Top Atlanta Trial Lawyer Joins Hunton & Williams

Business Wire, Jan 16, 2002

Business Editors/Legal Writers

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ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 2002

Chair of Powell Goldstein's Litigation Department Jerry B. Blackstock

Joins Firm's Atlanta Office

In a move that surprised many in the Atlanta legal community, Hunton & Williams announced on Tuesday that Jerry B. Blackstock has withdrawn from Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy LLP, where he chaired the Litigation Department, to join the firm's Atlanta office.

This announcement comes on the heels of Hunton & Williams' combination earlier this month with the Dallas, Texas, firm of Worsham Forsythe Wooldridge. These expansion moves bring the firm, one of the world's 40 largest, to more than 850 attorneys in 17 domestic and international offices.

In commenting on his decision to join Hunton & Williams, Blackstock noted that while it was certainly not easy to leave Powell Goldstein, which during his 33 years there had grown to more than 200 attorneys in Atlanta, he found the opportunity to chair Hunton & Williams' Atlanta Litigation Team very exciting. "Good things are happening at Hunton & Williams. They have made strategic moves that are bringing together all of the pieces that will make their litigation practice the best in the country. I want to be a part of that," said Blackstock.

In addition to the merger on January 1 with the 86 attorney Worsham firm, the firm opened a Miami office in 1999 when they lured one of south Florida's most prominent litigators and former federal prosecutor, Marty Steinberg, to open an office there. That office now counts over 40 attorneys.

Tom Slater, Co-Chair of the firm's Litigation Section, says that one of the firm's goals has long been to build the nation's preeminent litigation practice. "The reputation we enjoy today is built on more than 100 years of bringing the very best legal talent into the firm," said Slater. "Jerry Blackstock is considered one of the top litigators in Atlanta. His experience and leadership coupled with the strong litigation team already in place in our Atlanta office will make for a formidable group of trial lawyers."

Blackstock is accustomed to the high profile, "bet the company" cases he will lead at Hunton & Williams. He is an accomplished jury trial lawyer, having handled more than 200 trials and received numerous accolades for his work, including "Best Lawyers in Atlanta" in business litigation and personal injury litigation, "Best Lawyers in America" in business litigation and personal injury litigation, and "Top Players in High-Tech Intellectual Property." He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates and serves on its National Board of Directors.

"Jerry's track record of success and extraordinary reputation is precisely what we believe and want clients to expect when they hire Hunton & Williams," said C. L. Wagner, Managing Partner of the Atlanta office. "His dedication to the service of clients, the law and the Atlanta community are unsurpassed and his approach to the practice is an excellent fit for our firm. We could not be more pleased to have Jerry join us."

Blackstock adds that Hunton & Williams' unique opportunities in Atlanta were also a key factor in his decision. "Hunton & Williams is the only truly international firm in Atlanta and its ability to field a team backed by more than 300 attorneys in litigation alone provides fabulous opportunities." The Firm has overseas offices in Warsaw, London, Brussels, Hong Kong and Bangkok. "There is a great foundation already in place here. Hunton & Williams' Atlanta office, established for more than 12 years, has more than 100 attorneys and is one of the firm's major offices. We expect to grow the office significantly in the future."

One of Blackstock's most recent trial victories was recognized by The National Law Journal in October as the "Defense Win of the Month" in the United States. At Hunton, his practice will continue to focus on such high profile, complex litigation involving intellectual property rights, diverse business problems such as financing, false advertising, corporation-shareholder problems and unfair competition claims, tax litigation and personal injury and other casualty cases.

Hunton & Williams, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, was named one of the top 30 U.S. law firms in client service by BTI Consulting.

Hunton & Williams provides legal services to corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals as well as a broad array of other entities. While Hunton & Williams' practice has a particular emphasis on commercial litigation, energy and environmental law, capital markets transactions, corporate and structured finance, and governmental relations, the firm's expertise extends to more than 50 practice areas. Visit our Web site at www.hunton.com.