Christopher Nolen

In addition to being an attorney with McGuireWoods LLP, Chris is an executive vice president in McGuireWoods Consulting. His government affairs practice consists of representing clients before the Virginia legislature, executive branch and state and local agencies. Chris’ legal practice involves advising companies on political law compliance activities, including lobbying, gift restrictions involving public officials, campaign finance, and government ethics laws. He also holds the CIPP/US credential as a Certified Information Privacy Professional from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). With more than 25 years of experience in Virginia government and politics, Chris has developed a deep knowledge of Virginia state and local government and the legislative and regulatory process. Drawing on his experience as a lobbyist and as the former chief counsel to a Virginia attorney general, Chris assists clients in developing and implementing legislative and regulatory strategies to meet their business and public policy objectives. Chris brings a unique perspective to his political law practice because of his government relations experience. Understanding the political process and the practice of government relations is essential to advising a client on how to comply with the myriad of federal, state and local rules governing lobbying, ethics, conflicts of interest, ethics in public procurement and campaign finance, while still achieving the client’s business and public policy objectives. Among his many honors, Chris has been named to The Best Lawyers in America from 2011 through 2026, which twice named him “Lawyer of the Year” for Government Relations.  

Member, Virginia Bar Association Member, Virginia Code Commission Virginia Commissioner, Uniform Law Commission

Virginia

Election Law and Government Ethics: 2015 Annual Survey of Virginia Law, 50 U. Rich. L. Rev. 143, 2015 Election Law, 47 U. Rich. L. Rev. 181, 2012 Election Law, 46 U. Rich. Rev. 119, 2011 Election Law, 44 U.Rich.Rev. 403, 2009 Election Law, 41 U. Rich. L. Rev. 121, 2006 Election Law, 35 U. Rich. L. Rev. 575, 2001