Hunton & Williams LLP Top Ranked in SNL Financial League Tables for Third Consecutive Year

DALLAS, TX, April 6, 2010 — Hunton & Williams LLP ranked #1 for the third consecutive year in SNL Financial's league tables for bank and thrift legal advisers, by number of deals. SNL Financial is a multisector-focused information and research firm in the financial information marketplace.

The firm's Financial Institutions Corporate and Regulatory lawyers advised on 11 whole bank acquisitions during 2009.

"We have seen an increase in the level of M&A activity from the very low levels of late 2008 and early 2009. Profitable, well capitalized acquirers see the current M&A market as an opportunity to expand their franchises through acquisitions at prices that remain attractive," said Charles "Stormy" Greef, partner.

"We have also been involved in a number of whole bank transactions involving targets that are experiencing significant asset quality and earnings challenges. In these types of deals, we have worked with our clients to structure transactions which protect acquirers from risks they did not create but which allow selling shareholders to realize a fair price for their investment," stated Peter Weinstock, partner.