Former Va. ABC chief joins Hunton Andrews Kurth

Travis Hill, former CEO of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority and former Virginia deputy secretary of agriculture and forestry, has joined Richmond-based law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth, Virginia’s second-largest law firm announced Tuesday.

Hill is a counsel for the firm’s Global Economic Development, Commerce and Government Relations Group (GECON), according to a news release. He stepped down as Virginia ABC’s CEO in September 2023 after nearly a decade with the authority.

Hill served as deputy secretary of agriculture under Govs. Bob McDonnell and Terry McAuliffe. He was appointed chief operating officer of Virginia ABC in 2014 by Gov. Terry McAuliffe and led a multiyear effort to transition ABC from a state agency to an authority. He was appointed as CEO by Gov. Ralph Northam in 2018 and reappointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2022. Before serving in state government, he was an attorney in private practice.

“In just a few short years, Hunton Andrews Kurth’s public affairs consultancy has grown into a valuable resource for clients,” Randall S. Parks, chairman of the Hunton Andrews Kurth executive committee, said in a statement. “The group’s remarkable growth and diverse roster of clients demonstrates the quality of our government relations, economic development and communications professionals. We believe our clients will benefit from Travis’ unique experiences as a lawyer, executive and regulator, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the firm.”

The firm’s GECON group provides services such as lobbying and government relations, strategic communication and public relations, business and economic development, site selection and incentive negotiation. Hill will work out of the firm’s Richmond offices.

“I was fortunate to have a number of incredible opportunities available to me when I left state government, but Hunton Andrews Kurth was a natural fit because of its reputation for client service, professionalism and innovation,” Hill said in a statement. “It’s very exciting to join such a dynamic and growing group, and I look forward to putting my experience in regulated industries to work for clients around the country.”

Hunton Andrews Kurth has more than 900 attorneys in the U.S., Asia, Europe and the Middle East.