McGuireWoods LLP issued the following announcement on Dec. 14.
Nine McGuireWoods partners in offices throughout the United States are singled out by corporate counsel for client service excellence in BTI Consulting Group’s 2020 Client Service All-Stars report. McGuireWoods is one of 10 firms with the most lawyers recognized in the annual report, which honors attorneys “who stand above all the others in delivering the absolute best in client service.”
“These stand-out attorneys impress corporate counsel with their keen understanding of business impacts and unwavering commitment to client objectives — an astounding feat when also assessing a global pandemic alongside growing client expectations of law firms,” the report states. All-Stars were selected based on unprompted feedback from top legal decision makers at companies with $700 million or more in annual revenue
Chicago partner Geoffrey C. Cockrell, leader of the firm’s private equity group, was named a “Client Service All-Star MVP” for making the BTI list two years in a row, a feat achieved by just 61 lawyers nationwide. Cockrell is a highly regarded M&A lawyer whose clients include private equity sponsors and strategic purchasers and sellers. He handles deals across industries, with a focus on healthcare provider services transaction.
In addition to Cockrell, McGuireWoods’ 2020 BTI Client Service All-Stars are:
Charles D. Case (Raleigh), one of North Carolina’s top environmental lawyers, focuses on air and water pollution, waste and property remediation, hazardous chemicals and products, water allocation, and other environmental compliance and administrative law issues.
Cheryl L. Haas (Atlanta), chair of the firm’s Financial Services Litigation Department, advises Fortune 100 companies, investment advisers and broker-dealers in high-stakes disputes in courts and before securities regulators. She is a member of the firm’s Diversity Action Council.
Makram B. Jaber (Washington), a nationally recognized environmental lawyer, represents power companies, manufacturers, oil and gas companies, and other clients in Clean Air Act matters, including counseling, rulemaking comments and litigation, permitting of new and expanded facilities, enforcement, and the regulation of hazardous air pollutants.
Matthew C. Kane (Century City, California) is a nationally recognized corporate employment lawyer who represents businesses in employment-related claims, wage-and-hour class actions and collective actions, misappropriation of trade secrets and noncompetition agreement claims, and labor-management relations issues. He also has been named as one of the 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers.
Joanne Katsantonis (Richmond, Virginia) is McGuireWoods’ deputy managing partner for development and former chair of the energy industry team. She is a strategic adviser to energy companies — from public utilities and independent power producers to financial investors — and handles some of the most sophisticated M&A deals in the energy industry. She also acts as general corporate adviser on matters including corporate structuring, governance issues, partnership and joint venture issues, and compliance and risk management.
Michael R. Phillips (Chicago) has a nationwide labor and employment practices which involves defending employers in wage and hour and other employment class and collective actions as well as cases brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, ERISA, and other state and federal employment statutes. He also assists employers in protecting intellectual property and other proprietary business information and trade secrets through the drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants.
Joseph K. Reid III (Richmond, Virginia) is a nationally recognized trial attorney, energy regulatory lawyer and client counselor with more than 25 years of experience in civil and administrative litigation. He is former chair of the firm’s Regulatory & Compliance Department, leading a team of lawyers representing some of the country’s largest energy companies and their electric and gas utilities.
Brian C. Riopelle (Richmond, Virginia) is one of the nation’s leading intellectual property litigators and former chair of the firm’s IP Litigation/Patents Department. He leads patent and other intellectual property cases across the country, and has considerable experience in the Eastern District of Virginia, a favorite rocket-docket venue for intellectual property litigants.
“These lawyers have distinguished themselves as trusted advisers to our clients and leaders in our firm,” said J. Tracy Walker IV, the firm’s managing partner. “We are proud that clients value our lawyers’ commitment to understanding their business challenges and delivering innovative solutions.”
Original source can be found here.