McGuireWoods partner Eric G. Olshan has been inducted as a fellow of the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an honor reserved for lawyers who attain the highest level of advocacy.
The academy limits membership to 500 active trial lawyers from the United States, including prosecutors, plaintiffs’ lawyers, and criminal and civil defense lawyers. Invitations to join the academy are reserved for those who have demonstrated excellence throughout their careers in jury trials, bench trials and appellate practice. A comprehensive screening process that includes peer and judicial review is used to identify the most qualified candidates for induction.
Olshan helps clients navigate complex government investigations, enforcement actions and high-stakes litigation. Before joining McGuireWoods in 2025, he served in the U.S. Department of Justice for over 17 years, culminating in his appointment by the President and unanimous confirmation by the Senate as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
During his career in government, Olshan spent over 15 years as a white collar prosecutor, including 10 years as a trial attorney and deputy chief in the DOJ Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C., and over five years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and chief of the Economic/Cyber/National Security Crimes Section in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
As U.S. Attorney, Olshan led the three-month capital trial of the shooter who murdered 11 worshipers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the worst antisemitic mass shooting in U.S. history. Olshan has practiced in federal courts across the country and tried more than two dozen cases to verdict, including federal white collar trials in seven federal districts. A skilled appellate advocate, he has handled successful appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits.
“I am honored to be selected to an organization dedicated to the rule of law,” Olshan said. “I look forward to joining my fellow members in pursuing the academy’s mission to hold judges and lawyers to the highest standards of competency, integrity and civility.”
Olshan is the third McGuireWoods partner inducted into the academy, following partners Mark Anderson and Samuel Tarry. “Eric’s induction into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers is a testament to his skill, judgment and integrity,” said Noreen Kelly, McGuireWoods’ deputy managing partner and head of litigation. “His trial experience and leadership at DOJ make him an extraordinary resource for our clients, and we are proud to see his talents recognized by his peers in this way.”