Diane Flannery > McGuireWoods LLP > Richmond, United States > Lawyer Profile

Displaying a ‘thorough approach to engagements’, which includes a detailed knowledge of the substantive and procedural law, McGuireWoods LLP provides ‘educated and strategic advice’ to manufacturers across a range of consumer-facing products throughout the life cycle of their litigation. Much of the product liability work is led from its Richmond-based headquarters, although the firm’s Chicago office recently received a boost following the arrival in March 2022 from litigation boutique Swanson, Martin & Bell of Patrick Clyder , whose trial experience includes product liability cases throughout the country, including before Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, one of the nation’s most challenging venues for defendants. Team head Diane Flannery  leads from the front and regularly co-ordinates large-scale defenses in class action and MDLs, including her continued work for a hardwood flooring retailer in more than 140 class actions and dozens of personal-injury cases stemming from alleged formaldehyde contamination in the company’s laminate flooring made in China.

Primarily centered out of its Richmond headquarters, McGuireWoods LLP is well-versed in defending clients from a range of sectors, including life sciences, in high-stakes product liability-related disputes. The firm’s trial ready approach has led to a raft of victories in state and federal courts throughout the country, while also ensuring that it is well-placed to secure early dismissals and favorable settlements. Key members of the versatile team, include Samuel Tarry  and Davis Walsh , who as well as handling fee-earning work, recently edited the American Bar Association’s Guide on Infectious Disease Litigation – particularly pertinent in light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Diane Flannery heads the team.

Primarily centred from its Richmond headquarters but also able to add additional bench strength from other offices, including Chicago, should the need arise, McGuireWoods LLP has a strong grounding in the defense of clients in class actions and MDLs arising in the context of product liability/toxic tort infractions. Team head Diane Flannery  has deep experience in the field and has over many years in practice had lead counsel and trial counsel roles in toxic tort cases relating to asbestos, lead paint and chemicals. She recently concluded a long-running MDL litigation involving more than 140 class actions alleging excessive levels of formaldehyde in Chinese manufactured laminate flooring. A highly regarded litigator in Virginia, Stephen Busch also has a very strong track record handling toxic tort cases, particularly with an environmental complexion.

McGuireWoods LLP is particularly proficient in the energy, financial services, and white-collar sectors, as well as commercial litigation. Jonathan Blank in Charlotte focuses on the energy sector, in particular natural gas litigation, and has also litigated antitrust, construction, fraud and mineral rights cases. Robert Muckenfuss also works from Charlotte and focuses on business and financial services litigation and has advised significant financial institutions in a breadth of consumer related lawsuits, including nationwide mortgage litigation. Yasser Madriz is the managing partner of the team’s Houston office and is an accomplished trial lawyer who is well-established in federal and state court litigation, as well as in arbitrations, with expertise in technology and IP disputes, trade secret theft, and unfair competition claims. Chicago’s Amy Manning,  Cheryl Haas in Atlanta, and Diane Flannery in Richmond are also notable names.

McGuireWoods LLP is particularly strong in CAA regulatory and litigation matters, and the regulation of emerging contaminants. Other areas of focus include toxic and mass torts, nuisance claims, environmental resource damage claims and enforcement actions. The team is led by Charlotte’s David Franchina, and Vishwa Link and Diane Flannery in Richmond. In Washington DC, Makram Jaber is well versed in CAA litigation and EPA enforcement actions, while Aaron Flynn acts for high-profile companies in the utilities, oil and gas, and manufacturing sectors on both litigation and regulatory matters.

Led from Richmond by Diane Flannery , McGuireWoods LLP‘s overarching products and mass tort litigation group regularly acts as trial and national counsel for transportation clients in the defence of cases brought by plaintiffs, including those based on sophisticated defect theories. Although it handles some work in the aviation sector, the team is particularly well-versed in automotive-related matters, with longstanding relationships having been built over the years with several high-profile manufacturers. Combining deep industry knowledge alongside strong litigation capabilities, the team regularly achieves success at a dispositive motion stage, as well as in jury trials throughout the country, including in so-called “judicial hell-hole” jurisdictions. Perry Miles exemplifies these qualities and has become a popular choice among clients in the sector to co-ordinate their litigation strategy and to act as counsel at a trial stage. Samuel Tarry  is also recommended.

McGuireWoods LLP has recently been active in emerging issues, including the EPA’s actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, as well as environmental justice issues and residuals management. The team is also strong in CAA regulatory matters and litigation and is led by Charlotte’s David Franchina and Vishwa Link and Diane Flannery in Richmond. Franchina is a key name for solid and hazardous waste, water and air pollution matters, while Washington DC’s Aaron Flynn and Makram Jaber act for utilities and oil and gas companies on a range of environmental regulatory matters. Amanda Waters joined as counsel in Richmond from Aqua Law in June 2022.