Igor Babichenko Joins McGuireWoods’ Labor and Employment Team

Igor Babichenko, an accomplished labor and employment lawyer and former assistant general counsel at a global food company, has returned to McGuireWoods as a partner in Richmond, Virginia.

Babichenko represents employers in disputes involving wage-and-hour laws, antidiscrimination statutes, trade secrets and restrictive covenants, and advises employers on labor and employment policies, legal compliance and employee relations strategies.

Babichenko returns to McGuireWoods after nearly three years at Smithfield Foods, where he was responsible for labor, employment, and immigration compliance and labor relations strategy, including navigating multiple collective bargaining agreements with different unions. He was a member of McGuireWoods’ national labor and employment team for eight years before joining Smithfield Foods in 2022.

“The breadth of Igor’s experience providing legal and strategic counsel to employers has tremendous benefits for our litigation and corporate practices. We are proud to have him back at McGuireWoods,” said Noreen Kelly, deputy managing partner of the firm’s litigation practice.

Elena Marcuss, chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Department, added: “Igor has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges employers face, from wage-and-hour and immigration audits to traditional labor and employment disputes. His unique insight has enormous value for our clients.”

McGuireWoods is nationally recognized for handling traditional labor issues, from representing management in union campaigns to counseling companies in negotiations and disputes. The firm’s labor and employment lawyers advise employers — including small businesses, government entities and Fortune 500 companies — on compliance with state, federal and international law; internal investigations; federal contracting; and executive compensation. The firm earned nationwide rankings for its labor and employment capabilities in the 2025 editions of Chambers USA and the Legal 500 United States.

“I am excited to reconnect with my colleagues on McGuireWoods’ national labor and employment team,” Babichenko said. “I look forward to collaborating with lawyers across the firm to help clients proactively manage their labor and employment risks."

Janet Peyton, managing partner of the firm’s Richmond office, added: “We are delighted to welcome Igor back to McGuireWoods as he begins a new chapter in his career.”

 

McGuireWoods LLP is a leading international law firm with 1,100 lawyers in 21 offices worldwide. It continuously ranks among the top firms in Financial Times’ prestigious North America Innovative Lawyers report. The firm has been recognized 19 times on BTI Consulting’s Client Service A-Team — elite firms singled out for client service excellence based on unprompted feedback from clients in major companies. Its full-service public affairs arm, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, offers infrastructure and economic development, strategic communications and grassroots advocacy, and government relations solutions. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com.