McGuireWoods LLP

Colleges and universities should assess their #cybersecurity compliance posture and incident response readiness and harden their networks as soon as possible in light of elevated threats. Since June 2025, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has cautioned that Iranian government-affiliated actors routinely target U.S. networks and internet-connected devices. The war in Iran and recent Iranian state-sponsored malicious cyber operations suggest U.S. educational institutions may be more vulnerable than usual. They already face a complex web of overlapping federal and state data breach notification requirements, cybersecurity-related risks to Title IV funding eligibility and lasting reputational harm due to #cyberattacks. Read on to learn more about current cyber threats and what institutions should do to prepare: https://lnkd.in/eWA6YSjE McGuireWoods LLP authors: Janet Peyton, Brandi Howard, Farnaz Farkish T., Sarah Wake, Maricris Prendingue, John Sullivan

McGuireWoods LLP has appointed Taylor French as chair of the firm’s Tax & Employee Benefits Department and Shelby Guilbert as chair of the Commercial Litigation Department. The appointments, which take effect June 1, 2026, continue the firm’s longstanding tradition of rotating key leadership positions. French is a partner in the firm’s Charlotte office and leader of the Employee Benefits Practice Group. He will succeed Atlanta partner Gerald Thomas, who has led the department since 2018. Beginning in June, Thomas will serve as deputy managing partner of the firm’s corporate practice. Guilbert is a partner in the firm’s Atlanta office and a member of the firm’s nationally recognized Insurance Recovery Practice Group. He succeeds partner Michael Herring, who has chaired the department since 2023 and previously served as managing partner of the firm’s Richmond office. Read more: https://lnkd.in/edZzZK7Y

Gerald Thomas will succeed Rick Viola as deputy managing partner with responsibility for McGuireWoods’ transactional practices, maintaining the firm’s tradition of regularly rotating key leadership positions. The appointment takes effect June 1, 2026. Thomas has chaired the firm’s Tax & Employee Benefits Department since 2018, leading a nationally recognized team of attorneys serving clients across the globe. “Gerald is an outstanding lawyer and collaborative leader who excels at building and mentoring high-performing teams. He is an ideal choice to lead our corporate practice,” said Managing Partner J. Tracy Walker IV. Thomas added: “McGuireWoods’ corporate practice thrived under Rick’s leadership, and I am proud to have the opportunity to build on that success. We’re committed to investing in the talent, tools and relationships that make us indispensable partners to our clients.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eP-KGaND

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of an internet service provider in Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment, a decision that provides significant protection for ISPs and potentially other providers of general-purpose digital services. Read more about the decision and its broader implications. https://lnkd.in/gTVHZr6C McGuireWoods LLP authors: Lucy Jewett Wheatley, Brian Riopelle, David Finkelson, Paul Schoenhard

The Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, amended its zoning ordinance establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). Read on to learn more about the zoning regulations and what developers of large-scale BESS need to know. https://lnkd.in/gHXXm2PX McGuireWoods LLP authors: Gregory Riegle, Scott Adams, Sheri Akin, AICP

EMC Buyouts speakers announced: The sessions and panelists for the 2026 McGuireWoods LLP Emerging Manager Conference – Buyouts have been announced! Take a look at the full agenda to see what’s in store, including dynamic speed-networking sessions, insightful panel discussions and valuable connections with industry leaders. The conference is currently at capacity, but you can join the waitlist and also watch for 2027 dates. More information on EMC Beyond Buyouts, coming this fall, will be shared soon. https://lnkd.in/eJfHnAJN #MWEMC2026 #limitedpartners #emergingmanagers

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts again extended the deadline for many public colleges and universities to comply with the Trump administration’s mandate that those institutions share seven years’ worth of detailed data — including about applicants’ and enrolled students’ race and sex, standardized test scores, GPAs, and other characteristics. The new April 6, 2026, compliance deadline applies only to public colleges and universities in the 17 plaintiff states. Read on for details about how the court’s temporary stay could impact colleges’ and universities’ reporting obligations. https://lnkd.in/gSSgT9ia #highereducation McGuireWoods LLP authors: Brandon Wharton, Sarah Wake, Jonathan Ellis

On March 20, 2026, the FTC announced the creation of a cross-bureau Healthcare Task Force to coordinate competition and consumer protection enforcement and advocacy across the healthcare sector. What does this mean for industry stakeholders? https://lnkd.in/gRDMHa4m McGuireWoods LLP authors: Holden Brooks, Jonathan Chacon, George Rudebusch

McGuireWoods LLP’s Contaminants Compass provides updates, legal observations and actionable tips to navigate the evolving legal challenges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (#PFAS) and similar chemicals and products. Following up on the firm’s first Contaminants Compass CLE of 2026, this edition includes a look back at some of the most significant regulatory developments concerning PFAS and similar chemicals and products in 2025, and PFAS trends to watch in 2026. https://lnkd.in/gjUvd-bq Authors: Mitchell Diles, Andrew Knudsen, Mark E. Anderson, Tony Tatum, Shannon Kasley, Adam Sowatzka

Fairfax County, Virginia, released a draft action plan that would accelerate housing production, expand affordable housing tools, and streamline zoning, permitting and agency coordination countywide. The plan follows the Board of Supervisors’ September 2025 adoption of a comprehensive housing initiative directing staff to develop strategies for increasing housing supply and strengthening economic competitiveness. What do stakeholders need to know? https://lnkd.in/g2VBT7-j McGuireWoods LLP authors: Gregory Riegle and Scott Adams