And so it was a major step to be the first Black lawyer at Hunton & Williams; I saw it as part of the integration of our society." He was admitted to the law firm's partnership in April 1982 and was the first Black lawyer in the history of the American South — from Virginia to Texas — to come to an old-line, southern law firm out of law school and "go up the line" to make partner.
Being the first Black lawyer at Hunton & Williams was a major step; I saw it as part of our society's integration. He joined the partnership in April 1982 and became the inaugural Black lawyer in American history — from Virginia to Texas — to enter an old-line, southern law firm after graduation and "move up the ladder" to become a partner.