopher Thanner of Jacksonville
Georgia – John Grieb of Atlanta
North Carolina – William Harris of Charlotte
Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
Northern Virginia – Scott Adams and Gregory Riegle of Tysons
Southern Virginia – D. Brennen Keene of Richmond
Securities: Regulation (Enforcement)
Nationwide – Andrew Southerling of Washington
Transportation: Aviation (Finance)
Nationwide – Deepak Reddy of New York
Transportation: Aviation (Litigation)
Nationwide – Michael Scoville of Washington
Transportation: Rail (for Railroads)
Nationwide – Eric Bilik of Jacksonville.