McGuireWoods partner Cheri Beasley left the firm effective Aug. 31, 2021, to focus on her candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
Beasley joined McGuireWoods’ litigation practice in Raleigh in January 2021 after a distinguished career in the judiciary. She served for eight years on the Supreme Court of North Carolina and was appointed chief justice in March 2019, becoming the first African American woman to hold the position.
“We were honored to welcome Cheri Beasley to McGuireWoods after her groundbreaking career on the bench,” said McGuireWoods Chairman Jonathan Harmon. “While we regret losing our friend and colleague so soon, we understand that her passion for public service demands her full-time commitment. We wish Cheri the best as she moves forward with her candidacy and we thank her for her contributions to the firm.”
Said Beasley: “I am grateful to my McGuireWoods colleagues for their friendship and support. I am so impressed with the talent and dedication of our lawyers and heartened by the firm’s commitment to pro bono service and community engagement.”
Beasley graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and Douglass College of Rutgers University. She earned a master of laws degree in judicial studies from Duke University School of Law. She has held several leadership roles and served on committees in the American Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association to promote access to legal services. Beasley has received numerous awards and honorary doctorates for distinguished leadership and public service.