Hunton & Williams Receives 2011 National Law Journal Pro Bono Award

WASHINGTON — January 7, 2011 — Hunton & Williams LLP has received The National Law Journal's 2011 Pro Bono Awards, recognizing six law firms that "best reflect the pro bono tradition." The firm was lauded as one of three law firms that led the profession's response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Representing Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services, a team of Hunton & Williams lawyers and staff, including Suzan Kern, Jim Rubin, Fred Eames, David Lashway, Kerry McGrath and senior professional assistant Carol Schlenker urged Secretary Janet Napolitano to extend the deadline for Haitians in the United States to apply for Temporary Protected Status, and conferred with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas and his staff to remove several obstacles with the TPS filing process. Because of their representation, the deadline was extended and a significantly higher number of Haitians were granted TPS, allowing them to live and work in the United States legally for 18 months, with likely renewals in 18-month increments.

"We are very pleased with this honor," said George Hettrick, the partner who oversees the firm’s pro bono representations. "This type of service at a time of need goes to the essence of Hunton & Williams and is why we are proud to be lawyers."

Hunton & Williams, recipient of the 2010 Beacon of Justice Award from the National Legal Aid & Defender Association and the 2009 Pro Bono Institute’s John H. Pickering Award, continues to lead the way in community service in the United States. 100 percent of the firm's attorneys in the U.S. work on pro bono matters, and the firm donated nearly 70,000 hours to pro bono service in its completed fiscal year ending March 31, 2010.