About Robert
Robert McClain built a legal foundation at two East Coast schools. He earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Gettysburg College in 2001. He followed that with a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2004. Those years combined scientific training and legal study, a background that informs how he approaches evidence and procedure.
He began his career in public service. In 2005 he joined the Fairfax County Prosecutor's Office as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney. He moved into private practice briefly as a lawyer at Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn in 2010, then returned to Fairfax County as a Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney in 2011. Over more than a decade in prosecutors' offices he worked on a broad slate of criminal matters and dealt regularly with courtroom procedures, filings and trials.
In 2020 he took a senior prosecutorial post in neighboring Prince William County, serving as a Senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney. That role expanded his responsibilities in case management and in coordinating with law enforcement and victim-witness units. The years in two county offices gave him experience in the rhythms of municipal and regional prosecution—from intake through disposition.
His career shifted toward private practice in 2022. He became a partner at The Law Office of Faraji Rosenthall and that same year is listed as a shareholder of McClain Rosenthall Law, PLLC. In those roles he moved into firm leadership and the administrative duties that accompany ownership, while continuing to handle contentious matters in court.
McClain is licensed in Virginia and admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Virginia. He maintains membership in the Virginia State Bar. Those credentials support his appearances in both state and federal courts and reflect a practice that spans multiple forums.
Colleagues and file histories show a lawyer who has spent years on both sides of the aisle—prosecuting cases for the Commonwealth and then carrying that experience into private firm work. He has tried cases and prepared complex motions, and he has overseen aspects of office-level case strategy and staff coordination. The mix of trial work and office leadership is a through line in his resume.
He currently practices at McClain Rosenthall Law, PLLC, handling matters in Virginia state and federal courts.
