McGuireWoods Charlotte partner Susan Rodriguez, co-leader of the firm’s financial institutions industry team, will be appointed U.S. magistrate judge for the Western District of North Carolina, effective April 3, 2023. Rodriguez’s last day at McGuireWoods is March 31, 2023.
In her new role, Rodriguez will preside over criminal and civil cases. On the criminal side, she will handle matters such as initial appearances, arraignments, plea and competency hearings, inquiries of counsel and motions to suppress. On the civil side, her matters will include discovery disputes, mediations, settlement conferences, referred motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment.
Rodriguez joined McGuireWoods in 2011. She focuses on government investigations and complex civil litigation and has defended clients in numerous government enforcement actions by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, among others. Before joining McGuireWoods, Rodriguez served as a policy adviser at DHS and advised on immigration, including Form I-9 and E-Verify compliance, border searches, cybersecurity and electronic surveillance. She also served as a staffer in the White House Counsel’s Office handling management of judicial nominations and assisting with responses to congressional investigations.
Among her honors, she was selected for inclusion in Legal 500 United States in the fintech category. She also received a national Chambers ranking for fintech in the corporate, securities and financing category in 2021 and 2022, and a Chambers USA ranking in the litigation: white-collar crime and investigations category in North Carolina.
“McGuireWoods has been my home for the past 12 years, and I’m grateful to my partners and staff for their wonderful support over the years,” Rodriguez said.
“Susan is in an elite class, professionally and personally. We have all benefited from her wise counsel and leadership, and we will miss her greatly,” said Cheryl Haas, chair of McGuireWoods’ Financial Services Litigation Department. “We are grateful for her many contributions to the firm, and we wish her the best as she returns to public service.”
“I want to thank Susan for her leadership, collegiality and commitment to the firm,” added Joanne Katsantonis, McGuireWoods’ deputy managing partner for development. “She has been instrumental in building a strong team that provides outstanding service to our financial institutions clients.”
