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Stephen A. Northup

Stephen A. Northup has melded a busy commercial litigation practice and a commitment to pro bono work and civic involvement for much of his legal career.

The last two years, he has taken his pro bono and civic involvement to a new level as the first pro bono partner at Troutman Sanders LLP, an Atlanta-based legal giant with four Virginia outposts among its 12 offices.

As the partner in charge of the firm’s pro bono efforts, he has devoted more than 1,000 hours to pro bono work in the last seven months, with the time split between managing the firm’s program and directly representing poor and disadvantaged clients.

Much of the direct representation has gone to the case of Richard Tipton, who was one of three men sentenced to death in Richmond in 1993 for their involvement in 11 murders related to a drug-trafficking organization.

Northup earlier had represented two Virginia state death row inmates in habeas corpus proceedings before they were executed.

During his first year as pro bono partner the number of attorneys reporting pro bono hours increased from 395 to 471 and the number of pro bono hours increased by 30 percent to almost 17,000.

Firm projects included wills for low-income cancer patients referred by the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and a reception non-profit organizations from the Richmond area to increase awareness of the Pro Bono Clearinghouse, which offers free legal services such groups.

Northup noted that many large firms have started designating a senior attorney to coordinate their pro bono efforts. George H. Hettrick in the Richmond office of Hunton & Williams was among the first to assume such a position, and Northup said he regards Hettrick as a role model in that regard.

He said balancing his pro bono and paid work is “a challenge that faces any busy lawyer,” which he likens to a juggler keeping plates spinning on several poles.

George W. Marget III, assistant general counsel at Dominion Resources Services Inc., said Northup serves his corporate clients “at full capacity,” despite his pro bono commitments.

“When Steve gets involved in a case he commits 110 percent to achieving a fair, ethical and cost-effective outcome,” Marget said.

Northup said he finds both aspects of his legal work rewarding. “The highlight of my career was walking out of prison with Beverly Monroe,” for whom he won a new trial in 2002 after she had served seven years of a 20-year term for the murder of her boyfriend. Northup was convinced of her innocence, and a prosecutor decided not to try her again after Northup won habeas relief for her.

Biography

Education: A.B.,
University of Notre Dame, 1967; J.D., Harvard University, 1974.

Practice Areas: Complex litigation, pro bono representation in habeas corpus proceedings

Achievement: First pro bono partner at Troutman Sanders LLP, representation of federal death row inmate Richard Tipton.

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