McGuireWoods Bulks Up Financial Services Litigation Practice
By Lawdragon News | March 23, 2016 | Press Releases
McGuireWoods has expanded its financial services litigation practice with new lateral partners in two cities, including a new office in San Francisco with David C. Powell joining as its first managing partner. Mary J. Hackett, who has represented some of the world’s largest banks and is a former chief litigation officer at PNC Financial Services Group, joins the Pittsburgh office.
The San Francisco office is the firm’s 22nd worldwide and its third in California, joining offices in downtown Los Angeles and in Century City.
McGuireWoods Chairman Richard Cullen said the moves add an office in a strategically important market, along with two litigators who bring leadership, experience and depth to serve the firm’s financial services clients.
“We’re delighted to welcome these fine lawyers to the firm and to add an office in the dynamic San Francisco market,” Cullen said. “These moves align perfectly with our strategy of building on our strengths in areas such as financial services litigation and class action defense.”
Hackett has handled a wide range of complex litigation matters, including managing the defense of more than 100 class actions for financial services institutions nationally. She has represented major U.S. banks in litigation involving affiliated investment products and headed Reed Smith’s financial services litigation group. She is a 1984 Mount Holyoke College graduate who earned her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1987.
“McGuireWoods’ litigation team is second to none when it comes to meeting the needs of its financial services clients nationwide,” Hackett said. “This is a perfect fit for my practice and I’m excited to be part of this team.”
Powell also led his prior firm’s financial services litigation group. His practice focuses on commercial and financial services litigation as well as unfair competition and class action litigation.
“McGuireWoods has one of the nation’s most respected litigation practices, with the breadth and depth that financial services clients need,” Powell said. “We look forward to contributing to the firm’s continuing success and its West Coast expansion.”
Powell is former chair of Buchalter Nemer’s San Francisco litigation department. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1984 and earned his law degree from UC’s Hastings College of the Law in 1987.
McGuireWoods Managing Partner Tom Cabaniss said the firm’s recent West Coast expansion will pay dividends for its clients.
“It’s well-known that California in general, and the 9th Circuit in particular, are class action litigation hotbeds,” he said. “These additions leverage our strengths in areas such as financial services, securities, and food and beverage litigation to the benefit of our clients.”
McGuireWoods LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 22 offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com. Its full-service public affairs arm, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, offers infrastructure and economic development, strategic communications and grassroots advocacy, and government relations solutions.
