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For Hunton & Williams, the law firm where Anthony Foxx works, there are some upsides and downsides to employing the city's new mayor. One thing legal experts and firm leaders agree on is that, for better or worse, it will boost the firm's profile.
It's not uncommon for politicians to hail from the legal field, and for firms to scoop up former mayors, governors and congressmen, hoping to capitalize on their expertise in lobbying and other government matters.
Experts say having an elected official on staff could raise concerns, particularly if his approval rating falters. Overall, though, Foxx's victory will likely be a boon for the firm.
"We're very proud of his accomplishments," said Mike Nedzbala, managing partner of Hunton & Williams' Charlotte office. "We view it as a positive thing, consistent with our dedication to providing service to the community."
Foxx has worked at Hunton & Williams, a Richmond-based firm with 1,000 attorneys worldwide and about 40 in Charlotte, since 2001. The commercial litigator, who represents banks, health care companies and other businesses, switched to a part-time schedule when he was elected to the Charlotte City Council in 2005.
During his run for mayor, Foxx said he'd treat the city's top job as a full-time role, though he wouldn't ask for a full-time salary. That will probably mean some changes to his job at Hunton & Williams, he said.
Foxx told the Observer on Thursday that he planned to talk about his status with the firm in a week or two. Nedzbala declined to say how much Foxx currently works, though Foxx said his status now allows him to work as much as he wants and get paid accordingly.
"One of the untold stories about public service in this community are the many businesses that invest heavily in helping somebody like me serve," he said. "I think Hunton & Williams deserves a lot of credit for allowing me to do what I'm doing."
The firm issued a news release Wednesday congratulating Foxx on his win, saying, "having an attorney with his unique experience is invaluable to our clients both locally and nationally."
Employing an acting mayor can raise some questions about potential conflicts, though, particularly with clients tied to the city. Nedzbala said firm leaders are "certainly sensitive" to those issues and have a strong internal process that involves looking at each case.
During his time on the City Council, Foxx has recused himself on issues he thinks would pose a conflict. About 95 percent of the city's legal work stays in-house, city attorney Mac McCarley said. When city leaders turn to outside firms, they choose based on expertise - the city doesn't use Hunton & Williams because it's largely a commercial litigation firm, and the city does its own litigation, he said.
Hunton & Williams has been the counsel for underwriters on some of the city's bond deals, though the underwriters, not the city, select those attorneys.
Former government officials have faced similar scrutiny of their jobs. Pat McCrory, the closest to a full-time mayor Charlotte has had, liked to say he juggled two full-time jobs. He worked at Duke Energy as a senior adviser in the economic development group; his pay was full time, but his schedule and duties were less clear.
The company appeared to use McCrory's status to help woo corporate customers - and that fueled questions about conflicts of interest and whether the Duke salary simply supported his city business.
Foxx isn't the only local politician to practice law, either. Former Mayor Richard Vinroot, an attorney at Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, practiced while serving the city in the early 1990s.
In April, Richmond firm McGuireWoods announced it had hired former Gov. Mike Easley as a partner in its Raleigh office.
"Law firms are very interested in former politicians," said Cliff Jarrett, managing director at legal recruiter Major, Lindsey & Africa's Charlotte office.
In Washington, D.C., for example, top-tier law firms are quick to snap up retired politicians. On a smaller scale, firms often employ attorneys with a hand in leadership or an outside job altogether. That could be a partner who serves as president of the N.C. Bar Association or, in the case of Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte, Jay Bilas, who is better known for his role as a basketball analyst on ESPN and CBS Sports.
Law firms generally welcome the exposure, thinking big-name employees will raise the firm's profile, Jarrett said. Larger firms are usually more willing to accommodate such roles, as they can make up for the lost legal work easier than smaller firms.
There are negatives, though. Not only do firms have to spend more time scrutinizing potential conflicts, but the person's public performance reflects on the firm, for better or worse, Jarrett said.
Politicians with a good reputation, for instance, can boost firms' business - but those mired in scandal could result in bad press, he said.
Still, the positives will probably outweigh the negatives for Foxx and Hunton & Williams, he said.
If anything, Foxx's run for mayor has drummed up interest in local government among his colleagues, Nedzbala said.
"We will want to be involved with his efforts," he said. "We will be supportive and integrated in what he's doing." Staff writer Jim Morrill contributed.
