CLAIRE GUTHRIE GASTAÑAGA- PARTNER

picture of Tricia Dunlap, CEO and business attorney

Partner Claire Guthrie Gastañaga is a respected legal advocate, problem solver, and mentor. She brings a wealth of experience to the firm and its clients, advising non-profits and small businesses on governance, certification, and employment law issues. She is licensed in Virginia (1974) and Washington, D.C., (1983) and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1980 on the motion of Nicholas Katzenbach, a former Attorney General of the United States. During her career, Claire has been both lawyer and client and has significant management experience, particularly in the public and non-profit sectors. She’s been chief deputy attorney general of Virginia and the “hiring partner” for that “law firm,” argued cases in the United States and Virginia Supreme Courts, served as in-house counsel to a major university, helped build a higher education practice at a major international law firm, served as the interim president of a women’s college, ran her own consulting firm, and headed a non-profit that grew into a multi-million dollar organization on her watch. Claire is a former Richmond chapter president and member of the national board of directors of the National Association of Women Business Owners and a former member of the Virginia Small Business Advisory Board. She was the SBA’s Virginia Women in Business Advocate of the Year in 2003. She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Diversity Conference of the Virginia State Bar and the Boards of Directors of the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association and Legal Reform for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled. In addition to providing legal advice and representation to small businesses and non-profits as a member of the Dunlap Law firm, Claire will continue to be a Change Servant engaging in non-legal advocacy and governance consulting.

When she’s not working, Claire is cooking or gardening. She’s a bit ashamed to admit that during her appearance on Jeopardy, she didn’t know that the right question for a Southern cooking answer was “what is wilted salad?”

Bar Memberships:

Virginia State Bar Member (1974 to present)
District of Columbia Bar Member (1982 to present; currently inactive)
United States Supreme Court Bar Member (1980 to present)

Honors and Awards:

2019 Leader in the Law, Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly
2016 Lifetime Achievement Award, Corporation for National and Community Service and Office of the President of the United States
2015 Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation
2015 OUTstanding Virginian, Equality Virginia
2015 Appreciation Award, APNAA, Virginia Chapter
2013 Bernard D. Mayes Award, Serpentine Society, University of Virginia
2010 Influential Women of Virginia Award, Virginia Lawyer’s Media
2008 Chairman’s Award, Virginia Small Business Advisory Board Member of the Year
2006 Honoree, Galaxy Gala, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
2004 NAWBO National Chapter Public Policy Advocate of the Year
2003 SBA Virginia Women in Business Advocate of the Year
1996, 1997 and 1999 Pacesetter, Southern Women in Public Service
1996 Leadership Metro Richmond
1994 Outstanding Woman Award for Law, Richmond YWCA
1988 Elected first Fellow of the National Association of College and University Attorneys
1986 Outstanding Woman Attorney in Virginia, Virginia Women Attorneys Association and Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association
1974 Initiated, Raven Society, University of Virginia

Education

University of Virginia, J.D.
Michigan State University, B.A.

Professional Associations

Metropolitan Business League
- Member (2021 to present)
- Member, Advisory Council (2022 to present)
Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association
- Member (2021 to present)
- Legislative Co-Chair and Director (2021 to present)
Virginia Council of CEOs
- Member (2014 to 2016)
National Association of Women Business Owners, Member (2001 to 2012)
- Member, National Board of Directors (2007 – 2010)
- National Vice President for Public Policy (2005-2006)
- Atlantic Region Coordinator, National Public Policy Council (2004-2005)
- Member, Board of Directors-Richmond Chapter (2001-2005)
  - President (2003-2004)
  - Past President (2004-2005)
  - President-elect (2002-2003)
  - Chair, Government Relations Committee (2001-2002)
- Member, Board of Directors, Richmond NAWBO Foundation (2006 to 2009)
National Association of College and University Attorneys
- Member (1976 to 2002)
- Member, Board of Directors (1984-87)

Community Activities

Member, Board of Directors
Legislative Reform for Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled
Richmond, Virginia; 2021 to present
Member, Board of Directors
Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth Council
Richmond, Virginia; 2010 to 2015
Member, Board of Trustees
Poe Museum
Richmond, Virginia; 2005-2011
Member, Board of Directors
Richmond Gay Community Foundation (now Diversity Richmond)
Richmond, Virginia; 2008-2012
Member, Board of Directors
Richmond Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
Richmond, Virginia; 2003 to 2007
Member, Richmond Commission on City Government
City of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia; 2003
Member, Virginia Advisory Planning Committee
Help America Vote Act 2003
State Board of Elections
Richmond, Virginia; 2003 to 2005
Member, Board of Trustees
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School of Government and International Studies Foundation
Richmond, Virginia; 2001 to 2007
Chair, Virginia Women’s Leadership Project
The Virginia Foundation for Women
Richmond, Virginia; 2001 ro 2005
Member, Board of Trustees
The Virginia Foundation for Women
Richmond, Virginia; 1997 to 2005
Member, Executive Committee
Commission to Re-Engineer City Government
City of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia; 1996 to 1999
Member, Board of Directors and Founder
Make Women Count PAC and Make Women Count, Inc.
Richmond, Virginia; 1992 to 1999; 2001 to 2004
Member, Board of Directors
Council on America’s First Freedom
Richmond, Virginia; 1990 to 1993
Member, Advisory Board
Richmond AIDS Ministry
Richmond, Virginia; 1990 to 1994
Member, Resources Development Board
Women’s Resources Center
University of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia; 1991 to 1993