Firm Profiles
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH REPORT
on Hunton & Williams LLP
- - Financial Information
- - Compensation
- - Billing Rates
- - Lateral Partner Moves
- - Pro bono
- - Key Contacts
Hunton & Williams
- Designation: National
- Head Count: 739
- Gross Revenues: $557,000,000
- Revenue Per Lawyer: $755,000
- Profits Per Partner: $825,000
- Year Over Year Change: 8
When it opened its doors in 1901, Hunton & Williams was, with just four lawyers, the largest firm in Richmond. It has grown a bit since then: Hunton now has some 850 lawyers and ranks solidly on The Am Law 100. Although it is a full–service firm, Hunton has particular strengths in energy and utility law—a practice the firm has developed over the course of a century. It represents a broad array of electric utilities, oil and gas companies, and investors and developers in energy–related initiatives across the globe (the firm is well–known for its energy project financing work).
Hunton’s transactional practices have handled some big–ticket assignments over the years as well. The firm represented Altria Group, Inc., in its $113 billion spin–off from Philip Morris International, Inc., as well as its $61.6 billion acquisition of Kraft Foods Inc. Hunton also served as antitrust adviser to Delta Air Lines, Inc., in its $17.8 billion acquisition of Northwest Airlines Corporation.
While Hunton’s revenues give it a Top 50 spot on The Am Law 100, the firm falls further down the chart when it comes to other financial metrics. Average partner compensation regularly ranks just inside the top 100. Profits per partner typically rank even lower. The firm has been a big proponent of expansion through lateral hires, picking up 107 equity partners, along with 282 associates and counsel, between 2006 and 2008 alone (although it later laid off dozens of associates and staff when the economic crisis hit). The addition of 93 lawyers from now–defunct Jenkens & Gilchrist in April 2007 made Hunton one of the largest non–Texas firms in Dallas. The firm also has a strong presence in the southeastern United States, along with offices in key markets like New York, Washington D.C., London, Tokyo, and Brussels.
While Hunton receives strong marks for its pro bono work—ranking twenty–sixth of 200 firms on The American Lawyer’s 2011 pro bono rankings (notably, 100 percent of lawyers put in pro bono hours)—Hunton’s diversity record is somewhat less impressive: It came in ninety–eighth of 194 firms in 2011 on our Diversity Scorecard (just over 12 percent of U.S. attorneys are minorities).
—Updated as of 1/1/12
Firm Rankings
| Survey | Rank | Year Over Year Change | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Am Law 100 | 57 | 8 | Gross revenue |
| Am Law 200 | 57 | 8 | Gross revenue |
| NLJ 250 | 46 | 14 | Lawyer head count |
| The A-List | NR | N/A | Overall excellence |
| Pro Bono Scorecard | 26 | 1 | Pro-bono commitment |
| Diversity Scorecard | 96 | 2 | Minority head count |
| Midlevel Associates Survey | NR | N/A | Job satisfaction |
| Summer Associates Survey | NR | N/A | Summer programs |
In the News
2013 HIPAA Omnibus Rules Increase Risks for Law Firms
Kathryn Hume and Patrick Archbold : Law Technology News : April 12, 2013
Law firms that come into contact with protected health information must enforce information security controls, protect confidential information, monitor workforce information access, and track compliance.
Atlanta Legal Aid targets newcomers for fundraising campaign
Meredith Hobbs : Daily Report : April 12, 2013
The Atlanta Legal Aid Society on Thursday kicked off its annual fundraising campaign for the private bar in an economy where funding from other sources has declined and the number of low-income people needing legal help has expanded.
2013 HIPAA Omnibus Rules Increase Risks for Law Firms
Kathryn Hume and Patrick Archbold : Law Technology News : April 11, 2013
Law firms that come into contact with protected health information must enforce information security controls, protect confidential information, monitor workforce information access and track compliance.
Howrey Trustee Adds Firms to Clawback List
Julia Love : The Recorder : April 9, 2013
The Howrey estate was by turns peaceable and litigious Friday, striking a multimillion-dollar settlement with one of its insurance carriers while rounding up more firms — including Haynes and Boone — for clawback claims.
Hess franchisee wins reversal from Fourth DCA
Adolfo Pesquera : Daily Business Review : April 8, 2013
A Hess gas station franchisee won a reversal from the Fourth District Court of Appeal on a claim the company negligently supervised a salesman who fraudulently misrepresented potential earnings.
Howrey Trustee Adds Firms to Clawback List
Julia Love : The Recorder : April 8, 2013
The Howrey estate was by turns peaceable and litigious Friday, striking a multimillion-dollar settlement with one of its insurance carriers while rounding up more firms for clawback claims.
Howrey Trustee Adds Firms to Clawback List
Julia Love : The Recorder : April 8, 2013
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Jones Day
: Daily Report : April 5, 2013
Jones Day snags health care duo
Meredith Hobbs : Daily Report : March 27, 2013
Rebekah Plowman (above right) and Kristin McDonald have taken their health care practice from Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough to Jones Day, which they join as partners.
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