Alumni Newsletter

MVA Litigation Counsel LAURA BOORMAN TRUESDALE, Litigation Associate PIERCE WERNER, and Head of Environmental MARY KATHERINE STUKES co-author article titled, “Implications of PFAS CERCLA liability for the commercial real estate industry” which was published by Reuters and Westlaw Today on June 17.

Walter Price, MVA Managing Director & Head of Public Affairs, served as moderator of the Sports Betting Panel Discussion for the Piedmont Club at Charlotte Country Club on June 11. The panelists included representatives from firm clients, Jake Burns, Tepper Sports & Entertainment, Jacob Gallagher, Charlotte Hornets, and Adam Sperling, Quail Hollow Club. They discussed the group’s perspective about what is happening in the sports gaming arena in North Carolina, as well as how their respective organizations are engaging with fans, operators, and other key stakeholders.

MVA is pleased to announce that five firm practice areas and 22 MVA attorneys were Nationally Recognized in The Legal 500 United States 2024 industry referral guide.

This year’s guide ranked the following MVA practices:

Energy > Energy Transactions: Electric Power, Finance > Commercial Lending, M&A/Corporate & Commercial > M&A: Middle Market, Dispute Resolution > Corporate Investigations White-Collar Criminal Defense, and Finance > Financial Services Regulation

MVA is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has ranked the firm nationally in Banking & Finance and Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance) and has ranked 11 MVA practice areas and 36 firm attorneys in the Carolinas. Additionally, EDWARD P. O’KEEFE, and NEIL T. BLOOMFIELD have been ranked as national leaders in Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance) in its prestigious Chambers USA legal industry referral guide for 2024.

MVA is pleased to announce that COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Member RICHARD I. SIMONS has been named by GlobeSt. as one of CRE’S ASPIRING LEADERS OF 2024. This recognition celebrates top young professionals, under the age of 40, within the commercial real estate industry. This marks Simons’ second GlobeSt. award in the past year.

Sonny Ha, MVA Financial Services Associate, and John Fagg, Co-head of Litigation and White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations, served as panelists for the CLDC 2024 panel discussion of “Navigating Life as an Attorney” which took place on May 29. Sonny and John joined others on discussing differences between in-house counsel and law firm work pace, tips for seeking feedback, and how to navigate nerves and challenges as a summer clerk. MVA Manager of New Associate Recruiting Olivia Hasty served as the program moderator.

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!

Congratulations to the following 30 MVA attorneys who have completed 50 or more hours of pro bono legal services in 2023 and are members of the 2023 NC Pro Bono Honor Society.

Earlier in the month, MVA hosted the ACC Professional Development: Building Your Brand as a Trusted Advisor program. SUZANNE GAINEY, MVA Co-head of Privacy & Data Security, served as moderator and JOANN CARLTON, Intellectual Property Counsel, joined as one of the featured panelists.

MVA is pleased to announce that GlobeSt. has named COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Senior Counsel TRACEY C. EASTON a “2024 WOMAN OF INFLUENCE” in the CRE Legal Counsel category.

MVA listed at number 131 on the “Law360 400,” Law360’s annual ranking of the 400 largest law firms in the nation for 2023. The Law360 400 features the largest U.S.-based law firms and international firms with a U.S. component as measured by domestic attorney headcount.

MVA Litigation Attorneys Ben Shook and Tania Archer co-author the Law360 article, “FTC Noncompete Rule's Impact On Healthcare Nonprofits” which was published on May 16. This article addresses the potential effects of the noncompete rule on healthcare entities, particularly nonprofit or tax-exempt healthcare entities that ostensibly fall outside the reach of both the FTC and the noncompete rule.

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). 

Madison Blevins, MVA Bankruptcy ＆ Financial Restructuring Associate, was profiled for the May/June Mecklenburg County Bar article, “The Mentorship Alliance: Building Connections and Fostering Growth in the Legal Community” to answer why she chose to join the Mentorship Alliance and what has been the most rewarding part of their experience.

Valecia McDowell, Co-head of White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations & Co-head of DEI Advice, Audits & Assessments, was awarded the Duke University School of Law’s 2024 Charles S. Rhyne Award for Professional Achievement. The Charles S. Rhyne award was established in 1994 to recognize graduates whose careers exemplify the highest standards of professionalism, personal integrity, and commitment to education or community service.

MVA is pleased to announce that the firm and two MVA attorneys have been NAMED FINALISTS for the 2024 Women in Business Law Americas Awards.

JOHN FAGG, Co-head of MVA's White Collar Defense, Regulatory Defense, & Investigations practice, spoke at the Atlanta Bar Association’s White Collar Crime CLE program on May 3. Following his recent trial successes, Mr. Fagg was asked to join a panel that discussed strategies for defeating the Department of Justice in federal criminal trials.

MVA Co-head of Litigation MARK NEBRIG served as a guest speaker for the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) 2024 Annual Conference which was held in Tampa, FL earlier this week. He was joined by Lars Golumbic to provide a Litigation Update that highlighted Arbitration Updates, DOL and IRS Regulatory Actions, and ESOP Litigation: Recent Case Decisions.

MVA Co-head of Financial Regulatory Advice & Response Member EDWARD O’KEEFE was among those honored by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly as the 2024 class of Leaders in the Law on April 25. The event recognized the Leaders, whose accomplishments include outstanding contributions to the practice of law in North Carolina, significant achievements through the practice of law, leadership in improving the justice system, acting as role models and mentors, and making essential contributions to North Carolina’s legal community, the community at large or both.

MVA is pleased to announce that GlobeSt. has named COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Senior Counsel TRACEY C. EASTON a “2024 WOMAN OF INFLUENCE” in the CRE Legal Counsel category.

MVA is pleased to announce that two attorneys of the Charleston office have been selected to the 2024 South Carolina Super Lawyers list. Financial Restructuring Member DAVID WHEELER has been selected as a South Carolina Super Lawyer in the Bankruptcy: Business category. Commercial Real Estate Associate WILLIAM STROUD has been selected to the 2024 South Carolina Rising Stars list in the Real Estate category.

MVA Co-head of Trademark MICHELE GLESSNER, Members KATE COLE, ARLENE HANKS, and MARK WILSON, Senior Counsel ELLEN ANDELMAN and Counsel SAM MERRITT receive 2024 World Trademark Review 1000 (WTR 1000) recognition.

MVA is pleased to announce that GlobeSt. has named BRIDGET GRANT, co-head of MVA’s Zoning, Entitlement & Land team, as a “2024 Woman of Influence” in the Consultant / Advisor / Independent Professional category.

MVA Litigation Member JENNY SUGAR was profiled in the Law.com Daily Report article titled, “On the Move: Federal Prosecutor Heads to Moore & Van Allen” which was published on April 22.

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.

MVA is pleased to announce that Member JOSHUA D. LANNING has been appointed to serve as co-head of the firm’s DEI ADVICE, AUDITS & ASSESSMENTS practice group alongside Member VALECIA M. MCDOWELL.

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.

MVA has ranked top for Charlotte largest law firms in the recent Charlotte Business Journal article for 2024. MVA, which remains Charlotte’s largest law firm, ranked by number of local attorneys with over 350 attorneys.

MVA is pleased to announce that Member VALECIA M. MCDOWELL has been named to the inaugural FORBES TOP 200 LAWYERS IN AMERICA list, which recognizes lawyers based on their impressive track records, industry leadership, and high level of peer and client respect. McDowell is the only North Carolina-based practitioner on the 2024 list.