Chief of Staff Bernard L. McNamee, Key Leader of AG Tran­si­tion Team, Return­ing to Pri­vate Practice

Bernard L. McNamee, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, announced today that he will be leaving his position and returning to private legal practice in Richmond, Virginia. Serving as Chief of Staff since January, McNamee, helped lead the transition efforts for the new administration and served a key role in legal, policy and administrative decisions for the office.

“Bernie McNamee has been a vital part of my staff throughout my first year as Attorney General,” Attorney General Paxton said.  “His leadership on legal policy and his sage counsel have helped us chart a course toward a stronger Texas, and his contributions will have a positive impact on Texans for many years to come.”

“Bernie has been a strong ally in the fight for liberty and in defense of the Constitution,” said Chip Roy, Texas First Assistant Attorney General to Attorney General Ken Paxton.  “Knowing Bernie’s previous experience in establishing and running Attorneys General Offices in Virginia, there was no doubt he would play a crucial role in establishing this office. We will all miss Bernie, but we thank him for his dedication and hard work on behalf of Texas.”

McNamee returns to private practice at McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond, where he was a partner focusing on energy law for more than 7½ years until 2013 when he became Senior Domestic Policy Advisor and Counsel to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in his Washington, D.C., office.

“It has been a privilege to serve the people of Texas and to work with the great lawyers and professionals at the Texas Attorney General’s Office,” said McNamee, who grew up in Houston.  “I am grateful for the opportunity General Paxton provided me, allowing me to return to Texas and help make a great AG’s Office even better. But after serving Texas under Senator Cruz and General Paxton, it is time for my family to return to Virginia and I am excited to return to McGuireWoods, a firm of dedicated lawyers and great clients.”

McNamee served three attorneys general in Virginia, including as Chief Deputy (the equivalent of Texas’ First Assistant), and was the transition director for two incoming Attorneys General. He also served as a policy advisor and counselor to then Virginia Gov. George Allen.

McGuireWoods is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 21 offices in the United States and Europe, including Texas offices in Houston, Dallas and Austin.