John D. McGavin
Principal, Managing Partner
Summary
Mr. McGavin is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America; Past President of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation (President 2022), Member of the Select Committee of The VBA that authors Virginia’s “Evidence Handbook”, and serves on the Steering Committee of the prestigious Boyd-Graves Committee. In short, he is a leader in the field of Litigation, widely recognized for his extensive trial experience and skill. He is a “Super Lawyer”, “Best Lawyer in America”, and Martindale Hubbell AV rated. In 2014 and 2018, Mr. McGavin was selected as Lawyer of the Year for Products Liability Defense in Washington DC, and in 2015 was selected Personal Injury Defense Lawyer of the Year for Washington DC.
Education
- Undergraduate: University of Virginia B.A. with Distinction, (1979)
- Graduate: College of William and Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law J.D. (1982)
Bar & Court Admissions
- Virginia (1982)
- District of Columbia (2002)
- Maryland (2011)
- U.S. Supreme Court (1995)
- U.S. Court of Appeals (4th Circuit)(1983)
- U.S. District Court, E.D. Va. (1983); W.D. Va. (1985)
- Virginia Supreme Court (1982)
- District of Columbia, Court of Appeals (2002)
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (2003)
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, (2014-present), Products Liability Defense Lawyer of the Year (Washington, D.C. 2014, 2018); Personal Injury Defense Lawyer of the Year (Washington, D.C. 2015)
- Virginia Business Magazine, “Legal Elite” Top Lawyers, Litigation (2018-present)
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly “Leader in the Law 2013”, an award recognizing contributions to the practice of law and the community.
- Northern Virginia Magazine—“Top Attorneys in Northern Virginia”, (Personal Injury and Criminal Law), 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly “Lawyers Hall of Fame”
- Virginia “Super Lawyer” (2007-present); (Top 10: 2021) (Top 100: 2020, 2022)
- Washington D.C. “Super Lawyer” (2007-present)
- Washingtonian Magazine “Top Lawyers” – (2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017; 2018)
- Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Furness Award - 2006 Awarded for exceptional leadership.
- DRI Exceptional Performance Award – 2005
- National Insurance Crime Bureau Certificate of Appreciation (May 30, 2002); In recognition of the supportive investigative efforts provided in a major multi-million dollar medical billing fraud case that resulted in the arrest and prosecution of several individuals.
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Select Committee, Virginia Bar Association; Evidence - Responsible for preparing and editing “Primer on Evidence”, Publication of the Virginia Bar Association (2012-present)
- Fairfax Bar Association Judicial Selection Committee (1998 - 2000)
- Faculty, Virginia State Bar Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course 2009-2012
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers Inducted, 2009
- Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation (2006-present); Board of Directors (2019-the present); Fellows Committee (2012-2020; Chairman 2018-2020) (President 2022)
- Fairfax Bar Association Judicial Selection Committee (1998 - 2000)
- Virginia State Bar
- Virginia Bar Association
- Northern Virginia Young Lawyers Association President (1987-1988)
- Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
- President (October 2004-2005)
- Board of Directors (1997-2000)
- Executive Committee (2000-2006)
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (2015-present)
- Defense Research Institute
- Propane Gas Defense Association
- Boyd-Graves Conference (2004-present); Steering Committee (2012-present)
- Fairfax Bar Association Conciliation and Mediation Program, Steering Committee Member, (2005-2009)
Representative Publications & Presentations
- Editor—Book Chapter "Tripartite Relationship", Virginia CLE Publication, "Insurance Law" (2019).
- “Time to Revisit the Gatekeeping Function of the Trial Courts in Virginia.” The Journal of Civil Litigation; Vol. XVIII, No. 3 (Fall 2006)
- “Sovereign Immunity: Is it Alive and Well in Virginia after Friday -Spivey v. Collier?”, The Journal of Civil Litigation; Vol. XVII, No. 3 (Fall 2005)
- “John v. Im: Time for Clarification and Revisiting the Decision by The Supreme Court of Virginia.”, The Journal of Civil Litigation; Vol. XV, No. 2 (Summer 2003)
Significant Cases
(Reported Circuit Court cases are not included due to volume)
- Robinson v. Nordquist, 297 Va. 503 (2019)
- Bartolomucci v. Federal Ins. Co., 289 Va. 361 (2015)
- Schuiling v. Harris, 286 Va. 187; 747 S.E. 2d 833 (2013)
- Uniwest Constr., Inc. v. Amtech Elevator Servs., 280 Va. 428; 699 S.E. 2d 223 (2010)
- Covel v. Town of Vienna, 280 Va. 151; 694 S.E. 2d 609 (2010)
- Sunrise Continuing Care LLC v. Wright, 277 Va. 148; 671 S.E. 2d 132 (2009)
- Douglas B. Baker, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Virginia Graeme Baker v. Poolservice Company, et al., 272 Va. 677, 636 S.E. 2d 360 (2006)
- Gibson v. Boy Scouts of America, et. al., 359 F. Supp. 2d 469 (E.D. Va. 2005)
- Gibson v. Boy Scouts of America, et. al., 359 F. Supp. 2d 462 (E.D. Va. 2005)
- Honsinger v. Egan, 266 Va. 269, 585 S.E. 2d 597 (2003)
- John v. Im, 263 Va. 315, 559 S.E.2d 694 (2002)
- Interim Personnel v. Messer, 263 Va. 435, 559 S.E.2d 704 (2002)
- Lambert v. Downtown Garage, 262 Va. 707, 553 S.E.2d 714 (2001)
- USAA Cas. Ins. Co. v. Randolph, 255 Va. 342, 497 S.E.2d 744 (1998)
- Robertson v. Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, 249 Va. 72, 452 S.E.2d 845 (1995)
- Chesapeake Bay Seafood House v. Clements, 14 Va. App. 143 (1992)
- Jackson v. Ratcliff Concrete Co., 8 Va. App. 143 (1989)
- Thiboudeau v. Vandermark, 234 Va. 15, 360 S.E.2d 171 (1987)
- Stone v. Ethan Allen, Inc., 232 Va. 365, 350 S.E.2d 629 (1987)
Employment
- Partner of McGavin, Boyce, Bardot, Thorsen & Katz, P.C. (1988 to Present)
- Associate Attorney - Lewis & Trichilo (1983 - 1988)
- Law Clerk for the Honorable Oren R. Lewis U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (1982-1983)
Areas of Practice
Civil litigation in Federal and State Courts throughout Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, including:
- Civil Litigation
- Products liability
- Professional liability/malpractice
- Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation