Hunton & Williams Lands Va. Attorney General

By Abigail Rubenstein

Law360, New York (November 11, 2009) -- Hunton & Williams LLP has snagged Virginia Attorney General William C. Mims, who will become a partner in the firm's government relations practice when he leaves office in January 2010.

Mims will join the firm's administrative law group and will reside in its Washington and Richmond, Va., offices after his term expires, Hunton & Williams announced Tuesday.

“I look forward to serving clients in Virginia, Washington and nationwide. The firm’s core values of excellence, integrity and public service provide an excellent work culture,” Mims said in a statement.

When he returns to the private sector, Mims will focus his practice on advising clients in their dealings with the legislative and executive branches of state governments and the federal government. He will also counsel clients on regulatory issues and on matters involving state attorneys general.

His work at Hunton & Williams will have a particular emphasis on health care, competition, consumer protection and energy issues.

Mims took up the title of Virginia attorney general after his predecessor, Governor-elect Bob McDonnell, decided to devote himself full time to his gubernatorial campaign.

He was recently named co-chair of McDonnell’s transition team, and he plans make the jump to Hunton & Williams just days after the governor's inauguration.

Prior to serving as attorney general, Mims acted as chief deputy attorney general from January 2006 to February.

Before joining the Attorney General's Office, Mims had been active in Virginia politics, serving as a Republican representative in the Virginia Senate from 1998 to 2005, and in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 to 1997.

Mims also has experience with the federal government, having spent time on Capitol Hill as chief of staff to Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va.

Outside of his work in government, Mims has experience at a northern Virginia law firm, and holds law degrees from both Georgetown University and George Washington University.

Mims will not be the only former government attorney in his new firm's government relations practice, according to Thurston Moore, chairman of Hunton & Williams' executive committee.

"He is joining a prominent, well-established government relations team, including another former Virginia attorney general, Andy Miller. The head of the practice, Whitt Clement, is a former secretary of transportation, and we also have a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, former legislators, former Cabinet and sub-Cabinet officials, and former counsel to congressional committees," Moore told Law360.

While the firm expects Mims to bring a unique perspective to issues involving Virginia, his focus will not be on the state alone. Moore noted that Mims had collaborated with other state attorneys general and been very involved with the National Association of Attorneys General during his government service.

Mims is “a great catch, a wonderful fellow and a highly respected attorney, and we're all very excited about this opportunity,” Moore said.