Rita A. Sheffey Named Emory Law's Assistant Dean for Public Service

Hunton & Williams LLP litigation and intellectual property partner Rita A. Sheffey has been appointed Assistant Dean for Public Service at Emory University, a newly created position for which she was the ideal candidate. Sheffey, who has worked for Hunton & Williams for more than 27 years and was named partner in 2004, spearheaded the development of the firm’s lauded Pro Bono program, highlighted by her founding of the Southside Legal Center and countless other contributions. She will join Emory later this month.

“Hunton & Williams congratulates Rita on her new role at Emory and looks forward to continuing to work with her as she expands the university’s public service programs,” said Atlanta Managing Partner Kurt Powell. “Rita built one of the strongest pro bono programs in the Southeast, if not the entire country, and her well-established commitment to public service is unparalleled, in my opinion. We are proud of her and know she will succeed in this exciting new chapter of her career.”

Sheffey founded the firm’s Southside Legal Center, a pro bono clinic which serves area residents who cannot afford a private lawyer, and has served as director since it opened in 1995. She partnered with the Fulton County Juvenile Court in 1996 to develop a program that allows Hunton & Williams attorneys to serve as guardians ad litem in Children in Need of Services cases. Sheffey has also served as president of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society (2005-2006), and the Atlanta Bar Association (2011-2012). For 20 consecutive years, Sheffey has logged more than 100 pro bono hours, and has led the Atlanta office’s Pro Bono Committee since 2005. Her leadership has guided the firm’s Atlanta office to 100 percent lawyer participation in public service for the past seven years.

“Hunton & Williams’ rich culture and commitment to service helped inspire me to focus on creating meaningful opportunities to serve our community,” said Sheffey. “I am confident my Atlanta colleagues will continue to be engaged in pro bono work and be supported and encouraged by the firm. I look forward to inspiring a future generation of lawyers to incorporate public service into their careers.”

Underscoring Sheffey’s service to the Atlanta legal community, the Atlanta Bar announced the Rita A. Sheffey Public Interest Award in 2012, and named her its inaugural recipient. She received the Bar’s Distinguished Service Award in 2010 and 2013. Currently, Sheffey is president of the Lamar American Inn of Court at Emory Law and treasurer of the State Bar of Georgia. She has also served as secretary of the State Bar and was recently nominated as president-elect.

Sheffey’s appointment highlights Emory’s commitment to serve the community and advance the rule of law through its public service programs. In her new role, she will advise the Emory Public Interest Committee, oversee the law school’s Pro Bono Program, increase post-graduate placement opportunities in federal and state clerkships, and advise students with career interests in government and public interest organizations.

About Hunton & Williams LLP

Since its establishment more than a century ago, Hunton & Williams has grown to 800 lawyers serving clients from 19 offices worldwide. With an industry focus on energy, financial services, consumer products and retail, and real estate, the firm’s global experience extends to myriad legal disciplines, including commercial litigation, corporate transactions and securities law, intellectual property, international and government relations, regulatory law, privacy and cybersecurity, and products liability. Visit www.hunton.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.