McGuireWoods continues to grow its formidable litigation capabilities with the arrival of partner Michael Scoville, a former federal prosecutor who represents global companies in high-stakes disputes and government investigations. Scoville, who served as a law clerk for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of the United States, also expands the firm’s roster of litigators who clerked at the nation’s highest court.
A seasoned trial attorney, Scoville litigates product liability matters, commercial disputes, and arbitrations involving the aviation, aerospace, defense contracting, telecommunications and automotive industries. Drawing on his experience as a federal prosecutor, he also conducts risk assessments and investigations involving the False Claims Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Scoville earned a nationwide ranking for aviation litigation from Chambers USA each year since 2021.
Scoville joins McGuireWoods after 12 years at Perkins Coie in Seattle. Before that, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, where he prosecuted cases involving drug trafficking, immigration crimes, child exploitation, identity theft and financial fraud, among other matters. Scoville will continue to practice in the state of Washington.
“Michael has distinguished himself in public service and private practice, earning the trust of major companies that turn to him for defense in complicated, high-profile disputes,” said Noreen Kelly, deputy managing partner of McGuireWoods’ litigation practice. “He is a major addition and will help grow our presence in key West Coast markets.”
Scoville earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and served as a Notes Editor on the Harvard Law Review. Before clerking for Justice Kennedy, he served as a law clerk for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Scoville is one of 10 former U.S. Supreme Court clerks in McGuireWoods’ litigation practices.
“Michael is a creative and meticulous litigator,” said Benjamin L. Hatch, chair of the firm’s Environmental & Mass Tort Department. “His experience will strengthen our growing aviation practice. Michael can steer clients through all aspects of a high-stakes event, whether it be mass tort litigation or a related government investigation.”
McGuireWoods’ product liability and mass tort lawyers have decades of experience successfully defending leading companies in complex litigation and providing risk management advice and training to reduce exposure to future claims. The firm holds a nationwide ranking for product liability and mass tort litigation from Chambers USA.
“McGuireWoods has a premier litigation practice with world-class lawyers who have the technical knowledge and business acumen to help their clients achieve their objectives,” Scoville said. “This is a perfect fit for my practice.”