Mr. Atkinson is chairman of McGuireWoods Consulting LLC and a partner with McGuireWoods LLP. His practice focuses on state and local government relations, economic development, privatization and public-private partnerships, education, and elections and voting rights. He also has extensive experience as an attorney in the areas of constitutional, election and education law and commercial and constitutional litigation. From 1994-1996, Mr. Atkinson served in the Cabinet of former Virginia Gov. George Allen, as counselor and director of policy, and served in a leadership role in the Allen administration's successful policy initiatives in the areas of criminal justice, welfare reform, education, economic development, and regulatory reform.