The American Lawyer, The Recorder, Law360, Bloomberg Law, the Los Angeles Business Journal, Business Insurance, Reuters, Daily Journal, Global Legal Post, Global Legal Chronicle and Commercial Dispute Resolution were among the media outlets that reported on McGuireWoods’ addition of a nationally acclaimed litigation team in the firm’s Century City, California, office.

The 11-lawyer group, including six partners, joined from Pasich LLP, a boutique firm recognized globally for representing commercial policyholders in high-profile and high-stakes insurance recovery disputes. Their arrival at McGuireWoods strengthens one of the nation’s top-tier insurance recovery practices, bolstering the firm’s coast-to-coast capabilities.

Kirk Pasich, one of Pasich LLP’s founding partners, told The American Lawyer that the decision to join McGuireWoods happened quickly. He wasn’t looking to join a new firm when he sat down for lunch on June 20, 2024, with Mikaela Whitman, another founding partner of Pasich LLP who joined McGuireWoods in January 2024. But once he expressed interest, McGuireWoods made the transition happen on an expedited timeline to accommodate a heavy slate of upcoming cases for Pasich and his colleagues.

“They had senior people hop on planes, come out and meet us, meet our staff and associates,” Pasich said in The American Lawyer’s Aug. 7 story. “It was amazing how quickly the firm reacted and how welcome they’ve made our people feel in the process of getting from June 20 to today. That to me is a good example of what the firm is like: ‘If they have their sights set on something, they’ll do it.’”

Pasich told the Los Angeles Business Journal that McGuireWoods has been on his radar screen — “if they made a big effort here in California in terms of insurance recovery, I’d listen.”

“Less than six weeks later, we’re here,” he added. “They got it done. They moved mountains.”

Pasich said mutual clients strongly encouraged the move after learning it was in the works. 

“It was unusual in my experience to get that kind of endorsement,” he told the LABJ. “From my perspective, it was a great thing.”

Pasich told the Daily Journal that McGuireWoods’ strong appellate practice and international reach also drew him and his colleagues to McGuireWoods. The firm litigates high-profile, large-exposure actions in state and federal courts nationwide and abroad, as well as in domestic and international insurance arbitrations in Bermuda, London, Singapore and other leading venues.

McGuireWoods “has a great appellate practice, and we do a lot of appellate work,” Pasich said. “So, the idea that there’s another 30 or 40 appellate lawyers that can help us out is terrific, and having McGuireWoods on the ground in London was important as well,” he said.