HARRISBURG, PA, December 21, 2005 – Stevens & Lee is pleased to announce that Renardo L. Hicks has joined the firm along with associate Michael A. Gruin and paralegal Thandi Akerele.

Mr. Hicks brings extensive experience representing and counseling telecommunications, water, gas and electric utilities and other companies in matters before governmental and regulatory agencies and state and federal courts.

He also works with clients on legislative matters, vendor and supplier diversity issues and minority and women-owned business certification, and has filed comments with the Pennsylvania State Gaming Board on behalf of numerous minority organizations.

Prior to joining Stevens & Lee, Mr. Hicks served as Regional Vice President and Regulatory Counsel for a national communications service provider. He has also held several positions within the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

Mr. Hicks serves as Vice Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Consumer Advisory Council and is a member of the Pennsylvania Judicial Independence Commission. He holds an LL.M. from Temple University School of Law (1985), a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law (1983) and a B.A. from Hamilton College (1977).

Mr. Gruin practices in the areas of public utility law and state and local taxation. He has broad experience counseling private clients from a variety of industries, including insurance, manufacturing, retail, technology and telecommunications, and has represented a wide range of corporations and governmental entities in complex multimillion-dollar sales, use and excise matters. Mr. Gruin holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law (1996) and a B.S., with High Distinction, from Pennsylvania State University (1993).

Mr. Akerele joins Stevens & Lee from a Harrisburg law firm. He received a B.S., magna cum laude, from Pennsylvania State University (2001).

ABOUT STEVENS & LEE
Stevens & Lee is a professional services firm of approximately 180 lawyers and more than 40 business and consulting professionals. The firm represents clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and across the country from 13 offices in the following locations: Reading, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Valley Forge, the Lehigh Valley, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Princeton and Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Wilmington, Delaware; and New York City.