Charlotte/Raleigh, N.C. — June 6, 2011 — Hunton & Williams LLP is proud to announce its Charlotte and Raleigh offices have once again been honored by the North Carolina Bar Association with the 2011 Large Firm Pro Bono Award. Additionally, partner Robert Hahn, chair of the Charlotte office's pro bono committee, has been selected to receive the 2011 William Thorp Award for his outstanding volunteer efforts. Both awards are a testament to Hunton & Williams’ commitment to leading the way in pro bono and community service.

The North Carolina Bar Association's Large Firm Pro Bono Award recognizes the efforts of North Carolina lawyers working in a large firm who make a significant commitment towards pro bono work. The William Thorp Award is presented to an attorney who has provided exemplary pro bono legal service, with special consideration to voluntary contributions which have resulted in increased access to legal services for low-income citizens. Hunton & Williams will accept the awards during the North Carolina Bar Association's annual meeting on June 24 in Asheville, N.C.

During the 2010 fiscal year, the Charlotte and Raleigh offices of Hunton & Williams represented 175 pro bono clients and dedicated 4,999 hours to pro bono service, an average of 104 pro bono hours per lawyer. This represents more than 5 percent of the offices' billable work dedicated to pro bono efforts, surpassing the goal of 3 percent set by the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge.

Hahn was recognized for his work with Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont to obtain Medicaid, Social Security disability and other benefits that had been denied for indigent clients. He also recently received the Mecklenburg County Bar’s 2011 Legal Services of Southern Piedmont Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award.

"Our North Carolina offices' ongoing commitment to leading the way in pro bono service and serving the community is worthy of recognition," said Wally Martinez, managing partner of Hunton & Williams. "At a time when so many people are in dire need of legal assistance to represent them in matters affecting their homes, benefits, children, health and more, Hunton & Williams' lawyers and their staff have really stepped up to meet this need."

Highlights of pro bono activities in 2010 include providing legal counsel to children in need through the Council for Children's Rights and NC Guardian ad Litem programs, appealing denied Social Security and Medicaid disability benefits on behalf of the Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, and ongoing support to Legal Aid of North Carolina.

About Hunton & Williams LLP

Hunton & Williams LLP provides legal services to corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals, as well as to a broad array of other entities. Since our establishment more than a century ago, Hunton & Williams has grown to more than 900 lawyers serving clients in 100 countries from 18 offices around the world. While our practice has a strong industry focus on energy, financial services and life sciences, the depth and breadth of our experience extends to more than 100 separate practice areas, including bankruptcy and creditors rights, commercial litigation, corporate transactions and securities law, intellectual property, international and government relations, regulatory law, products liability, and privacy and information management.