Bio

For more than 30 years, Gary Leclair has served as securities and outside general counsel to middle-market and emerging growth companies, private equity and venture capital firms. He has led hundreds of private and public financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions and other domestic and international transactions. Prior to joining Williams Mullen, Gary co-founded LeClairRyan, of which he served as chairman until 2015 and CEO until 2011. He has also served on the board of directors and advisors of various business entities, including a bank, an independent trust company, a private equity fund, a venture fund, a residential developer, an eCommerce business and a retailer. Gary was named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2018, and he was named among their Leaders in the Law in 2008. He received the Virginia Bar Association’s President’s Award in 2017 and received a “30 in 30” award as one of the top 30 individuals who shaped the Metro Richmond community during the past 30 years in 2016. Gary has been ranked by Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A Law (2015-present). He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law and Venture Capital Law (2006-present). He has been named the Best Lawyers® Richmond “Lawyer of the Year” for Venture Capital Law (2015, 2018), Corporate Law (2013) and Leveraged Buyouts, Private Equity Law (2013, 2016, 2019) and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2020). A believer in community involvement, Gary has served on the board of directors or advisors of various civic and not-for-profit organizations, including the Richmond Venture Forum, the Greater Richmond Technology Council, the Virginia Council of CEOs, the Greater Richmond Chamber Foundation, the College of William and Mary, The Steward School, Richmond 2007, Tuckahoe Sports and the VCU IP Foundation. He has also served as general counsel for the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Richmond Partnership. A former college football player, he has coached youth baseball, soccer and basketball. He also is a former head coach of a Western Wildcats youth football team. Gary earned his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University, where he received the Francis E. Lucey, S.J. award in recognition of earning the highest GPA among his graduating class. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the College of William & Mary.