McGuireWoods Adds Appeals Power from Solicitor General’s Office

McGuireWoods boosted its appellate practice on Wednesday by adding Jonathan Ellis, who just spent four-and-a-half years in the Justice Department as an assistant to the U.S. solicitor general.

The former John Roberts clerk, who argued nine Supreme Court cases for DOJ, will split time between the firm’s Raleigh, N.C., and Washington offices.

It was a combination of things that drew Ellis to McGuireWoods, he said in a phone interview from North Carolina, where he and his wife are from. “One of them was the location,” he said, “being able to practice in my home state and being closer to family.”

He was also drawn to the firm’s growing appellate practice, which he’ll co-chair.

“They’ve done the cultural work at the firm of convincing the partners that it’s worth having an appellate practice,” Ellis said, noting the firm’s recruitment of former judicial clerks and DOJ lawyers. “I’m excited to come in there and try to help the team to grow that practice, particularly the Supreme Court practice,” he said.

The other Appeals & Issues group co-chairs are Bradley Kutrow, Matthew Fitzgerald, and Brian Schmalzbach.

“The insight Jonathan gained as an advocate before the Supreme Court, in private practice and as a law clerk to Chief Justice Roberts is invaluable,” said Schmalzbach, who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas. “He is an outstanding addition who will play an important role as we continue to expand our appellate practice.”

Ellis, who will also be a member of the firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation Department, practiced at Latham & Watkins after clerking for Roberts, before joining the solicitor general’s office in 2017.