Tom Sanford is an experienced litigator who draws on his government background to represent clients in high-stakes commercial litigation, consumer protection investigations, and government enforcement actions.
Before joining McGuireWoods, Tom served as the Virginia Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation. In that senior leadership role, Tom led the Virginia Office of the Attorney General’s civil division and was responsible for the Commonwealth’s defensive civil litigation, consumer protection and antitrust enforcement, utilities regulation, and civil rights matters. As Virginia’s chief civil litigator, Tom oversaw scores of cases in state and federal court, directed numerous investigations, and managed more than 100 attorneys and staff. He frequently counseled the Office of the Governor and the Attorney General of Virginia on sensitive legal issues and litigation strategy for high-profile matters. Tom also regularly briefed dispositive motions and appeared in trial and appellate courts across Virginia to argue successfully in defense of the Commonwealth’s laws and policies, including in exceptionally fast-paced cases.
Prior to joining the Office of the Attorney General, Tom began his public service in the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Office of General Counsel, where he focused on insurance regulatory matters and deepened his understanding of how government decision-makers and regulators think and operate.
Harnessing the insights and skills gained from his time in government, Tom excels at crafting legal strategies tailored to each client’s unique goals and cutting to the heart of complex disputes to efficiently resolve clients’ most pressing matters.
Before entering government service, Tom practiced at a top Wall Street firm, where he defended a prominent automotive company against high-profile consumer protection claims and represented financial institutions in commercial litigation and white-collar investigations.
Tom graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he also earned a master’s degree in history, served as the president of the Federalist Society, and was a member of the Virginia Law Review.
- Defended state laws and policies from legal challenges that raised complex questions of constitutional law, statutory interpretation, sovereign immunity, and justiciability.*
- Defended state agencies in administrative litigation, including challenges to a statewide energy and environmental regulation and a high-profile regulatory guidance document.*
- Represented election officials and defended Virginia’s election laws and procedures from multiple constitutional and statutory challenges brought in state and federal court.*
- Counseled high-level government officials on proposed legislation, regulatory initiatives, and litigation strategy.*
- Directed consumer protection investigations and enforcement actions, including the issuance of civil investigative demands, under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, the Virginia Solicitation of Contributions law, and the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act.*
- Oversaw state investigations into alleged violations of civil rights, including investigations of educational institutions.*
- Represented state officials in sensitive Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation and counseled state agencies on FOIA compliance.*
- Represented global fund administrator in federal breach-of-contract litigation.*
- Counseled financial institution in responding to a government investigation.*
- Represented prominent automotive company in federal and state court litigation, including a class action suit.*
* The above matters were handled by Mr. Sanford prior to joining McGuireWoods LLP.