ABA names Hubbard President-Elect

Lawyer William C. Hubbard, a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Columbia, S.C., was elected Tuesday as American Bar Association president-elect at the organization's Annual Meeting in San Francisco. He will serve a one-year term before taking office as president of the association in August 2014. During his term, Hubbard plans to focus on legal education reform, access to justice for the poor, disparities in incarceration, diversity in the legal profession, independence of the judiciary, the judicial confirmation process, helping young lawyers succeed and developing a blueprint to help lawyers and judges adapt to technology and globalization. Hubbard emphasized the ABA's role in promoting equal justice for all and advancing liberty. "It is incumbent upon the American Bar Association, it is our burden and our privilege, to ensure our government and our citizens remain true to the Constitution and the rule of law," he said. "It takes hard work to protect our Constitution, to keep it alive in the hearts of women and men." He stressed the importance of preparing lawyers to adapt to the quickly changing world by providing high-quality skills training and continuing legal education programs. "The ABA must help lawyers better adapt to new complexities, rapidly changing technologies and globalization, while simultaneously working with the judiciary to preserve its independence," he said. Hubbard said the ABA also needs to train and mentor young lawyers because "their success is our success and the success of our profession." He applauded the Legal Access Jobs Corps created by new ABA President James R. Silkenat and pledged to continue the effort during his term. Hubbard practices business litigation related to breach of contract, business torts, breach of fiduciary duty claims, unfair trade practices, energy and utilities disputes, and class actions. Hubbard has held a variety of leadership positions within the ABA. He served two years as chair of the ABA House of Delegates (2008-10) and is the immediate past president of the American Bar Foundation. He is a past president of the American Bar Endowment. He served on the ABA Board of Governors and the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary as well as chaired the ABA House Rules and Calendar Committee. He is a member of the council of the American Law Institute. Hubbard chairs the board of directors of the World Justice Project, a multinational, multidisciplinary initiative to strengthen the rule of law worldwide. He is a permanent member of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. In addition to South Carolina, he is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. Additionally, Hubbard has served on the board of trustees of the University of South Carolina since 1986, including as chairman of the board from 1996-2000. In 2002, Hubbard received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian award given by the governor of South Carolina. He has been honored several times by his alma mater, receiving the University of South Carolina's Distinguished Alumni Award (2009), the USC School of Law Compleat Lawyer Platinum Award (2010) and the university's highest recognition, the Honorary Doctor of Laws (2010). Hubbard received the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Fourth Circuit in 2007. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. Before joining Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Hubbard served as a law clerk for Judge Robert F. Chapman of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in history. He received his juris doctor from the USC School of Law in 1977. Published: Thu, Aug 22, 2013

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