Todd Steggerda serves as McGuireWoods’ Deputy Managing Partner for Litigation, overseeing and managing the firm’s nine litigation departments and roughly 500 litigators in the U.S. and the UK. He is the former chair of the firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar Litigation Department, which Law360 recently selected for its prestigious “Practice Group of the Year” award for its notable work in 2019. In a dynamic practice spanning 20 years in Washington, Todd has resolved a diverse range of high-stakes government investigations, regulatory enforcement, and litigation matters, including dozens of matters investigated by the civil and criminal divisions of the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and numerous other federal and state agencies and investigative bodies.
As the Department Chair of the Government Investigations Department at McGuireWoods since 2018, Todd leads and manages a seasoned team of 60 attorneys representing Fortune 100 and other companies and individuals across the full range of civil and criminal investigations and enforcement matters at both the federal and state level. Comprised of a deep bench of former federal officials, including a former Deputy Attorney General of the United States, three former U.S. Attorneys, and more than a dozen former federal prosecutors and other senior enforcement officials, our national practice is strategically centered in Washington and spans nine offices across the country. Reflecting the breadth of our investigations and enforcement capabilities, our Government Investigations Department houses some of the most notable Practice Groups at McGuireWoods, including the White Collar, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption, Anti-Money Laundering and Trade Embargo Compliance, Export Control and Sanctions Enforcement, IG Investigations, SEC Enforcement, Strategic Risk and Crisis Management, and Congressional Investigations Practice Groups.
Recognized by Legal500 as a “Name to Note” in the investigations and enforcement arena, Todd’s representations involve key industries at the crucial intersection of business, law and politics, including major corporate clients and other organizations and individuals operating within the Aerospace and Defense, Health Care, Energy, and Political sectors.
In the Aerospace and Defense sector, Todd leverages his background as an Annapolis graduate and former Navy pilot, with a deep understanding of advanced weapons systems and other products and services provided to the Department of Defense (and its component agencies), NASA, FAA, and other federal agencies. In this practice area, Todd has led matters involving the full range of investigations, enforcement, and litigation matters for Aerospace and Defense contractors and other companies operating in the federal contracting space.
As Lead Counsel, Todd’s representations have included numerous qui tam whistleblower suits involving claims of procurement fraud brought under the False Claims Act, high-visibility DOD IG and DOJ IG investigations, and dozens of investigations conducted by the Department of Justice. Todd also litigates matters before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and has handled a wide range of contractor-related litigation in both state and federal courts, often involving sophisticated advanced weapons technology and complex government contracting issues. Todd’s practice has also protected the interests of various client’s international operations, resolving disputes over contractor-related projects and programs in several foreign jurisdictions, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Russia, and Jordan. Reflecting his broad experience in the defense arena, Todd continues to serve as Chair of the firm’s Government Contract Investigations and Enforcement Practice Group, and was also recently appointed (for the second time) to the Law360 Aerospace & Defense Editorial Board. Specific representative matters in this arena have included the following:
Todd also has extensive experience in the Political sector, where he continues to handle a diverse set of matters for corporations, national party committees, national campaigns, senior political operatives, candidates and other clients in politically-charged litigation and investigations under the jurisdiction of the Federal Election Commission, DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, and various U.S. Attorney’s Offices and congressional committees. During the 2007 and 2008 presidential election cycle, Todd served as a Senior Staff Member and Chief Counsel for the McCain 2008 Presidential Campaign. As one of the longest-serving members of the McCain Campaign from January 2007 through December 2008, Todd led the development of the legal and strategic risk and crisis management strategy across a wide range of complex legal matters, including federal and state AG investigations, political litigation matters in federal court, campaign finance compliance and FEC enforcement matters, and significant and sensitive matters arising under the campaign’s ethics and compliance program. As the leader of the campaign’s day-to-day legal department operations, Todd also organized and led the campaign’s nationwide litigation efforts, managing more than a dozen state-based litigation teams comprising nearly 100 attorneys engaged in significant litigation at both the state and federal levels.
Maintaining deep relationships in the Political sector, including with former colleagues currently serving in positions in the Administration, in Congress, and within the political establishment, Todd continues to maintain a significant practice in this dynamic arena. Notable representations in this sector have included the following:
Todd also has substantial experience in investigations, enforcement, and litigation matters for clients operating in the Health Care and Energy sectors, including the following representative engagements:
Before his tour as Department Chair for the Government Investigations Department, Todd served on the Firm’s Finance, Strategic Planning, Recruiting, and Diversity Committees, and formerly chaired the Defense, National Security, and Government Contracting Industry Team.
Todd is a 1987 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Following graduation, Todd earned a designation as a Naval Aviator and subsequently served as a Navy Flight Instructor and F-18 Pilot, amassing nearly 1600 flight hours and 200 carrier arrestments aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and other United States Aircraft Carriers. During his service in VFA-105, Todd’s F-18 squadron earned the prominent “Battle E” award as the top East Coast Navy F-18 squadron for a consecutive three years in 1992, 1993, and 1994. Transitioning from his naval service in 1994, Todd returned home to the Midwest to attend law school at the University of Iowa College of Law, where he graduated “with high distinction” at the 5th percentile, was appointed to the Order of the Coif, and was selected by his peers as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Corporation law.
Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Aerospace & Defense, Law360, 2018 - present
Member, Section of Public Contract Law, American Bar Association
Member, Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association
Member, DC Advisory Committee, Operation Homefront
Member, Federalist Society
Selected for inclusion in “Legal 500 United States,” Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense; Securities Litigation: Defense, 2021, 2022