The Legal 500

Within Project finance, Hunton & Williams LLP is a third tier firm,

The increasingly prominent practice at Hunton & Williams LLP is led by head of the business practice group John Beardsworth in Richmond, Virginia, joined by co-heads of the energy and project finance team, John Hawkins in New York and Jeffrey Schroeder in Washington DC. The group has an excellent niche in emerging markets, where it has been involved, chiefly as sponsor’s counsel, in a very diverse range of countries, and the practice has remained buoyant thanks to the insulation of many of these markets from the wider global downturn, although the importance of overseas markets has not precluded the firm from also being involved in notable domestic deals. The firm advised the Government of Kosovo on the privatization of Post and Telecoms of Kosovo, one of the largest telephone operators in Kosovo, and is also acting for a consortium advising the Government of Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the corporatization of Ukrenergo, the national energy company of Ukraine. The team has strong links with the Government of Tanzania, and has advised it on matters including the Songo Songo gas-to-electricity project and a gas plant and pipeline extension, which involved the drafting and negotiation of more than 20 comprehensive project agreements on the development of an integrated natural gas facility and an electric generation project; and also the proposal by an oil and gas exploration company to develop natural gas processing and liquefaction facilities, the first such project in the country. On the lender side, Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ instructed the firm on the $1.5bn financing of Woodside’s Pluto offshore gas and LNG liquefaction facilities in Australia. In the US, the team advised Exergy Development Group on the development and financing of a 183MW wind generation project in Idaho. In May 2010, the firm added five partners from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, including Ellis Butler, Raj Pande and Laurence Skinner, as well as Schroeder and Hawkins, mentioned above. This growth was cemented further in October 2010 with the addition of Gregory Lang and Michael Madden in New York.

Within Environment: litigation, Hunton & Williams LLP is a first tier firm,

Longstanding association with energy and utility companies has put Hunton & Williams LLP at the forefront of environmental matters in the US, with clients stating the team includes ‘effective advocates and counselors’. The firm has offices from coast-to-coast and has ‘special experience in all environmental law matters’. It covers contentious matters and has particular expertise in Clean Air Act (CAA) and Clean Water Act (CWA) issues. Other areas in which the firm excels include Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), hazardous waste management, endangered species issues and wetlands work. Washinton DC-based Bill Brownell is the name to note and is known for his experience in climate change rules and regulations and for related litigation.

Within Environment: transaction and regulatory, Hunton & Williams LLP is a second tier firm,

Clients state that the team at Hunton & Williams LLP is ‘very good’ and provides ‘extremely effective’ advice. The firm has a strong reputation with energy and utility companies, which has put the group at the forefront of environmental matters in the US. In addition, it works closely with the firm’s energy and project finance teams. The group advises on regulatory and transactional matters, and has particular expertise in the CAA and Clean Water Act (CWA) issues. Other areas in which the firm specializes include RCRA, hazardous waste management, endangered species acts and wetland work. The firm has an impressive track record and it served as sole environmental counsel to parties to the second largest IPO in US history on environmental disclosure in securities filings, and advised a related purchaser on environmental risk associated with the acquisition. Bill Brownell and Kevin Finto are recommended.

Within Copyright, tier 4

Hunton & Williams LLP offers a full range of services related to copyright issues and represents clients from the traditional entertainment, media and arts sectors as well as software and IT interests. It is particularly noted for its experience in the video games arena, representing clients such as Epic Games. Additional clients include the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Elite Sports and Baby Network. Richmond-based Stephen Demm has represented software, consumer product and F100 companies in copyright infringement disputes. Also based in Richmond, John Gary Maynard represents industrial manufacturers, while Washington DC-based Rodger Tate focuses on technology matters. Douglas Kenyon is also recommended, for his trademark and copyright expertise.

Within Real estate investment trusts (REITs), Hunton & Williams LLP is a third tier firm,

Hunton & Williams LLP’s ‘small but effective’ practice historically has handled more than 100 IPOs and Rule 144A offerings and over 400 capital markets transactions involving some 135 REITs. It acts for underwriters and issuers, and has developed a particular strength in hotel and mortgage REITs, having led the charge in the lodging industry’s use of the REIT structure. Representative issuer-side representations include advising Commercial Mortgage Investment Trust on its $45m private placement of common and preferred stock. The practice advises on a high volume of transactions for mid-market players including Asset Capital Corporation, C-Bass, Equity Inns and Chatham Lodging Trust. Underwriter clients include leading investment banks such as RBC Capital Markets, Wachovia Securities and Credit Suisse First Boston. David Wright heads the real estate capital markets practice and is ably supported by tax and ERISA practice head George Howell.

Within Technology: data protection and privacy, Hunton & Williams LLP is a first tier firm,

Hunton & Williams LLP’s dedicated privacy practice is led by ‘recognized expert’ and ‘fantastic lawyer’ Lisa Sotto, who is also managing partner of the firm’s New York office. Widely recognized as ‘the go-to firm for privacy matters’, and underpinned by the firm’s geographic reach, the team counsels clients across a wide range of industry sectors on compliance with international, federal and state statutory requirements, including those arising under the EU Data Protection Directive, HIPAA, GLBA, FCRA, CAN-SPAM, TCPA and state laws and regulations. The firm’s privacy think tank and consulting practice, the center for information policy leadership, which has been in existence for ten years, brings together companies, consumer leaders and senior policy makes to develop global privacy and data security strategies, shape privacy solutions and develop next-generation privacy principles for the digital age. Clients recommend the group as ‘top-rate for quality, efficiency and response time,’ for developing data management policies and avoiding and managing security breaches. Highlights included advising a global financial institution on US and EU data protection compliance issues in connection with new information products across multiple jurisdictions, and internet-related projects; and helping a multinational retailer establish a corporate-wide records management program and a global privacy and data security program. Behavioral advertising is another important area of focus. Recently promoted partner Aaron Simpson helps clients manage large-scale data security incidents and compliance with federal, state and international privacy and data security requirements. The practice represents banks and financial services companies, electronic publishers, retailers, risk management specialists, healthcare providers, telecoms and internet service providers and government agencies. Clients include GE, Polo Ralph Lauren, TJX, MasterCard, Alaska Air, Philips, Macmillan and Farmers.

Within Technology: outsourcing, Hunton & Williams LLP is a second tier firm,

Hunton & Williams LLP’s 40-lawyer national and international outsourcing group is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with support in Washington DC, Dallas, New York and London, and is integrated with the firm’s technology and privacy practices and its center for information policy leadership. Clients commend attorneys’ ‘understanding of industry practices and ability to balance guidance and client support’, handling large-scale transactions across multiple sectors with particular strength in retail and financial services. In 2010, the group handled a combination of systems integration transactions and build operate transfer (BOT) deals. Cutting-edge challenges relate to open source software, risk allocation and licenses with location restrictions. Highlights included assisting a large healthcare system to unwind a $130m IT and services transaction and re-allocate it to several single process providers, representing a large insurer in the comprehensive renegotiation of a $500m comprehensive IT transaction, and assisting a Fortune 300 automobile parts manufacturer in a long-term $80m SAP global integration project. In Richmond, Randall Parks, co-chair of the global technology and outsourcing practice group, specializes in BPOs, ITOs, licensing, systems acquisition and joint ventures. In Atlanta, co-chair James Harvey advises on IT, HR and BPOs, offshoring and data management. Clients appreciate his ‘excellent knowledge and expertise and great advocacy and negotiation skills’. Karen Sanzaro focuses on facilities and large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) deals. Jeffrey Harvey is also recommended. The group benefits from strong relationships with major sourcing consultancies, including Everest Group, TPI and EquaTerra as well as providers Accenture, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, Cognizant, Infosys and Genpact. An impressive client list includes Blockbuster Video, Meadwestvaco, The Hartford, Toys R Us and The Servicemaster Company.

Within Antitrust, tier 6

Hunton & Williams LLP’s practice runs the full gamut of antitrust activities with its primary areas of focus including antitrust litigation, and advice on consumer protection matters as well as distribution and franchise systems. In addition to a strong team in Washington DC, the group also has a very deep Brussels practice, managed by a number of partners formerly at the European Commission. The practice’s track record includes representing Raytheon in defending a private antitrust complaint brought by Honeywell alleging that Raytheon and Rockwell entered into an anti-competitive exclusive teaming agreement. It also represented Vulcan Materials Company and Florida Rock Industries in a series of significant class action lawsuits alleging price fixing in Florida’s cement and concrete markets. Other clients include Mastercard International, Delta Airlines and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. Bruce Hoffman now heads the group following Hewitt Pate’s departure to Chevron. Hoffman is a former deputy director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. Thomas Slater in Richmond heads the litigation team, while Hoffman leads on cases at the intersection of IP and competition law where he can utilize his experience in licensing, patent pooling and standard setting. Ray Hartwell heads the criminal and cartel defense practice, while David Higbee, Melvin Orlans, as well as Hoffman and Hartwell handle merger clearances. All recommended lawyers are based in Washington DC unless noted otherwise. Keila Ravelo departed to Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York.