Firm Alumna Sworn in as First Black Female VA Supreme Court Justice

The Virginia Supreme Court welcomed Justice Cleo Elaine Powell to its ranks on Friday, October 21, as the first black woman in the court's history. Before joining the Virginia Supreme Court, Powell served more than two years on the Virginia Court of Appeals. She previously served as a circuit court and general district court judge for Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights.

Powell began her legal career at Hunton & Williams (Richmond, Labor, 1982-1986), then worked in the state attorney general's office and for Virginia Power before being appointed to the bench. This is a second "first" for Hunton & Williams when it comes to the Virginia Supreme Court. Judge John Charles Thomas, a partner at the firm then and now, became a Virginia Supreme Court Justice in 1983—the first black lawyer to hold this important position in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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 800 lawyers serving clients in 100 countries from 19 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.