McGuireWoods continues the expansion of its nationally recognized Restructuring & Insolvency Practice Group with the arrival of New York counsel Kayci G. Hines, who comes to the firm after serving as senior bankruptcy counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice.
Hines served in DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, where she led the representation of federal regulatory agencies in Chapter 11 environmental and energy bankruptcies. Her notable cases include the two largest offshore oil and gas bankruptcies in U.S. history. She also advised DOJ and agency management officials on environmental and energy bankruptcies and regulatory issues and presented at national bankruptcy conferences and trainings.
Hines brings private practice experience representing unsecured creditors’ committees, large individual creditors, indenture trustees, and post-confirmation trusts in Chapter 11 and 15 bankruptcies. At McGuireWoods, she will leverage her background in government and private practice to advise clients on in-court and out-of-court restructurings.
“Kayci’s experience at the intersection of bankruptcy, environmental and energy law — particularly her leadership in complex Chapter 11 cases — will be an invaluable asset to clients,” said Dion Hayes, who co-leads McGuireWoods’ Restructuring & Insolvency Practice Group with partners Mark Freedlander and Brian Swett.
Freedlander said, “Kayci’s unique perspective, honed through service at DOJ and in private practice, strengthens our ability to deliver innovative solutions in restructurings and distressed situations across industries.”
Swett added, “Kayci is a rising star whose track record advising federal agencies and private stakeholders solidifies McGuireWoods’ position as a leader handling multifaceted restructuring matters.”
Hines is the seventh lawyer to join the firm from the Department of Justice in 2025, following former U.S. attorneys Ryan Buchanan in Atlanta, Michael F. Easley Jr. in Raleigh and Eric Olshan in Pittsburgh; former assistant U.S. attorneys Daniel Bubar in Raleigh and Natasha Cooper in Atlanta; and former DOJ senior counsel and trial attorney Andrew Knudsen in Washington, D.C.
“Kayci is an outstanding addition to our restructuring group. Her arrival is another reflection of our commitment to building top-tier teams with unparalleled capabilities,” said Richard W. Viola, deputy managing partner of the firm’s corporate practice.
McGuireWoods’ Restructuring & Insolvency Practice Group provides strategic counsel across all types of financial and operational restructurings, distressed situations and workout matters. The team, which has a nationwide ranking in Chambers USA, handles large-scale regional, national and cross-border matters across industries.
“I am thrilled to join McGuireWoods’ highly respected and growing practice,” Hines said. “I look forward to sharing my insights with clients to help them navigate complicated restructuring challenges and achieve their business goals.”
McGuireWoods LLP is a leading international law firm with 1,000+ 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.
