Summer 2023 • Vol 5 Issue 1 Meet Alum Vincent Miraglia, Associate General Counsel and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer With Sylvamo ALSO INSIDE From the Chair | Journeys | Full Circle | New & Now | Career Moves | Remembering SKILL, LUCK AND CHANCEIN THIS ISSUE SUMMER 2023 Meet Our Amazing Alumni Vincent J. Miraglia Ute Heidenreich Why She’s Back: Casey Lucier The Latest News From McGuireWoods Here’s Where Our Alums Landed Marianne Gavlak Bundren Colleen B. McGushin, Editor Elizabeth Maddox, Graphic Designer Contributors: John Bologna, Art Brewer, David Donovan, Andrew Gnerre, Jonathan Harmon, Amy Krynak, Colleen McGushin, Kate Raftery, Mike Sluss, Natale Stenzel To submit story ideas, email For questions about One McGuireWoods, To subscribe to McGuireWoods news, alerts and publications, 2 ONE McGUIREWOODS | SUMMER 20 23We Are Committed to Culture McGuireWoods is fresh off a fruitful and energizing partner retreat, held this year in beautiful Puerto Rico. Bringing partners together in one place is an enlightening exercise and the one consistent theme throughout was a focus on the firm’s culture — a differentiator that plays a vital role in defining who we are, keeping us strong, and in providing superior legal representation to clients and attracting top talent to McGuireWoods. The firm’s alumni know our culture well. They were charged with molding it while at the firm and they carry it with them when they leave, torchbearers of a sort. The reason we started the One McGuireWoods alumni program in 2019 was to stay connected with a large part of the McGuireWoods family: our alumni. Marcus Garvey, the Jamaican-born Black nationalist, said it well. “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” And McGuireWoods alumni help form those cultural roots. When we talk to alumni for the One McGuireWoods magazine, one question we ask is, “What do you value most about your time at McGuireWoods?” The answers almost always mention the firm’s dedication to excellence, the relationships formed at McGuireWoods or both. In this issue of the magazine, for example, former McGuireWoods labor and employment attorney Vincent Miraglia, now at paper company Sylvamo, said, “I was lucky to work with fantastic lawyers while I was at McGuireWoods. ... They worked hard and were dedicated to their clients. They put in the time to make sure they got it right, and I never saw a shortcut taken. It was about providing excellent service to clients, and that helped me be a better lawyer.” McGuireWoods has flourished over the years because we embrace a culture defined by core values, the cornerstone of which is excellent client service. And clients notice. In this year’s BTI Client Service A-Team report — the gold standard that measures a law firm’s brand, reputation and success as viewed by corporate counsel at top companies — McGuireWoods ranks No. 4 among 241 law firms. There is no better gauge of a law firm’s performance than feedback from clients. Together, McGuireWoods’ attorneys and professional staff deliver unparalleled service, and it means a great deal to me that clients, some of whom are firm alumni, recognize this commitment and continue to place their trust in us. In May, the firm welcomed the 2023 class of summer associates — 59 top law school students from 33 schools. The summer associates gain valuable hands-on experience and develop their legal skills. But they also learn about our culture firsthand by forming strong connections with folks at the firm. Each time we welcome new people into the McGuireWoods family, our diverse culture evolves, and this year’s summer class is no exception. They speak Spanish, Catalan, French, Portuguese, Hindi, Chinese, Korean, Farsi, Hebrew and Japanese. And they come from unique backgrounds in teaching, farming, volunteering as an EMT and working as a caddy. I am proud that McGuireWoods continues to excel and remains true to the culture and principles that sustained us for nearly two centuries. I am confident about the future of the firm and excited for the opportunities ahead. I hope you enjoy this issue of the One McGuireWoods magazine. Have a safe, healthy and happy summer. FROM THE CHAIR JONATHAN HARMON CHAIRMAN McGUIREWOODS ONE McGUIREWOODS | SUMMER 20 23 3At 6 years old, not many kids know they want to become a lawyer. But McGuireWoods alum Vincent Miraglia did. He even remembers the day he knew. “My grandfather read me a book about Abraham Lincoln. It was a pink book, a bit thicker than a picture book, and I liked the story. It stuck with me — I wanted to be a lawyer, too,” Miraglia says. He grew up in Medford, Massachusetts, and went to Suffolk University on Boston’s Beacon Hill, next to the State House, majoring in political science. He earned his J.D. from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in 1995 and thought he’d practice international law, perhaps at the State Department. But a summer internship interview changed his career plans and his life, and he walked out of that interview ready to practice labor and employment law instead. His new path took him to Glass, McCullough, Sherrill & Harrold, where he was an L&E associate who, along with a small group, moved to McGuireWoods to open the Atlanta office in 1997. He left McGuireWoods temporarily in 1998 when he got married and moved home to Boston, but rejoined the firm a year later in Washington, D.C., where he focused on employment litigation. Miraglia joined International Paper’s legal department in 2004, taking on numerous roles during his 17-plus years there, some of which required “being thrown in the deep end” and “learning by doing.” In 2021, International Paper spun off its paper business into a new company, Memphis-based Sylvamo, where Miraglia became associate general counsel and chief ethics and compliance officer — the latter a new role for him. He embraced the challenge, drawing on experience he gained throughout his career. Skill, Luck and Chance A Conversation With Vincent Miraglia JOURNEY 4 ONE McGUIREWOODS | SUMMER 20 23JOURNEY SVincent Miraglia, associate general counsel and chief ethics and compliance officer, Sylvamo ONE McGUIREWOODS | SUMMER 20 23 5“The different chances I took created a diverse practice for me over the past 20 years. It made me a better lawyer, and it made a good life. I have enjoyed it,” he says. McGuireWoods talked to Miraglia about his time at the firm and how his career has advanced and evolved. How did you come to join McGuireWoods and what did you do at the firm? I was an associate in a labor and employment group at Glass, McCullough, a small firm in Atlanta, and some of us moved to McGuireWoods to open the Atlanta office in 1997. It was exciting to join a large firm and have the support of labor and employment lawyers in offices around the country. Is there one McGuireWoods memory that stands out? I worked with great people at McGuireWoods. The person I worked with most was then-partner Laura Huggett. We both moved to McGuireWoods from Glass, McCullough. She insisted I be clear and concise in my speaking and writing. She told me a story about a young public defender. At an arraignment, the lawyer said, “Your honor, my client doesn’t have any shoes.” The judge said, “Tell me what you want.” The public defender said, sheepishly, “I move for shoes,” and the judge said, “Granted.” That story sticks with me, whenever I am writing or talking. Be clear and concise, ask for what you want and be simple about what it is. “I was lucky to work with fantastic lawyers while I was at McGuireWoods. ... I never saw a shortcut taken. It was about providing excellent service to clients, and that helped me be a better lawyer,” Vincent Miraglia says. What factored into your decision to move in-house with International Paper in 2004? International Paper was, and is, a client of McGuireWoods and I had a good relationship with the folks I worked with. They were the biggest client I had at the time — I was doing several cases for them — and they approached me about moving there. They were taking all of their labor and employment litigation in-house and wanted me to handle that for them. I said no, I was happy at McGuireWoods. But they continued to ask me for about a year. During that time, my first son was born. I was in McGuireWoods’ D.C. office and my commute was an hour each way. I was not spending enough time at home. Because the commute time in Memphis was about six minutes on a busy day, it made it easier to have family time. I decided to move to Memphis and join International Paper. 6 ONE McGUIREWOODS | SUMMER 20 23You were with International Paper for 17 years. What kind of work did you do? I was hired to handle employment litigation, which is what I did at McGuireWoods. But almost immediately I worked on other litigation I’d never handled before, such as personal injury, environmental and antitrust. I was thrown into the deep end and had to swim — learn and get out there to represent the company. One of the things I loved about International Paper was the ability to work in different areas. I was the information technology lawyer for a few years, which I took because I had three kids at that point, including twins, and because of the time-consuming nature of litigation and the traveling. I went to our general counsel and asked if there was something I could do based in Memphis. I jumped at the IT lawyer position. I had no experience in that area, but I figured it out and did two different stints in that role over the years. I also handled contracts as a business lawyer, I spent some time with our corporate group. I even worked in our Brussels office for a short time. I was given opportunities to work on almost everything I could in the legal department at International Paper. Cool as ice: I grew up playing hockey and I still play every Sunday night. I found a rink nearby in Mississippi. It’s good exercise and I can take out a bit of aggression. News junkie: I enjoy keeping up with world and current events. Nothing makes me happier than a Sunday morning reading the newspaper with my wife. I enjoy NPR and I am a board member for our local public radio station. Simplify, simplify: I try to make life easier for me and others. The more I simplify things, the better off I am, whether it’s focusing on one thing at a time or having less in my closet. Proud papa: I’m proud of our boys. One is a freshman at McGill University in Montreal. He plays lacrosse. We also have twin boys in high school and they play lacrosse. It is so much fun to watch them play. FOUR THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT VINCENT MIRAGLIA ONE McGUIREWOODS | SUMMER 20 23 7“The different chances I took created a diverse practice for me over the past 20 years. It made me a better lawyer, and it made a good life. I have enjoyed it,” Vincent Miraglia says. What was the 2021 transition to Sylvamo like? After International Paper announced the spinoff, Sylvamo offered me a position as associate general counsel for labor and employment. I was comfortable since I had done that at International Paper. Sylvamo also asked me to be chief compliance officer, which I hadn’t done at International Paper. Because of all the prior roles I had, I tried something new and figured it out. I hired a few folks with good ethics and compliance experience and we have built a good program. It is important to have buy-in from leadership. Before I took the position, I knew the folks leading Sylvamo would take ethics and compliance seriously. Our leadership ensures ethical conduct is required and rewarded. It has been a great position and rewarding to implement this program at what essentially is a startup. Sylvamo is a new company doing things in an innovative way. What is a typical day like for you at Sylvamo? It is interesting. On the ethics and compliance side, it’s a leadership and strategic role. I work with great people and lead us in the right direction while they manage the day-to-day ethics and compliance issues. On the labor and employment side, I handle day-to-day work — litigation that comes in and consulting and advising the business — primarily in North America, but also in other offices globally. That work is challenging, time-consuming and diverse. What advice would you give other lawyers considering going in-house? Know the business. That is important when you are outside counsel as well, but when you are in- house, it is essential to understand the strategy and the direction of the business to add value and be a trusted partner to the business team. 8 ONE McGUIREWOODS | SUMMER 20 23What is the biggest difference between working in-house and working at a firm? At a firm, your client is the most important aspect of your day, but you want to make sure you get hours in. When you work in-house, a few doors down from the CEO, you don’t have to bill hours. I focus on making sure my client — my employer — succeeds by minimizing risk, ensuring compliance and being lawful. I don’t worry about appearances and memos. I can walk down the hall, have a conversation and provide ideas about how to resolve an issue. That is a more efficient way to get things done. What is an important part of your professional journey that is not on your LinkedIn page? Taking chances. I went to law school focused on international law. During my first year, I interviewed for six summer internships and the first five were different types of international law practices. One was with a think tank, one was with a general who wanted to write a book, but the last interview was with Laura Huggett, a labor and employment lawyer at Glass, McCullough. I went into that interview and said, “I’m sorry, this is not what I’m looking for.” And Laura said, “Let’s sit down and talk.” We had a fantastic conversation and, by the end of the interview, I was a labor and employment lawyer. I changed my classes. She was a wonderful mentor. I knew I’d enjoy working for her, and it was a great decision. It changed my life and gave me a different direction. I took a chance, and I am grateful I did. And I kept taking chances. I decided to move to Atlanta. I decided to move to the IT role at International Paper. I decided to move to Brussels. Taking those different chances created a diverse practice for me over the past 20 years. What do you value most about your time at McGuireWoods? The drive and the ability to do excellent work. I was lucky to work with fantastic lawyers while I was at McGuireWoods. I started with then-partners Gardner Courson and Laura Huggett, then worked with Carter Younger, Curtis Mack, Jon Harmon, Clifford “Dick” Oviatt and Bob Brame — exceptional lawyers. Dick and Bob were National Labor Relations Board members, and they drove me and demonstrated excellence. They worked hard and were dedicated to their clients. They put in the time to make sure they got it right, and I never saw a shortcut taken. It was about providing excellent service to clients, and that helped me be a better lawyer. ONE McGUIREWOODS | SUMMER 20 23 9Next >