Danny Dellacona has joined McGuireWoods as the firm’s chief talent officer, bringing 25 years of human resources and change management experience. He will drive firmwide efforts to attract, develop, engage and retain talent.
Dellacona joins McGuireWoods in New York from A&O Shearman, where he served as chief change officer and spearheaded transformative, cross-functional change across its global workforce. Before the formation of A&O Shearman, Dellacona was chief people officer at Shearman & Sterling overseeing all aspects of the employee life cycle, including recruitment of attorneys and business professionals, employee development and retention, alumni relations, diversity and inclusion, and health and benefits programs.
With Danny’s arrival, McGuireWoods’ recruiting team will move under his leadership in the Human Resources Department. Effective July 1, the title of J.D. Neary — who has been with McGuireWoods since 2003 — will change from chief legal talent officer to chief administrative officer to reflect his management of office administrators, paralegals, practice assistants and the Business Resource Center.
“Danny’s proven skills in talent strategy and organizational transformation make him an outstanding addition to our team,” said Jeffrey Connor, McGuireWoods’ chief operating officer. “His acumen will add value to our recruiting, integration, development and retention plans as we execute on the firm’s strategic goals.”
Dellacona added: “I admire McGuireWoods’ collaborative culture and look forward to ensuring the firm remains a top choice for lawyers and business professionals as we work to deliver exceptional client service.”
Dellacona began his career in executive human resources roles in the healthcare advertising and media industries. He earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and his B.A. in political science from Stony Brook University.