Sara Holladay, Office Managing Partner – Jacksonville, McGuireWoods

Invest: spoke with Sara Holladay, office managing partner of the Jacksonville office for law firm McGuireWoods, to discuss how the firm embraces innovation and adaptability to drive growth, while continuing to keep the client at the center. “If you know your client’s business, you can provide them not just with the legal solution to a problem, but a practical solution as well,” she said.

What has been the impact of McGuireWoods on the Jacksonville market?

McGuireWoods has had a lasting impact on the Jacksonville market in the over 30 years since the firm opened an office here. Our lawyers have always represented and continue to represent many local and national clients on all manner of legal matters, from corporate governance and regulatory and compliance concerns, to litigation, and real estate. I believe our lawyers and staff are of the highest quality and we always strive to provide excellent client service. Many of our lawyers have also gone on to distinguished careers with clients or the judiciary over the years. 

In addition to our deep bench on legal matters, McGuireWoods values community and pro bono initiatives, and we are always looking for ways we as a firm and local office can give back to the communities we serve. This year we were excited to partner with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) and one of our clients on a Sept. 11 legal clinic to provide estate and advance directive planning for active-duty service members, veterans and first responders in our area. It was Jacksonville’s first “Wills for Vets” clinic. As a result of this work, JALA honored McGuireWoods with its Kathy Para Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award.

Demonstrating our commitment to the local community, I have established a local office committee whose focus is to identify opportunities for staff and attorney involvement in the community, to enhance our already existing pro bono efforts. Our lawyers are frequently involved in local bar activities and community projects. We, as an office, also support several other important organizations in the area, either through pro bono or community involvement, or donations, including Sulzbacher, Emerald Trail, READ USA, and JASMYN. We believe it is important to be present in the communities we serve and have focused on doing so this year, with a goal of a broader reach and impact next year. 

What is your assessment of recent market shifts?

One of the biggest impacts we have seen in the legal sector is a tighter focus by companies on their legal spending. Some are bringing whole practice areas in-house, while others are seeking innovative solutions to work with outside counsel in cost-effective ways. In that way, I’m proud that our firm has been one of the leaders in alternative fee arrangements, and we continue to develop that area so we can provide the most value for our client in an arrangement that provides more certainty. Our firm has been flexible, adaptable, and innovative on alternative arrangements, which has been enhanced with expanded tracking and analytics, all of which has benefited both our clients and the firm. We recognize that in this economy, there are more demands on smaller budgets, with legal needs always evolving. Developing creative solutions is something that is always on our minds.  

How does the firm view client relationships?

Client service is one of our core values. I am proud that in April 2024, McGuireWoods ranked No. 11 overall in BTI Consulting’s Client Service A-Team report, marking the 18th time the firm placed among the top 30 in the survey of law firm performance — the gold standard for measuring client service excellence. The firm was lauded as “Best of the Best” in seven key performance categories, according to the annual survey of top legal decision makers at companies with revenue of $1 billion or more. McGuireWoods is one of only four firms nationwide to earn a coveted top 30 ranking in each of the past 10 years.

We take this responsibility seriously and it is infused into every aspect of our firm culture. We take the time to make sure we understand our clients’ business. Overall, it’s about being responsible and taking the time to learn your client’s needs, priorities, and business goals. By doing so, you can provide even greater legal services and advice. I tell a lot of younger attorneys that if you know your client’s business, you can provide them not just with the legal solution to a problem, but a practical solution as well, which is often more valuable to the business.

What is McGuireWoods doing to integrate technology to enhance services?

We are always looking at technologies that can help us provide first-class service efficiently for our clients. One of the most recent initiatives has been evaluating the best ways to incorporate artificial intelligence responsibly and securely into our legal work. We’ve tested and piloted several AI projects in various areas of our business, whether it’s for legal research or drafting documents. Artificial intelligence also has its limitations. Determining where AI is best used based on its capabilities is a challenge the entire industry is thinking about. There is a lot of value in AI, and it has come a long way in how it can be implemented, but it has a lot further to go before we’re using it on a more day-to-day basis.

What are the most common client concerns?

We’re seeing more consumer claims being brought in the litigation space, both locally and nationally. There have also been changes in regulations and priorities of government agencies, which impact businesses at all levels. Our clients are coming to us to understand how they can comply and be prepared for whatever comes next, and our regulatory and litigation teams are great at navigating those challenges.

How is the firm balancing in-office and hybrid work?

It’s a challenge all businesses face. What came out of the pandemic was a greater ability to do both in-office and remote work in more efficient ways. In some ways, remote work forced technology innovations and adoptions that are more commonplace, such as video conferencing for client meetings and court events. But globally, we think being in the office can only benefit our people, especially younger attorneys, because that’s the best way to learn. Our firm has adopted a hybrid model for attorneys with two anchor days and a floating day in-office, with the ability to work remote two days a week. Even so, most of our staff and attorneys have returned to the office at least four days a week as I believe we have all realized in-office attendance enhances collaboration and those learning opportunities. 

What is next for McGuireWoods?

For the Jacksonville office, I continue to look for opportunities to expand our corporate and litigation bench. More broadly, McGuireWoods is always looking to expand into new markets and further our existing relationships with clients. Our focus on technology has been a welcome aspect and now we need to look at how we can use it to be more efficient.