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Marilyn T. McClure-Demers
Vice President and Associate General Counsel,
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
I have great passion for what I do. My work
ethic and drive have had the greatest influence
on my success, as well as the ability to
connect and care for people.”
BY BLAIR DOWLER. Marilyn McClure-De-
mers knew at a very early age she wanted to
be a lawyer. When she graduated from the
West Virginia University (WVU) College of
Law in 1991, it was only the beginning of an
energetic career solving complex disputes,
promoting diversity and helping others.
“I have great passion for what I do,”
she says. “My work ethic and drive have
had the greatest influence on my success,
as well as the ability to connect and care
for people. I think most people who know
me, including those closest to me, would
include these amongst my strongest traits.”
A native of Bridgeport, WV, McClure-
Demers launched her career in Charleston
as an associate at the law firm of Smith,
Heenan & Althen. With passion, strong
faith and the good fortune of excellent
mentors, this initial position taught her a
multitude of skills and values, including
the ability to dive headfirst into every as-
signment and make the most of it.
“I learned that all work is good work,
and you never know where it will lead,”
she says. “I also learned that it is critical
to recognize, observe, listen and value all
people at all times. You also have to be
true to yourself. Don’t conform to stereo-
typical professional bias or pressure from
others, and don’t compromise your integ-
rity. Finally, if you are treated badly, never
replicate this unfortunate treatment on
others. Remember how it feels.”
From there, she flourished in her global
litigation and regulatory practice, repre-
senting public and private sector clients
across several industries, such as coal,
manufacturing, retail, education and in-
surance and financial services. In 2003,
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
she moved in-house to her first of two
Fortune 100 employers, joining the Rite
Aid team as the employment law counsel.
In 2006, she left her position in the retail
industry for Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Company, where she has since earned roles
of increasing responsibility.
Today, McClure-Demers serves as vice
president and associate general counsel
of corporate litigation for Nationwide
in Columbus, Ohio. She is responsible
for leading the corporate and intellectual
property litigation and discovery manage-
ment teams. She oversees a wide range of
legal matters for the multiline insurance
and financial services provider’s various
business units.
“The work environment at a Fortune
100 company is different from a law firm
in many ways,” says McClure-Demers.
“Oftentimes the clients are senior business
leaders or even the CEO, and with an or-
ganization as large as Nationwide or Rite
Aid, there may be multiple stakeholders
to juggle on a daily basis. This dynamic
requires a global view of the business going
beyond the attorney/client relationship
and has different demands. However, my
approach has always been to draw upon
my practice roots, staying true to a litiga-
tor’s point of view.”
McClure-Demers is known far and wide
for her communication, strategic thinking
and negotiation skills. She loves the chal-
lenge of negotiating as much as the task of
bringing opposing sides to an agreement,
and she uses these skills to understand
others, build credibility and negotiate terms.
With these weapons in her arsenal, she has
proven to be a force to be reckoned with.
“It brings me great satisfaction to solve
problems and help strike deals between ad-
versarial points of view to reach common
ground,” she says. “I acquired such skills
by observing some of the best, trying all
sorts of approaches and adding my West
Virginia charm, remembering that it mostly
comes down to human nature and emotions
intertwined with high stakes. How you
make people feel matters most, especially
in these situations.”
The law aficionado attributes her decision
to practice law to the strong support system
she has had throughout her life.
“I grew up in a family of strong faith
and work ethic and was blessed to have
parents who believed in the value of edu-
cation,” she says. “They always encour-
aged and supported my dream to be an
attorney. This was empowering, and I
realize now more than ever how fortunate
I was to have had those forces pushing me
toward my goal.”
Her vibrant journey from private practice
to in-house legal executive across West
Virginia, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio
proves her tenacity and grace as a powerful
attorney and a role model to young attor-
neys everywhere.
“Keeping my faith a focus, being grateful
and having a growth mindset while being
persistent have played a very big role on
both a personal and professional level. This
is so critical, as we all have to be prepared
to overcome setbacks and failures to achieve
success,” says McClure-Demers. “I am
lucky to have a supportive husband as well
as many others who have invested in my
development and contributed to making
me who I am today.”