Moore & Van Allen and Firm Attorneys Shortlisted for Women in Business Law Americas Awards
Moore & Van Allen PLLC (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.
The firm was shortlisted in the Career Development North America category and Pro Bono Work North America category. Additionally, MVA Member Valecia M. McDowell is a Financial Regulation Lawyer of the Year finalist and Member Sarah A. Sheridan is a Litigation Rising Star finalist. The 2024 winners will be announced at a June 13 awards ceremony in New York City.
The Women in Business Law Awards, organized by sister publications Euromoney, International Financial Law Review, International Tax Review, Managing IP, and Benchmark Litigation, recognize the achievements of women lawyers and the diversity agenda in legal work from firms across the world. Award finalists are selected based on submissions, research, and peer review interviews with leading women practitioners across multiple areas of law and jurisdictions.
"We are honored to be included among the 2024 award finalists in categories that recognize our firm’s collaborative efforts as well as our individual attorneys’ outstanding achievements and successes,” said Managing Partner and Chair Thomas L. Mitchell. “Diversity is embraced and widely promoted across our firm in our recruiting, development, and promotion programs, and we are deeply committed to driving positive community change by prioritizing pro bono work and public service initiatives.”
The Career Development North America category recognizes MVA’s Women of Moore & Van Allen (WoMVA) business resource group that offers women professionals at the firm mentoring, networking, and career development opportunities that promote the interests and progress of women lawyers and business professionals. Established in the early 1990s, the group provides instrumental support for MVA legal professionals in their efforts to achieve leadership positions within the firm and community. Currently, nearly 30 women hold key roles at MVA, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to and follow-through on its initiatives. WoMVA also fosters inter-firm connections amongst its members that can build confidence in client interactions while attaining a positive work-life balance.
The Pro Bono Work North America category honors MVA’s signature service efforts, which are led by the firm’s Public Service Committee. MVA has a rich history of life-changing community impact across the Carolinas and Southeast, made possible by alliances with nonprofit partners, legal aid organizations, clients across the region, and firm employees.
Among the firm’s key service efforts are:
- The Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses (CLIMB), which MVA co-leads to provide pro bono legal services to low-income entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Charlotte area;
- The Domestic Violence Pro Bono Project, in which MVA participates in conjunction with the Legal Representation Project (LRP) of the Charlotte-based domestic violence shelter Safe Alliance to provide pro bono services to those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault, providing support to victims who could not otherwise afford an attorney to advocate for their rights; and
- The Human Trafficking Pro Bono Project, through which MVA offers comprehensive legal services to survivors of human trafficking, accepting referrals from community partners, federal and local law enforcement agencies, and national human trafficking partner organizations. MVA has become nationally known as a leading law firm in the fight against human trafficking in part due to its role as a co-founder of the National Survivor Law Collective (NSLC), a collaboration of U.S. organizations focused on providing free legal services to human trafficking survivors.
McDowell is recognized for her achievements and innovative approaches in the Financial Regulation practice area. She serves as co-head of both MVA’s White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations and DEI Advice, Audits & Assessments practices. She is a national thought leader in the areas of governmental and internal investigations, with experience conducting large scale internal and governmental investigations reviews across the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. She has specific knowledge in the areas of consumer finance, financial crimes, and employee conduct risk, including practice and company-wide reviews and racial equity assessments.
As a Rising Star finalist in the Litigation practice category, Sheridan is recognized among the women who are blazing trails and making a name for themselves as future leaders in their jurisdictions. In her practice, Sheridan helps clients navigate complex legal issues in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters. She has successfully represented financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and individuals in a variety of commercial disputes and investigations.