About E. Duncan
E. Duncan Getchell earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1974. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and is also admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. Those credentials anchor a career that has moved between private practice and state service.
He became a partner at McGuire Woods in 1977. At the firm he handled appeals and complex litigation for a range of clients. His work there covered trial record review, briefing, and oral argument preparation. Colleagues remember him for a steady courtroom manner and a preference for clear, concise written advocacy.
In 2009 he left private practice to serve as Solicitor General of Virginia in the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. In the solicitor general role he took responsibility for the Commonwealth’s appellate docket. He supervised briefing and argued before state appellate panels. He also helped shape legal positions the Commonwealth presented in higher courts.
Across both public and private roles, his practice has centered on appellate law. He has worked on issues that required close attention to statutory construction, procedural rules, and precedent. He is comfortable translating trial records into appellate narratives. He has prepared briefs aimed at persuading appellate judges rather than juries.
After years in both settings, he continues to practice law. He focuses his practice on appellate litigation and counseling on appellate procedure and strategy.
