Hunton & Williams LLP Voted Top Law Firm for US Emissions Markets

New York, NY, December 22, 2008 — Hunton & Williams LLP has been voted Best Law Firm for U.S. emissions markets by the readers of Environmental Finance and Carbon Finance.

"It is gratifying to be recognized at the international level by our clients and peers as having the number one emissions trading practice in the U.S.," said Managing Partner Wally Martinez. "It's our understanding of emerging market-based regulatory mechanisms, including climate change laws, that enables us to help our clients assess business risks and leverage opportunities."

Currently, the U.S. has emissions markets for pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, but does not yet have a regulatory framework for carbon.

"This recognition of Hunton & Williams" leadership position in the U.S. emissions market is particularly significant given that any domestic carbon regulations are very likely to include a trading program," noted Bill Brownell, head of the firm’s Regulatory and Environmental Law Practice. "In light of our work involving existing U.S. emissions markets, we will be uniquely positioned should a carbon-trading scheme be established in the U.S. These are also global issues, and we are equally active internationally, providing our clients an additional advantage."

Hunton & Williams' Regulatory and Environmental Law Practice assists clients with the development of corporate environmental policies and strategies; emissions-reduction projects and trading; and litigation of environmental matters in the United States and abroad. The practice is in the #1 band in Chambers USA in Carbon Projects, Finance and Trading; Regulatory Compliance; Litigation; and Policy Monitoring and Lobbying.

Environmental Finance is a global monthly magazine covering the effects of environmental issues on the lending, insurance, investment, and trading industries. It also publishes the monthly newsletter Carbon Finance. For their annual ranking, Environmental Finance and Carbon Finance received 1600 votes from their combined readership, and the results appear in the December-January editions of both publications.