< Previous40 ONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 McGuireWoods recently launched an initiative to help Black private equity and finance professionals develop business opportunities and drive progress toward a more diverse and inclusive community. BLA CK PROFES SIONALS IN PRIV ATE EQUITY & FINANCEThe Black Professionals in Private Equity & Finance (BPE) initiative brings together professionals from across the financial services sector to network, share ideas and promote change in the industry. BPE will feature panel discussions and roundtables with leaders in the financial services sector and an highlighting trailblazers and rising stars. McGuireWoods lead the new initiative. “Access to capital is a persistent challenge for Black-owned businesses and McGuireWoods wants to be part of the solution,” Kilpatrick says. “We believe that increasing diversity in private equity and finance will result in more capital flowing to Black and other minority-owned businesses.” “McGuireWoods’ deal work and innovations distinguish the firm as a leader in private equity and finance,” Thomas adds. “This initiative will build on that success by providing a platform for Black private equity and finance professionals to expand their relationships and opportunities.” BPE leaders will appear on In league tables published by Refinitiv and Bloomberg, McGuireWoods consistently ranks among the leading law firms for syndicated lending, capital markets transactions, and M&A and private equity deals. GREG KILPATRICKGERALD V. THOMAS II ONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 4142 ONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 McGuireWoods and are editors of a new book providing practical guidance for handling infectious disease litigation, from COVID-19 pandemic disputes to localized outbreaks that require specialized knowledge. Bar Association. INFE CTIOUS DISEA SE LITIGA TIONONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 43 “Public health concerns have permanently changed some of the ways we hold each other accountable, and professional litigators, business leaders, and litigants need a new reference map — one that better acknowledges the intersection of law and science,” Walsh and Tarry wrote in the book’s introduction. Walsh and Tarry are partners in the firm’s from multiple McGuireWoods practices contributed chapters covering products and premises liability, foodborne outbreaks, quarantines and government restrictions, force majeure, insurance disputes, and building and trying cases. The book also includes a chapter on employment disputes and begins with two scientific chapters on microbiology and epidemiology. “The book examines legal issues that are important, and occasionally unique, to these types of cases,” Walsh says. “We want to help practitioners and provide legal analysis to GCs and executives in industries facing the threat of litigation, including medical services, hospitality, transportation, and consumer products.” “While we began this project before COVID-19 emerged, the pandemic has made us all painfully aware of the risk found in tiny bacteria and viruses,” Tarry adds. “Now more than ever, practitioners need to think like scientists in building a case.” McGuireWoods is a national leader in defending environmental, products and mass tort litigation. The firm has represented clients in high- stakes matters in state and federal courts throughout the country, including matters involving infectious diseases and foodborne illnesses. McGuireWoods was recognized as a leading law firm in six practice categories, including product liability and class actions, in on feedback from corporate counsel. DAVIS M. WALSHSAMUEL L. TARRY44 ONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 ZONING AND SEGRE GA TION PAPER A group of McGuireWoods real estate and zoning lawyers, land use planners and government relations consultants recently released part one of a new documenting the history of zoning and segregation in Virginia and the legacy of systemic racism preserved by zoning. ZONING AND SEGREGATION IN VIRGINIA: PART 1 Why Virginia Needs a Study of Zoning Laws and Their Connection to Segregation By the McGuireWoods Zoning and Segregation Work Group1 Source: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/#loc=12/37.549/- 77.538&city=richmond-va&text=aboutONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 45 According to the paper’s executive summary, many Virginia neighborhoods “are more racially segregated today than they were 50 years ago.” Elected officials and lawmakers used zoning through most of the 20th century as a governmental tool to segregate African Americans. “Zoning continues to reinforce patterns of segregation today despite the Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibiting racial discrimination in housing,” the authors noted. Housing segregation, in turn, affects education, job opportunities, family income, health and access to a quality life. The McGuireWoods team — led by real estate and land use partner and McGuireWoods Consulting senior advisor — also offered a call to action: Revise Virginia zoning and planning laws to increase housing opportunities for all people throughout the state’s localities. Appropriate reform, the team said, can occur without diminishing local governments’ power to plan and zone. JONATHAN RAKJAMES DYKE46 ONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 McGuireWoods has become a law firm partner of the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), a nonprofit trust fund that supports marine conservation and climate adaption programs in the archipelago off the coast of East Africa. OCEAN CONSER VATION ONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 47 SeyCCAT to manage proceeds of a groundbreaking debt conversion with the Seychelles government that led to improved environmental policies and increased investment in conservation programs. It has since expanded its portfolio to support sustainable fisheries management, using proceeds from a $15 million “blue bond.” McGuireWoods will assist SeyCCAT in finance transactions that further support stewardship of Seychelles’ ocean resources, island life and blue economy. McGuireWoods London partner who has extensive experience in sustainable finance, leads the firm’s relationship with SeyCCAT. “SeyCCAT is playing an indispensable role in preserving Seychelles’ marine ecosystem and building a foundation for a sustainable blue economy. We are proud to put McGuireWoods’ comprehensive global finance capabilities to work in support of that effort,” Naidoo says. McGuireWoods has one of the world’s pre-eminent banking and finance practices. The firm for advising lenders in syndicated loans in 2020, remaining a dominant force in authoritative league tables published by Refinitiv. Law360 named McGuireWoods a second time in three years the legal news service has recognized the firm for excellence in representing financial services institutions in litigation, transactional and regulatory matters. MARC NAIDOO48 ONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 LCLD ROLES McGuireWoods has selected Baltimore partner as its representative member for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity 2021 Fellows Program. The career development initiative helps talented lawyers from diverse backgrounds build client relationships and excel in leadership roles. McGuireWoods has been an LCLD member and participant since the organization was founded in 2009.ONE McGUIREWOODS | Summer 2021 49 Practicing with McGuireWoods’ Business & Securities Litigation Department, Martinez handles state and federal trial and appellate matters in the areas of commercial litigation, environmental torts, business torts, contractual disputes and intellectual property litigation. She also co-chairs the firm’s consumer and retail financial product litigation subteam and the Baltimore office recruiting committee. Martinez has served as president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Maryland and previously chaired its Community Service Committee. In 2019, the Baltimore Business Journal included her on its “Top 40 Under 40.” “I am thrilled to represent McGuireWoods as an LCLD fellow and I look forward to working with LCLD leaders and peers in 2021 and beyond,” Martinez says. McGuireWoods also selected associates and Wendy Wright as representative members of the LCLD’s 2021 Pathfinders Program, which fosters professional development of lawyers early in their careers. Imaad defends financial institutions, broker-dealers and other corporate clients in commercial, securities and financial services litigation. He also is part of a team handling a multijurisdictional litigation portfolio for a Fortune 50 transportation company. Wright focuses her practice on the healthcare industry, advising clients on compliance with federal and state healthcare laws, and assisting healthcare providers with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other transactional matters. Clients include hospitals, physician groups, physician practice management organizations, dental practices, dental services organizations and home health facilities. Imaad and Wright previously participated in McGuireWoods’ Diverse Associates Leadership Program, designed to equip top-performing associates of color and LGBTQ+ associates with the tools and leadership skills deemed essential to their career development and advancement to partnership. In LCLD’s Pathfinders Program, they will have opportunities to polish their networking, leadership and career strategies through in-person meetings, regional gatherings and online learning programs. Charlotte securities and capital markets McGuireWoods’ Asian Pacific Lawyers Network, will serve as the Pathfinder Program facilitator. Gopalan participated in the LCLD Fellows Program in 2014, served on the LCLD Fellows Board and has served as Pathfinder Program facilitator for several years. Baltimore partner , says, “LCLD is doing important work to develop a diverse pipeline of future leaders and McGuireWoods is proud of its longstanding support for the organization and its mission. For more than a decade, the firm has supported LCLD’s mission, illustrating our commitment to advancing D&I at the firm and in the legal profession.” MOHAMMAD IMAAD MELISSA MARTINEZ WENDY WRIGHTNext >