Mayer Brown Adds 6-Partner McGuireWoods Litigation Team in Houston, DC

A six-partner litigation team from McGuireWoods that works in the energy sector, led by Yasser Madriz and Meghaan Madriz, has joined Mayer Brown in Houston and Washington, D.C., as the firm focuses on strategic growth in "markets critical to clients."

Jon Van Gorp, chair of Mayer Brown, wrote in a press release that the team is high-caliber talent that aligns with the firm's growth strategy.

"Mayer Brown has been in Texas for decades, among the first non‑Texas firms to recognize the state’s global role in energy and international markets. This strategic hiring underscores the firm’s longstanding commitment to Texas and ambition to lead the market," Van Gorp wrote.

Yasser Madriz, Miles Indest and Jason Huebinger all joined Mayer Brown in Houston as partners in the litigation and dispute resolution practice, and Meghaan Madriz joined the corporate and securities practice. Wolfgang McGavran joined a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution practice in Washington, D.C., while Gregory Krock is in Pittsburgh but is assigned to the Washington, D.C., office.

Michael Olsen, co-leader of Mayer Brown's litigation and dispute resolution practice, wrote that clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors want lawyers with "deep trial experience, commercial judgment, and the ability to operate across cycles and technologies," and the lateral hire group brings that combination.

"Their work in commercial energy disputes, complex labor and employment transactions and structuring, and general complex commercial experience will deliver immediate value by joining our very active litigation group in Houston and expanding the services we can provide across our growing client base,” he wrote.

Yasser Madriz, who served five years through June 2025 as managing partner of McGuireWoods' Houston office, handles complex commercial litigation, upstream and commercial energy disputes, and large transactional disputes.

He said in an interview that he and the rest of the team moved because they were impressed by Mayer Brown and what it offers.

"Mayer Brown pursued us for some time. They were relentless. They were very specific about their vision for Texas," he said.

Meghaan Madriz said she does litigation—including trade secrets, noncompete and other employment litigation—but also has a robust employment practice providing support in private equity and M&A transactions. She said she was impressed with Mayer Brown partners in those practice areas, but also appreciates the opportunity to work at a firm with more of a global presence.

Both Madrizes cited the global reach of the firm and its commitment to Houston as reasons why the move is good for the team and their clients.

They declined to identify clients, but said they are in oil and gas services, chemicals, and other energy companies, test and certification, and technology sectors. The team also has clients in retail and in health care.

Neil Wasserstrom, managing partner of Mayer Brown's Houston office, wrote that the arrival of the litigation team reflects the firm's investment in Texas, and it adds depth in complex commercial litigation and energy and infrastructure work.

Asked to comment on the departures, McGuireWoods managing partner J. Tracy Walker IV provided this statement: “We are grateful for the contributions these lawyers made during their time at McGuireWoods and we wish them well.”

Reprinted with permission from the March 10th edition of The American Lawyer © 2026 ALM Properties, Inc. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited.