Richard Cullen (attorney)
Encyclopedia
Richard Cullen is a former Attorney General of Virginia
and U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Currently, he is the chairman of McGuireWoods LLP. As a partner with the firm, he has represented high-profile clients such as former U.S. Congressman Tom DeLay
and Elin Nordegren
, the ex-wife of professional golfer Tiger Woods
.
in Greenville, S.C., earning a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1971. He attended the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia, S.C., from 1971-72, and earned a law degree in 1977 from the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law in Richmond, Va., where he served as editor in chief of the school’s law review.
Cullen was the lead attorney for former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay
, R-Texas, during a six-year Justice Department investigation into alleged links between the congressman and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff
. No criminal charges were filed against the former House majority leader.
Cullen and fellow McGuireWoods partner Dennis I. Belcher represented Elin Nordegren
in her August 2010 settlement with professional golfer Tiger Woods
.
In 2010, it was reported that Cullen is among the lawyers representing Bank of America
in a multistate investigation into the bank’s foreclosure practices.
Since joining the firm, Cullen has taken leave three times for public service assignments. In 1987, he served as special counsel to U.S. Sen. Paul S. Trible Jr., R-Va., during the Iran-Contra investigation. He was appointed by President H.W. Bush in 1991 as a U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, serving until 1993. In 1997, Virginia Gov. George Allen appointed Cullen Attorney General of Virginia
to fill the unexpired term of Jim Gilmore, who resigned to conduct a successful run for governor.
Attorney General of Virginia
The Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election . There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General...
and U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Currently, he is the chairman of McGuireWoods LLP. As a partner with the firm, he has represented high-profile clients such as former U.S. Congressman Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
and Elin Nordegren
Elin Nordegren
Elin Maria Pernilla Nordegren is a former Swedish model and the ex-wife of professional golfer Tiger Woods.- Early life :Nordegren was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Her mother, Barbro Holmberg, is a politician and the former Swedish migration and asylum policy minister, and the current Governor of...
, the ex-wife of professional golfer Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
.
Education
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Cullen was raised in Staunton, Va. He majored in political science and played varsity football at Furman UniversityFurman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
in Greenville, S.C., earning a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1971. He attended the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia, S.C., from 1971-72, and earned a law degree in 1977 from the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law in Richmond, Va., where he served as editor in chief of the school’s law review.
Career
Cullen has been with McGuireWoods LLP since entering practice in 1977. He was named chairman in December 2006, succeeding Robert L. Burrus Jr. As a partner in the firm, Cullen focuses on complex commercial litigation; government, regulatory and criminal investigations; white collar defense; and accountant defense.Cullen was the lead attorney for former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
, R-Texas, during a six-year Justice Department investigation into alleged links between the congressman and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
. No criminal charges were filed against the former House majority leader.
Cullen and fellow McGuireWoods partner Dennis I. Belcher represented Elin Nordegren
Elin Nordegren
Elin Maria Pernilla Nordegren is a former Swedish model and the ex-wife of professional golfer Tiger Woods.- Early life :Nordegren was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Her mother, Barbro Holmberg, is a politician and the former Swedish migration and asylum policy minister, and the current Governor of...
in her August 2010 settlement with professional golfer Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
.
In 2010, it was reported that Cullen is among the lawyers representing Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
in a multistate investigation into the bank’s foreclosure practices.
Since joining the firm, Cullen has taken leave three times for public service assignments. In 1987, he served as special counsel to U.S. Sen. Paul S. Trible Jr., R-Va., during the Iran-Contra investigation. He was appointed by President H.W. Bush in 1991 as a U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, serving until 1993. In 1997, Virginia Gov. George Allen appointed Cullen Attorney General of Virginia
Attorney General of Virginia
The Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election . There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General...
to fill the unexpired term of Jim Gilmore, who resigned to conduct a successful run for governor.