CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Irvin W. Hankins III (“Hank”), Partner in the Charlotte office of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, is the recipient of the UNC School of Law 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Hankins was honored at the annual Law Alumni Weekend Leadership and Awards Dinner April 10 at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. The award honors alumnus whose lifetime careers were highly distinguished, and highlights their contributions to the field and to the community. This is the first time since 2004 that this award has been presented and nearly 150 people attended the event.

A former US Navy Officer and Chief Engineer, Mr. Hankins was Parker Poe’s Managing Partner from 1986-2002. Since then, he has served as the Firm’s General Counsel and a Partner, representing a variety of clients including public utilities, insurance companies, manufacturing companies, chemical and textile companies, accounting firms and other attorneys.

A past North Carolina State Bar President (2007-2008), Mr. Hankins has held a variety of other leadership positions with the Bar, including Chairman of the Ethics Committee (2003-2004); Chairman of the Authorized Practice Committee (1999-2001); and Council Member (1997-2005). He also previously served as Chairman of the North Carolina IOLTA Board of Trustees and as a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates.

Currently, Mr. Hankins is a North Carolina State Bar (NCSB) Foundation Trustee, an ABA Foundation Fellow and a member of the Disciplinary Hearing Commission of the NCSB. He is a Queens University Trustee Emeriti – an esteemed designation received by only 80 others – and previously served on the Board of Trustees for the university, which is in Charlotte.

Additionally, Mr. Hankins is a past President of the UNC Law Alumni Association and a former General Counsel to the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Hankins earned his JD, with honors, in 1975 and his AB in 1968 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.