News

The MVA Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association (APALA) Business Resource Group held an Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration in the Charlotte office on May 22. Attendees enjoyed Asian cuisine while participating in Asian Pacific American trivia led by Mindless Minutia Trivia. Congrats to our trivia winners!

Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to announce that the Daily Report and Law.com have named MVA as a 2024 Southeastern Legal Awards finalist in the Diversity Initiative category for the firm’s ongoing commitment to and extensive work in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 

Moore & Van Allen (MVA) receives Safe Alliance’s 2024 Commitment to Justice Award in recognition of the firm’s Pro Bono work and commitment to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. MVA Litigation and Privacy & Data Security Associate Rachel LaBruyere accepted the award on behalf of the firm. In attendance was MVA Member Sarah Byrne, Associates Precious McLaughlin and Haley Sink, and MVA Member Amanda Franklin, who currently serves on the board for Safe Alliance.

Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to announce that the firm has been named as a finalist for the 2024 Chambers USA Awards in the DEI: Outstanding Firm category. Winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony taking place on June 13.

Moore & Van Allen (MVA) is honored to be named as one of two area firms selected for the Wells Fargo Legal Department’s 2022-2023 Outside Counsel Diversity Award recipient. This annual award recognizes an outside law firm demonstrating great efforts toward improving engagement of diverse personnel at all levels of participation in Wells Fargo matters and in creating a culture of equity and inclusion in their workplace and community.

Moore & Van Allen (MVA) was recognized as a recipient of the Lawyers of Color (LOC) Aspire Diversity Award on May 18. MVA Financial Services Senior Counsel Jonathan Murray and Litigator Jamea Richardson represented the firm at the LOC awards last week in Washington, D.C. Lawyers of Color is devoted to promoting diversity in the legal profession and advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities.

The Women of Moore & Van Allen (WoMVA) held their 2022 WoMVA Conference: Reflect and Reconnect on May 5 at the Duke Mansion. The conference included breakout sessions on topics titled, “Reflections on Finding a Successful Legal Career”, “Defining Your Success”, “Building Confidence in your Law Practice”, and “Cultivating and Maintaining Client Relationships.” 

Moore & Van Allen has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index as a Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality for its commitment to advancing inclusion in the workplace. The firm received its rating for the 2022 Corporate Equality Index and achieved a perfect score of 100 which earned the honored designation. Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees. 

Moore & Van Allen PLLC is pleased to announce that it has established billable credit for diversity and inclusion-related work. Effective immediately, Moore & Van Allen will provide up to 50 hours of billable credit on an annual basis for diversity and inclusion-related work to associates, counsel, and staff attorneys.  The goal of the policy is to recognize firm attorneys who are individually and collectively supporting efforts that will continue to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace.

MVA celebrated its longstanding commitment to public service by hosting the 20th annual Sally and Bill Van Allen Public Service Award presentation on September 15. The annual event recognized the achievements of firm employees and community partners who make significant service contributions. This year’s event also included a celebration of Mrs. Sally Van Allen who is set to celebrate her 100th birthday in October.

Leading national, regional and local law firms have joined forces to create the Carolinas Social Impact Initiative, an effort to foster a more inclusive community and reduce systemic barriers to social and economic mobility in the Carolinas. Today they are also announcing their first program, the Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses (CLIMB), which will provide volunteer legal services to low-income entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Charlotte area.

Moore & Van Allen (MVA) Co-head of White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations Member Valecia McDowell is guest speaker for the Extraordinary Women on Boards event titled, “How Corporate Board Members Detect Signs of Trouble -- Where There's Smoke There MAY Be Fire...”

Moore & Van Allen (MVA) Co-head of the White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations practice and member of the firm’s Management Committee, Valecia McDowell has been highlighted in the Business North Carolina article titled, “Dynamic Diversity: The Changing Look of N.C. Executive Power,” published on February 1.

On Friday, January 15, Moore & Van Allen had the opportunity to virtually welcome outstanding first-year law students from across the country as part of the firm’s third annual Diversity Conference. 

Charlotte Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Member and Team Leader Zach Smith has served as a member of the Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB) Diversity & Inclusion Committee for the last year. 

Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to announce that members Joseph (Joe) A. Fernandez and Valecia M. McDowell have been named to Lawyers of Color’s fifth Power List, which is presented with the support of the Diverse Partners Network. 

On Friday, January 17, Moore & Van Allen had the opportunity to welcome 20 outstanding first-year law students from across the country as part of the firm’s second annual Diversity Conference.

Charlotte Litigation Member Nader Raja is one of ten diverse attorneys that have been selected for inclusion to the Wells Fargo Legal Department’s 2020 Charlotte Diversity College.

Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to announce that it has been named a 2019 Lawyers Weekly Diversity & Inclusion Awards winner. 

Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to announce that WomenInc. Magazine, a publication dedicated to comprehensive coverage of women’s achievements in business, has named the firm to its Top 100 Law Firms for Women list. 

Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to announce that Charlotte White Collar, Regulatory Defense and Investigations Member Valecia M. McDowell has been named to the inaugural Lawyers of Color “Nation’s Best” list, which is presented by Major, Lindsey & Africa with the support of the Diverse Partners Network. 

Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to announce that Financial Services Member Amy K. Johnson has been selected as a Corporate Counsel 2019 Women, Influence & Power in Law Award winner. 

MVA Firm Chairman Tom Mitchell was quoted in the Charlotte Business Journal’s article, “Execs in Charlotte’s legal industry talk importance of diversity, inclusion in the workplace” which was published March 22. Charlotte’s changing corporate landscape has presented challenges and opportunities for the city’s largest law practices, as CBJ writes about in a new special report. But corporate trends have had another impact in the legal profession, pushing strongly for more diversity in the workplace.

The Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB) has appointed Charlotte Bankruptcy Member and Team Leader Zach Smith to serve on the Diversity & Inclusion Committee as a member of the class of 2020.

The MVA Lawyers of Color (LOC), led by Charlotte Bankruptcy Member Luis Lluberas, hosted a community event on October 11 in partnership with Leadership Charlotte titled “Social Distrust”. The MVA Lawyers of Color and Leadership Charlotte plan to continue the programming series, exploring topics that advance equality and bridge differences within our community. 

Moore & Van Allen is pleased to announce that Litigation Member Valecia McDowell was named a 2017 recipient of the Julius L. Chambers Diversity Champion Award.