Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth Kenyon Vote to Combine Firms

Hunton & Williams LLP and Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP announced today that both partnerships have approved an agreement to combine effective April 2, 2018, to become Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

Both firms’ partnerships voted overwhelmingly to approve the combination, which will create a 1,000-lawyer firm operating through 15 domestic and five international locations, making it one of the top 50 US legal practices by headcount and anticipated combined revenue.

Hunton Andrews Kurth will have approximately 300 lawyers in four Texas offices, more than 200 lawyers in Richmond and more than 150 lawyers in each of New York and Washington. It will bring together preeminent energy practices, as well as sophisticated capital markets, financial services and commercial litigation practices.

Wally Martinez, managing partner of Hunton & Williams, said: “This is a merger of two great firms already aligned around complementary practices and geography. Together we strike a bolder geographic footprint in key markets and establish ourselves as a powerhouse in Texas. Our focus on providing exceptional client service will not change. We will integrate our formidable transactional, litigation and regulatory practices to serve our clients in shared areas of industry strength. This will greatly benefit our clients and our people.”

Robert V. Jewell, managing partner of Andrews Kurth Kenyon, said: “Hunton Andrews Kurth brings together the history, reputation, experience and resources of the legacy firms to create a law firm that is greater than the sum of its parts. We are excited about the opportunities this combination provides for our firm and our clients.”

Martinez will serve as managing partner of the combined firm, and Jewell will become managing partner emeritus. Current Hunton Executive Committee Chairman George C. Howell III will remain chairman of the combined firm’s executive committee, which will be comprised of five legacy Andrews Kurth Kenyon partners and nine legacy Hunton & Williams partners. The merger is expected to take effect after the close of Hunton’s fiscal year at the end of March.