RALEIGH, N.C. — Fred Hutchison of the law firm Hutchison Law Group received the coveted Order of the Long Leaf Pine award from the state of North Carolina this week.
Hutchison, who launched the law firm 10 years ago, has long been a leader in the state’s entrepreneurial community and was the founding president of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development.
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is the highest civilian honor given by the state, was presented to Hutchison by Robert McMahan, the State Science and Technology Advisor and executive director of the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology, on behalf of Governor Mike Easley.
“Fred Hutchison has worked tirelessly in support of the entrepreneurial spirit in our state for more than a quarter of a century,” McMahan said. “His efforts, mostly voluntary, have resulted in billions of dollars of equity investment in our early-stage technology companies and the creation of thousands of jobs.”
Hutchison received the award at an anniversary celebration for the firm, which he co-founded along with former partner Merrill Mason. Mason recently joined the practice of Smith Anderson.
Hutchison Law Group: www.hutchlaw.com
