Moore & Van Allen Formally Names its Civil Rights & Racial Equity Assessments Practice
Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to formally announce the naming of its Civil Rights & Racial Equity Assessments Practice dedicated to conducting public-facing racial equity and other civil rights audits and related confidential, privileged assessments for entities in this evolving arena.
The practice, which was developed within the firm’s White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations Practice, offers focused resources for businesses navigating institutional culture issues and commitments to embracing and promoting equitable outcomes both internally and in the communities they serve.
“Our Civil Rights & Racial Equity Assessments Practice brings together our deep experience and bench strength in key areas to help our clients strategically assess their internal and external practices, programs, and policies to more thoroughly and thoughtfully address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI),” said Valecia M. McDowell, head of the Civil Rights & Racial Equity Assessments Practice. Ms. McDowell also serves as co-head of MVA’s White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations Practice, as well as co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee and as a member of MVA’s Management Committee.
Anne Mariucci, Board Member for CoreCivic, Inc. as well as three other S&P 500 publicly-traded companies, said about the importance of MVA’s dedicated Civil Rights & Racial Equity Assessments Practice, “It is critically important that such [civil rights] audits be conducted with unfettered independence, objectivity and expertise. The team at MVA is setting the standard for excellence in this important work.”
Likewise, industry leaders praise Ms. McDowell’s thought leadership in this space. Kenneth Imo, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Adobe Inc., and Author of “Fix It: How History, Sports and Education Can Inform Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Today” said “It goes without question that Valecia is an incredibly bright, creative and steadfast lawyer. And her contributions to the community embody what it means to be an attorney who is a social engineer, using her legal skills and compassions for the betterment of all of us.”
MVA’s Civil Rights & Racial Equity Assessments Practice includes attorneys experienced in conducting both internal and privileged, as well as public-facing, civil rights and racial equity assessments spanning the spectrum from single-event internal investigations to enterprise-wide reviews for publicly traded and privately held companies, as well as non-profit institutions and governmental entities. The attorneys guide clients through sensitive matters and business environments in a way that prioritizes and enhances their progress with respect to DEI.
In addition to managing quantitative and qualitative data review, preparing detailed and comprehensive reporting, and managing tight timetables, the team generates pragmatic recommendations and communicates with key stakeholders ranging from shareholder funds, board representatives, senior managers and general counsel.
The practice draws upon existing and enhanced MVA disciplines and capabilities including internal investigations; environmental, social and corporate governance; human trafficking and prevention; employment and labor; and cross border investigations.
A full list of MVA attorneys in the Civil Rights and Racial Equity Assessments Practice may be viewed here.