Hunton & Williams
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1901, Hunton & Williams LLP is a US law firm
that employs more than 800 lawyers
. It has been called "one of the most well-connected legal and lobbying
firms in DC
." The firm was founded in Richmond, Virginia
and has 18 other offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. In early 2011 the firm's controversial work for Bank of America
and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce became public through a large disclosure of emails.
by Henry Anderson, Eppa Hunton Jr., Beverley Munford, and Randolph Williams as Munford, Hunton, Williams & Anderson. It focused primarily on business and finance law.
The firm has changed names 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 became a member of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971.
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.
leader among large law firms and is frequently referred to as a model example of a pro bono-cultured firm at national conferences. The firm is also consistently highly ranked among the most prestigious law firms by the National Law Journal, Chambers, and The Vault.
The firm has a Centre for Information Policy Leadership, which focuses on privacy
and data protection work.
The managing partner, Walfrido J. "Wally" Martinez, has held that position since March 2006.
(by the DOJ) for getting advice on how to deal with the upcoming wikileaks
dump of the banks internal documents. Hunton & Williams allegedly helped get three private companies, Berico Technologies
, Palantir Technologies
, and HBGary Federal to come up with a response plan. The plan was allegedly later revealed when Anonymous
hacked into HBGary
and dumped their internal documents on the web.
The plan created a controversy for many reasons, including the allegation that it included suggestions to harm the career of salon.com journalist and lawyer Glenn Greenwald
and "disrupt" his support for Wikileaks. On 1 March 2011, 17 members of the United States congress called for a congressional investigation for possible violation of federal law by Hunton & Williams.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
that employs more than 800 lawyers
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. It has been called "one of the most well-connected legal and lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
firms in DC
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
." The firm was founded in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
and has 18 other offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. In early 2011 the firm's controversial work for Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce became public through a large disclosure of emails.
History
The firm was founded in 1901 in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
by Henry Anderson, Eppa Hunton Jr., Beverley Munford, and Randolph Williams as Munford, Hunton, Williams & Anderson. It focused primarily on business and finance law.
The firm has changed names 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 became a member of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971.
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.
Current operations
The firm has achieved a national reputation as a pro bonoPro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
leader among large law firms and is frequently referred to as a model example of a pro bono-cultured firm at national conferences. The firm is also consistently highly ranked among the most prestigious law firms by the National Law Journal, Chambers, and The Vault.
The firm has a Centre for Information Policy Leadership, which focuses on privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
and data protection work.
The managing partner, Walfrido J. "Wally" Martinez, has held that position since March 2006.
Bank of America and WikiLeaks
Circa 2010-2011, Hunton & Williams was allegedly suggested to Bank of AmericaBank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
(by the DOJ) for getting advice on how to deal with the upcoming wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
dump of the banks internal documents. Hunton & Williams allegedly helped get three private companies, Berico Technologies
Berico Technologies
Berico Technologies is an analysis and technology company. Its customers are primarily Defense and Intelligence groups in the US government.It is based in Arlington, Virginia.- History :Berico was founded in 2006 by military veterans....
, Palantir Technologies
Palantir Technologies
Palantir Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with offices in Tysons Corner, Virginia, New York City and Covent Garden, London, is a software company that produces the Palantir Government and Palantir Finance platforms...
, and HBGary Federal to come up with a response plan. The plan was allegedly later revealed when Anonymous
Anonymous (group)
Anonymous is an international hacking group, spread through the Internet, initiating active civil disobedience, while attempting to maintain anonymity. Originating in 2003 on the imageboard 4chan, the term refers to the concept of many online community users simultaneously existing as an anarchic,...
hacked into HBGary
HBGary
HBGary is a technology security company. Two distinct but affiliated firms carry the name: HBGary Federal, which sells its products to the US Federal Government, and HB Gary, Inc. Its other clients include information assurance companies, computer emergency response teams, and computer forensic...
and dumped their internal documents on the web.
The plan created a controversy for many reasons, including the allegation that it included suggestions to harm the career of salon.com journalist and lawyer Glenn Greenwald
Glenn Greenwald
Glenn Greenwald is an American lawyer, columnist, blogger, and author. Greenwald worked as a constitutional and civil rights litigator before becoming a contributor to Salon.com, where he focuses on political and legal topics...
and "disrupt" his support for Wikileaks. On 1 March 2011, 17 members of the United States congress called for a congressional investigation for possible violation of federal law by Hunton & Williams.