| Hunton & Williams | Riverfront Plaza, East Tower, 951 East Byrd Street, Richmond, VA 23219 |
| www.hunton.com | (804) 788-8200 Fax: (804) 788-8218 |
 |
|
History as a "a source of confidence"
"The importance of the past as a source of confidence and poise grows with the turmoil of the present." With this somewhat melancholy pondering, the foreword to Style of a Law Firm (a Hunton & Williams history) manages to pinpoint the approach and outlook of this venerable firm. Founded in Richmond in 1901, Hunton & Williams has spread its presence throughout the U.S. and abroad, opening offices in Washington (1966), Norfolk (1979), Raleigh (1980), New York (1983), Knoxville (1983), Fairfax (1984), Atlanta (1988), Brussels (1989), Warsaw (1992), Hong Kong (1994), Charlotte (1995), Bangkok (1997), Miami (1999), and London (1999).
Corporate: strength in capital markets, M&A
On the transactional side, more than one-third of Hunton's 650+ attorneys devote themselves to the firm's Business Practice Group, comprised of sub-specialties in Asset Securitization, REIT transactions, Banking & Finance, Public Finance, Corporate & Securities, Project Finance, Real Estate & Leasing, and Tax & ERISA. Hunton has particularly proven itself as counsel to bond issuers - in August 1999, Securities Data ranked the firm ninth (in terms of dollar value) for its work in this category in the first half of 1999. To earn its ranking, the firm worked on 24 issues equaling over $3.8 billion in proceeds.
Public service : "A"
Consistent with a firm that claims a former U.S. Supreme Court justice as an alum, Hunton & Williams has developed an extensive community service program. In 1999, the firm was the recipient of the ABA Pro Bono Publico Award, and in a 1999 survey by American Lawyer of the nation's top 100 firms, H&W was one of only two awarded an "A" rating for pro bono work. Each of the firm's offices has a pro bono committee to identify public service opportunities. One extraordinary example of the firm's commitment to public service is its opening (in 1990) of a law office in Richmond's Church Hill area, a low income neighborhood, to offer legal services to people failing to qualify for legal aid.
|
|
Laid-back hiring process
Hunton insiders generally report a fairly "laid-back" hiring process. For example, the firm has no set formula for on-campus interviews, which are sometimes conducted by associates, sometimes partners, and sometimes both. At the firm, candidates can expect interviews with "six or seven" attorneys. As for questions, one insider explains: "If you've gotten to the call-back stage, they're really trying to see personality and if you're genuinely interested in the job. They want people to fit in, so there's a strong emphasis on good personalities. We don't want just worker bees." Another contact agrees. "You know, I haven't seen any type of memo telling us what to ask," that contact muses, adding: "A lot of it depends on the individual attorney. Naturally we're looking for skilled attorneys with personalities that mesh well with the overall firm culture."
|
|
Culture: the new South
Associate perceptions of Hunton's culture flow from the firm's mix of old-school establishment mores with a newer, entrepreneurial vigor. "A thoroughly white-shoe and blue-blood meritocracy," declares a contact in Richmond, who adds: "Everyone is a gentleman, but you succeed economically only if you are smart and motivated and work hard."
Our litigation contacts tend to emphasize the firm's conservative side. "Traditional, but not boorish," one litigator suggests. Another sees "traditional" in a slightly more negative light, calling the firm "slightly bureaucratic." Touching again on the "conservative" theme, still another litigator offers that "Hunton & Williams is a very professional place to work, but the atmosphere varies widely from office to office." That contact continues: "Some offices are more stuffy than others. Some partners do a better job of communicating with associates and keeping them informed about things that are happening behind the scenes at the firm."
Other departments add different perspective on Hunton culture. "Very team-oriented," says a Real Estate contact. A corporate finance insider notes: "This firm is very professional and treats the associates with respect. The firm has done an excellent job of providing mentors for young associates to learn from and to ensure they do not 'fall between the cracks.' The emphasis is on client service, not just dollars." In Washington, a contact stresses the "importance placed on civility and excellent work, rather than entire emphasis on hours." Another in that office agrees that the firm is "congenial," but nevertheless emphasizes that Hunton remains "businesslike." In Atlanta, an associate voices a similar sentiment, noting that firm life is characterized by "hard work, but friendly associations with other attorneys and the staff."
Strong reputation
The consensus throughout Hunton's offices is that the firm enjoys a solid reputation. "Excellent," says one attorney. In the nation's capital, an attorney notes that the firm has a "strong reputation for quality representation," and another boasts of "one of the top labor/employment practices around." As for litigators, one also calls the firm's reputation "excellent" and points to a particularly "strong reputation for support of pro-bono and community involvement." A bankruptcy contact certainly doesn't hold back. "Regionally, our bankruptcy practice is considered the best," that contact suggests, continuing: "In the Mid-Atlantic, it's one of the best. In asset securitization-related bankruptcy matters, our bankruptcy practice is one of the top 10."
Describing their firm's rep, a few contacts evoke the dreaded notion of sweatshop. Some, however, dismiss any such ideas. "I know in North Carolina we have a reputation of being a sweatshop," says one contact, adding: "I don't think that reputation is accurate or fair."
The perk problem
Showering associates with perks doesn't seem to one of Hunton's priorities. "Virtually none," burps an attorney in Richmond. A litigator agrees that perks are "fairly limited for such a large firm. Beyond social events, there are not many others." Among Hunton's perks mentioned are "$50 dollar/month parking," "social events for team outings, firm outings and summer associate outings," "meals while working late," and "tickets for concerts/sports, etc. for client development." Of course, the dearth of perks doesn't bother everyone. A contact in Washington tells Vault.com that "the biggest perk is a good quality of life; I'd much rather have that than meals provided when I work until 8:00 p.m."
|
|
Christine Tracey
Legal Recruiting Manager
200 Park Avenue, 43rd Floor1
New York
NY
10166-0136
(212) 309-1217
(212) 309-1100
|
|
Shearman & Sterling; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld; King & Spalding; Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft;
More Company Profiles
For more career information, go to Vault.com
©2000, Vault.com Inc
Click here to email this page to a friend  |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||