Mark Bowles is the chairman of McGuireWoods Consulting LLC and a partner with McGuireWoods LLP. As a lawyer and consultant, Mark’s practice focuses on providing strategic counsel and policy advice to business and organizations with issues before the executive branch, state legislatures and regulatory agencies. In addition, Mark works closely with McGuireWoods Consulting offices in Washington, D.C., and the eight states where the firm has a presence. His practice includes government relations and public affairs, and he works with a variety of clients on issues related to AI, health care, energy, technology, gaming, higher education and environmental law.
Mark joined McGuireWoods Consulting as one of the original senior vice presidents when the firm was established in 1998. It has since grown into one of the largest public affairs firms in the United States, managing issues in all 50 states and providing a full range of public affairs services. This includes state and federal lobbying and national specialty practices in infrastructure and economic development, grassroots mobilization, digital advocacy and public relations. Mark has a depth of experience leading state, regional and national public policy efforts and provides advice and counsel to Fortune 100 companies, private equity backed entities and trade associations. He also maintains an active pro bono practice.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Mark served as chief of staff to Rep. L.F. Payne, D-VA, and was counsel to a multistate utility. He served as assistant attorney general in Virginia where he worked on legal and policy matters, including serving as staff counsel for the Attorney General’s Task Force on Domestic Violence.
Mark currently serves on the board of advisors for the University of Virginia Center for Politics and previously served on the university’s board of visitors for nine years.
Mark has a lengthy resume in Virginia politics, having managed statewide campaigns, congressional campaigns and numerous legislative races. Mark served on the finance committee for the McAuliffe for Governor campaign and as the finance co chair for the inauguration of Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Gov. Ralph Northam. Mark has also served as finance chair and member of the steering committee for the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Mark has been named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. In 2025, he was recognized as one of the state’s top business leaders in the Virginia Business’s 500 Power List.
- Assist clients with legal, legislative and regulatory challenges in areas ranging from, healthcare, energy and telecommunications to alcoholic beverage law.
- Developed and managed the “Virginia Technology Alliance for Public Safety,” a coalition of unmanned technology businesses to successfully curtail efforts to limit the use of drone and unmanned aircraft technology in Virginia.
- Assist wine and distilled spirits distributor with regulatory barriers and business development opportunities.
- Worked with a national technology client to forge an innovative collaboration among key Virginia higher-ed institutions to utilize classroom video technology as a means to efficiently teach complex upper level courses.
- Helped to gain start-up funding and appropriation for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, which has become a national leader in promoting political and civics education for students at every level.
Insights
- Author, Due to COVID-19, Most Pennsylvania Businesses Ordered to Cease Operations, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 20, 2020
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Government Relations Practice, 2026
- Named to “The Virginia 500: Power List,” Virginia Business, 2025-2026
McGuireWoods Consulting
McGuireWoods Consulting LLC (“MWC”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the McGuireWoods LLP law firm. From time to time, various McGuireWoods lawyers provide non-legal services to MWC clients, but MWC cannot provide legal services or advice. Therefore, any work MWC performs for a client does not give rise to an attorney-client relationship or privilege. Should you require legal services from McGuireWoods, as well as consulting services from MWC, you must engage the law firm separately.