NEW YORK — October 24, 2011 — Hunton & Williams LLP was named Service Provider of the Year by the Solar Energy Industries Association during its Solar Champion Awards ceremony at the Solar Power International 2011 conference held last week in Dallas. SEIA is the national trade association of the US solar energy industry. In presenting the award, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA, said, “Hunton & Williams has been a leader in aiding developers, lenders, manufacturers, and others in the development of their solar initiatives.”

"We are honored to have been recognized for our efforts in advocating the advancement of the solar industry," said Wally Martinez, managing partner of Hunton & Williams. "Energy is a global issue and we take a multidisciplinary approach to provide clients with advice and creative solutions in developing energy alternatives."

In addition to supporting SEIA in the development of its solar initiatives, several solar projects — ranging from small to utility-scale — were funded with millions of dollars by financial institutions with assistance from Hunton & Williams. The Hunton & Williams multioffice, multidisciplinary energy team accepting the award included Kenneth J. Alcott, Laura Ellen Jones, David S. Lowman Jr., and Jo Anne E. Sirgado.

Hunton & Williams' energy practice covers matters as diverse as convergence mergers between electric and gas utility holding companies; corporate restructurings debt and equity finance; representation of energy marketing and trading companies; corporate and regulatory work associated with the formation and operation of independent energy market operators and regional transmission organizations; privatization of distribution, transmission, and generating companies in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa; and the development and financing of energy projects around the world.