2025 proved to be a banner year for McGuireWoods Consulting filled with new hires, distinguished honors and continued success for clients’ public affairs goals.
Our 2025 New Hires
This year brought a plethora of new talents to McGuireWoods Consulting and we have greatly benefitted from their expertise. From health care and education to financial services and energy, our new team members hit the ground running in their respective offices and have shown themselves to be immense assets to the firm.
Here are the new members of the McGuireWoods Consulting team.
Mimi Bair, Vice President, Washington, D.C.
Ginger Barbour, Research Associate, Richmond, VA
Amelia Elkins, Research Associate, Washington, D.C.
Jackson Gossett, Assistant Vice President, Columbia, SC
Jeremy Green, Vice President, Washington, D.C.
Lauren Hund, Assistant Vice President, Chicago, IL
Tanner Long, Assistant Vice President, Washington, D.C.
Sydney Rice, Research Associate, Raleigh, NC
Distinguished Honors Received by Our Team
Established members of our team received many esteemed honors this year for their work in the public affairs arena. Our consultants have been recognized by many celebrated organizations such as Best Lawyers in America, Virginia Business and The Hill.
Bowen Heath – North Carolina Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
Franklin Freeman – North Carolina Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
Harrison Kaplan – North Carolina Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
Tommy Sevier – North Carolina Government Relations
- Legacy of Impact: Partnership Excellence Award honoree for Teach For America in North Carolina, 2025
Mark Bowles – Virginia Government Relations
- Virginia Business 500 Power List, 2025
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
- Named co-chair of Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s “United for Virginia’s Future” Inaugural Committee
Chris Nolen – Virginia Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
- 2025 Legal Elite
Tray Adams – Virginia Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
- 2025 Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite
Frank Atkinson – Virginia Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
Kassie Schroth – Virginia Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
Jim Dyke – Virginia Government Relations
- Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s “United for Virginia’s Future” transition committee
- Education Legacy Award from EduTutorVA, 2025
Tracy Baynard – Infrastructure & Economic Development
- Co-Chair, Transportation Committee, Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s “United for Virginia’s Future” transition team
Travis Blankenship – Virginia Government Relations
- Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s “United for Virginia’s Future” transition committee
Holly Deshields – Texas Government Relations
- Top Hired Gun Lobbyists of the Year for USLege’s Best in Government Affairs Awards, 2025
- 2025 Capitol Inside Texas Lobby Power Rankings
Matt Matthews – Texas Government Relations
- 2025 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
- 2025 Capitol Inside Texas Lobby Power Rankings
Kwame Walker – Texas Government Relations
- 2025 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
- 2025 Capitol Inside Texas Lobby Power Rankings
Paige West – Texas Government Relations
- 2025 Capitol Inside Texas Lobby Power Rankings
Robert Wood – Texas Government Relations
- 2025 Capitol Inside Texas Lobby Power Rankings
Ford Graham – Infrastructure and Economic Development
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
Chris Lloyd – Infrastructure and Economic Development
- Co-Chair, Commerce & Trade: Economic Development & Small Business Committee, Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s “United for Virginia’s Future” transition team
- Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame
Jim Hodges – South Carolina Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Government Relations Practice)
Michael Anzelmo – South Carolina Government Relations
- 2026 Best Lawyers in America (Administrative / Regulatory Law and Energy Regulatory Law)
G.K. Butterfield – Federal Public Affairs
- North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine
- The Hill’s 2025 Top Lobbyist List
- North Carolina Award for Public Service
Ryan Bernstein – Federal Public Affairs
- The Hill’s 2025 Top Lobbyist List
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