Travis C. Gunn Counsel

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Travis focuses on appellate litigation and defending clients in trial court against complex, high-value lawsuits.

He has drafted briefs at both the trial and appellate stage, including the United States Supreme Court, on issues ranging from class actions, constitutional law, consumer deception, nuisance, punitive damages, and tort law. Travis advises clients in the agriculture, automotive,
construction, consumer retail, and energy industries. He also dedicates significant time to representing individuals on a pro bono basis, typically in appellate courts.

Before joining McGuireWoods, Travis was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable LeRoy F. Millette, Jr., of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Travis graduated summa cum laude from William & Mary Law School. At William & Mary, Travis served on the editorial board of the William & Mary Law Review.

Experience

United States Supreme Court

  • Collins v. Virginia, No. 16-1027 (U.S. 2018). Represented client in drafting merits briefing and successful petition for appeal. The United States Supreme Court reversed a lower court in our client’s favor, holding that the Fourth Amendment generally requires a warrant before an officer may search in the private property near an individual’s home.

State Appellate Courts

  • Nicholson v. Commonwealth, No. 200356 (Va. 2021). Represented client in drafting merits briefing. The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled in our client’s favor and clarified the law about the procedural steps required to appeal from a final judgment. On remand, the Court of Appeals of Virginia reversed the judgment of conviction against our client for lack of sufficient evidence.
  • McClary v. Jenkins, No. 191132 (Va. 2020). Represented client in drafting merits briefing and presenting oral argument. The Supreme Court of Virginia clarified the legal standard for when a taxpayer can challenge the legality of local government expenditures.
  • Gonzalez v. E.S. Corporation, No. 2194 (Md. Ct. App. 2020). Represented client in drafting merits briefing. The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled in our client’s favor when addressing the scope of a duty owed by a landowner to an independent contractor’s employee.
  • S. v. Villalta, No. 3D19451 (Fla. Ct. App. 2020). Represented client in drafting merits briefing. The Florida Third District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court to rule in our client’s favor that a non-resident manufacturer was not subject to personal jurisdiction in a state trial court.
  • Lopez v. D.E.P. Company, No. A-1-CA-36044 (N.M. Ct. App. 2020). Represented client in drafting merits briefing. The New Mexico Court of Appeals determined the scope of duties required by those who hire independent contractors.
  • Collins v. Commonwealth, No. 151277 (Va. 2019). Represented client in drafting merits briefing and presenting oral argument. On remand from the United States Supreme Court, the Virginia Supreme Court determined when an emergency justifies a warrantless search of the private property near an individual’s home.
  • Jackson v. Clarke, No. 170843 (Va. 2018). Represented client in drafting merits briefing and presenting oral argument. The Virginia Supreme Court addressed what evidence can satisfy criminal firearm statutes.
  • Meyers v. Commonwealth, No. 150962 (Va. 2016). Represented client in drafting merits briefing and presenting oral argument. The Virginia Supreme Court addressed issues of uncorroborated eyewitness identification testimony.

Other Representative Matters

  • Member of national litigation team for a leading manufacturer of outdoor power equipment.
  • Counsel of record for Fortune 500 national retailer of consumer goods. Defended client against nationwide and state class actions, and against suits brought by state attorneys general, alleging consumer deception and breach of warranties. Litigation was consolidated into federal multidistrict litigation proceedings.