Guild Member Profile

Ford Graham, IMBA, Esq. is a senior vice president on McGuireWoods Consulting’s national infrastructure & economic development team and a partner with McGuireWoods LLP.

Graham has a depth of experience working in the economic development sector, where he has been one of the leading recruiters of international companies to the Southeastern United States.  He has facilitated new industry and industrial expansion in over 132 projects, which have resulted in commitments of more than 13,000 new jobs and $38.9 billion in new investment.  Graham’s practice focuses on companies opening or expanding operations in the U.S.  In addition to economic incentives and site selection, Graham assists companies with the full spectrum of legal needs that arise when companies enter new markets.

Before joining McGuireWoods, Graham was a partner at K&L Gates LLP, and he previously served as director of global business development and director of international strategy & trade for the South Carolina Department of Commerce.  In the latter role, he directed all aspects of the agency’s international efforts, including South Carolina’s then-four international offices in Delhi, Munich, Shanghai, and Tokyo, uncovering foreign direct investment opportunities and assisting South Carolina companies with exporting their products to the rest of the world.  Before that, Graham worked as general counsel for a real estate development/investment firm and served as a judicial clerk in the 5th and 14th Judicial Circuits of South Carolina. Graham speaks Spanish and Portuguese, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.

GEOGRAPHIC AREAS SERVED

North America

International

Industries

Data Centers	Energy	Automotive
Chemicals and Plastics	Advanced Manufacturing	Food and Beverage
Logistics, Warehouse and Distribution	Paper	Electronics
Forestry, Minerals, Metal	Aerospace, Aeronautics and Aviation

PAST CLIENTS

Mercedes Benz Vans	Gildan	Cascades
Elbit Systems	Bowery Farms	Southern Current

PERSONAL NOTE

Ford is an avid runner and has completed over 30 marathons/ ultramarathons including multiple 50-mile races and a 100-mile race in Georgia. He also plays guitar.