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Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, formerly known as Hunton & Williams LLP, is an American law firm. The firm adopted its current name on April 2, 2018, when it merged with Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP.[1][2]
 | |
| Headquarters | Riverfront Plaza East Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
|---|---|
| No. of offices | 18 |
| No. of attorneys | 900+ |
| Major practice areas | General practice |
| Revenue |  $830 million (2021) |
| Date founded | November 1, 1901 |
| Founders | |
| Company type | Limited liability partnership |
| Website | www |
Andrews Kurth Kenyon played a pivotal role in representing Texas railroad firms in the early 1900s, and brings a prominent reputation in the global energy industry to the combined firm. They represented both the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and Federal National Mortgage Corporation as part of FDR's New Deal.[3] Famous clients include Howard Hughes. Andrews Kurth litigated his inheritance, IRS, and Spruce Goose cases. They also oversaw the public sale of Hughes shares in TWA.
The combined firm has offices in 18 cities, primarily in the United States.
History edit
Hunton & Williams (formerly Munford, Hunton, Williams & Anderson) was founded on November 1, 1901, in Richmond, Virginia, by Henry W. Anderson, Eppa Hunton Jr., Beverley B. Munford, and E. Randolph Williams.[4] The firm is focused on litigation, business, and finance law. The firm changed names many times over the years; its seventh name, in 1976, was Hunton & Williams; it became Hunton & Williams LLP in 2003. The firm's most notable member, a name partner from 1954 until 1972, was Lewis F. Powell Jr., who focused on corporate law and representing clients such as the Tobacco Institute until he became a member of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971.[5]
The firm's initial hire of a woman was Elizabeth Tompkins, the first woman graduate of the University of Virginia Law School, who worked as a summer clerk at Hunton & Williams in 1921 and 1922. In 1943, during the Second World War, two women lawyers were hired to work at Hunton & Williams: Sarah Geer Dale and Nan Ross McConnell. Dale's first case involved a labor-law issue for Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock. She left the firm in 1945 to get married and retired from the practice of law. McConnell stayed on until 1948, when she married.
Hunton & Williams was the first law firm in the United States to open an office solely for the practice of law pro bono.[6] The firm has a Centre for Information Policy Leadership, which focuses on privacy and data protection work. The managing partner, Samuel A. Danon , has held that position since April 2023.[7]
Reputation edit
Hunton Andrews Kurth is an American "white shoe" law firm and according to the Am Law 100 is one of the highest-grossing law firms worldwide.[8][9]
Controversies edit
The firm, when operating as Hunton & Williams, employed William "Bill" Wehrum as a partner. Wehrum, who as a Hunton attorney represented oil and gas corporations, left his partner role when he was appointed to a top position in the Trump Administration Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Wehrum's confirmation hearings resulted in controversy, when Wehrum was asked "Are you familiar with the increasing acidity of the ocean?" Wehrum said this was merely an 'allegation.' Wehrum's answers at the confirmation hearing attracted critical coverage.[10] Wehrum was confirmed by a party-line vote[11] and moved from Hunton to the EPA, where he has been described as "delivering for ex-clients." Wehrum's private meetings with oil and gas industry ex-clients, many from his time working at Hunton, have attracted criticism "despite federal ethics rules intended to limit such interactions."[12]
References edit
- ^ "Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth Kenyon Vote to Combine Firms". Hunton & Williams LLP. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ Times-Dispatch, JOHN REID BLACKWELL Richmond. "Hunton & Williams law firm to merge with Texas firm, creating a top 50 practice". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ Group, Career Communications (2009). Women of Color. Career Communications Group.
- ^ Gay, Thomas B. (1971). The Hunton Williams Firm and Its Predecessors, 1877–1954. Vol. 1. Richmond: Lewis Printing Company. pp. 51–52.
- ^ "Lewis F. Powell, Jr. | Supreme Court Justice, Civil Rights Advocate | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Kira (November 30, 2021). "Wind of change". Virginia Business. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Hunton Andrews Kurth Announces Leadership Expansion to Support Firm's Strategic Vision". huntonak.com. March 13, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Hunton Andrews Kurth". ALM. ALM Media Properties, LLC. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ https://www.huntonak.com/en/news/legal-500-us-recognizes-hunton-andrews-kurth-among-top-law-firms-in-2023-guide.html
- ^ "Watch a Top EPA Nominee Embarrass Himself with Feigned Ignorance of Basic Facts". October 6, 2017.
- ^ Siegel, Josh (November 9, 2017). "Donald Trump". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ Lipton, Eric (August 19, 2018). "As Trump Dismantles Clean Air Rules, an Industry Lawyer Delivers for Ex-Clients". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2018.