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BBI Press Round-Up – Social Impact Report                                                                                                                                                                                 2020


            D.C.-Area Businesses Put                                             Start-Up Initiative, a cross-practice,               can  receive  credit  for  performing   July  and  others  across  Miles  &   And  he  is  cognizant  that  some

            Plans into Action on Racial                                          cross-office  program  designed  to                  traditional pro bono services.     Stockbridge have fielded calls from   enrolled  businesses  will  still  not
                                                                                 temper  or  eliminate  some  of  the
                                                                                                                                                                         other firms looking to replicate the
            Equity, Justice Initiatives                                          barriers  uniquely  experienced  by                      The  overwhelming  response    program themselves.                make it. But if more—and eventually,
                                                                                                                                                                                                            perhaps,  all—are  given  a  fair
            WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL                                          Black  entrepreneurs—namely,  lack                   to  the  initiative  has  betrayed  its                               fighting chance, it raises everyone
                                                                                 of funding (particularly as it relates               critical need. In the first two months   The  businesses  served  make   in  the  marketplace:  competition
            Chairman  Nancy  Greene  discusses the  Miles &                      to  legal  expenses)  and  lack  of                  since  its  launch,  over  100  new   up  a  broad  spectrum—everything   grows  stronger,  efficiencies  and
            Stockbridge  Black Business & Start-Up  Initiative in                access  to  a  network  experienced                  businesses applied to be included.   from a hedge fund to an artist co-
            this Washington Business Journal story.                                                                                   Already,  July  estimates  that  20  –   op.  Sometimes,  their  legal  needs   good practices take root, and more
                                                                                 in  the  challenges  confronting                                                                                           jobs  become  available  to  people
                                                                                                                                      30  Miles  &  Stockbridge  lawyers   are  simple—the  metaphorical
            Click here to read the full article.                                 all businesses.                                                                                                            in  often  dismissed  or  ignored
                                                                                                                                      are  working  on  active  matters  for   blocking  and  tackling,  the
                                                                                     “We  wanted  to  take  the  cost-                enrollees  at  any  given  time.  “We   fundamentals.  “People  sometimes   communities. It’s a long game, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                            the  ultimate  measure  of  change
            Firm Offers Pro Bono Services                                        prohibition out of the ‘sound legal                  have folks doing general corporate   just  need  opportunities  to  access   is  yet  to  be  determined,  but  the
                                                                                                                                      work,  intellectual  property,  entity
                                                                                                                                                                         good  information.  That’s  where
            to Black Business Owners                                             counsel’ equation for folks trying to                structuring and tax, capital-raising,   the gap often lies—that’s the socio-  Initiative  and  July’s  vision  may
                                                                                 get their foot in the door,” July says.
                                                                                                                                      privacy,  some  labor  and  employ-  economic  disconnect  the  Initiative   prove  to  be  among  the  opening
            VIRGINIA LAWYERS WEEKLY                                              The Initiative focuses on companies                  ment,  a  small  litigation  matter—it                                notes of a new song, one that has
                                                                                 that  fall  into  certain  criteria—                                                    is already helping to fix.”
            Venroy July  was interviewed by  Virginia Lawyers                    participants  are  required  to  have                really runs the gamut.” And others                                    been begging  to  be  written  for  far
            Weekly about the Miles & Stockbridge Black Business &                less  than  five  years  of  operating               in  the  industry  are  taking  notice—  July  sees  this  as  a  first  step.    too long. ■
            Start-Up Initiative that launched recently.
                                                                                 history,  less  than  $500,000  of
            Click here to read the full article published by Virginia            annual revenues, and fewer than ten
            Lawyers Weekly. Login may be required.                               employees—to help ensure that the
                                                                                 businesses with the most need and

                                                                                 potential get the support. Inclusion
            Miles & Stockbridge Offering                                         in the initiative is determined on a

            Free Legal Counsel to Boost                                          case by-case basis.

            Black-Owned Businesses                                                   Once  a  Black  entrepreneur  or

                                                                                 business is enrolled in the program,
            BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL
                                                                                 Miles & Stockbridge counts up to 50
            July also was interviewed by the Baltimore Business                  non-billable  hours  spent  providing
            Journal about the Miles & Stockbridge Black Business                 it  legal  advice  toward  a  lawyer’s
            & Start-Up Initiative.
                                                                                 annual  hours.  These  hours  are
            Click here  to read  the  full  article published by the             in  addition  to  the  50  non-billable
            Baltimore Business Journal. Login may be required.                   hours  for  which  the  firm’s  lawyers                                                                    Venroy July, Principal





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